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Children's books often tackle tough subjects, helping young readers confront the unavoidable challenges and sorrowful moments in life. What makes these books especially poignant for adults is their ability to convey the story's emotional weight, often making grown-ups feel the heartache more profoundly than children.
10. War Horse, 1982 - Michael Morpurgo
Michael Morpurgo, a renowned English author, has written over 120 books in his illustrious career. He was named a member of the Order of the British Empire and served as the British Children’s Laureate between 2003 and 2005. His most celebrated work is War Horse.
War Horse is told from the perspective of Joey, the horse at the heart of the story. In 1914, Joey is sold to the military and finds himself on the Western Front during World War I. This results in two deeply emotional narratives: one about the horrors of war, where soldiers develop bonds with Joey, and another about Joey’s intense desire to return to his home and the boy he loves on the farm.
The novel gained renewed fame in 2007 when it was adapted into a stage play. In 2011, it was made into a critically acclaimed movie. Both adaptations moved adults to tears, reigniting interest in War Horse the book, which became a bestseller and gave readers the opportunity to experience the heart-wrenching story across three different forms of media.
9. Tuck Everlasting, 1975 - Natalie Babbitt
Winnie Foster, 10, is miserable at home and she wants to run away. When she goes into the woods near her house, she runs into the Tuck family, who are immortal thanks to a secret water spring. Once the Tucks are discovered, they have to leave town, but one of the Tucks, 17-year-old Jesse, gives Winnie a vial of the magic water so that she can become ageless if she wants. Decades later, the Tucks return to where Winnie lived and find her grave. She lived a long life, married, had her own children—and died.
This book was an important milestone in children’s literature because when children get to be about 10 years old, they start to come to terms with the inevitability of death. Tuck Everlasting then asks a question that even adults have trouble answering—is immortality and being young forever truly a good thing?
Besides immortality, the novel has a much more grounded theme. As we age, we lose people. Some move away, we lose contact with others, and still others die in our lifetime. It’s sad, but it’s a major part of life that people have to deal with.
8. Where The Red Fern Grows, 1961Wilson Rawls
This story follows a young boy named Billy who purchases two redbone coonhound puppies, Old Dan and Little Ann. Billy trains them to hunt raccoons, and together they become renowned hunters in the rugged Ozarks.
The novel takes a tragic turn with two heart-wrenching events. The first occurs when Billy gets into a fight with another boy named Rubin. During the struggle, Old Dan and Little Ann defend Billy and attack Rubin’s dog. Rubin, in an attempt to save his dog, rushes at the hounds with an axe but tragically falls onto it, ending his own life. But the sorrow doesn’t end there.
The most devastating moment comes later when Old Dan and Little Ann face off with a mountain lion, and Billy desperately tries to save them. In the end, Old Dan sacrifices himself to protect Billy, succumbing to fatal injuries. Soon after, Little Ann, unable to cope with the loss, dies from a broken heart while lying on Old Dan’s grave.
The story touches on some pretty heavy themes for a children's book. This is because it wasn’t initially written for children at all. Originally, it was serialized in three parts in the Saturday Evening Post and was intended for an adult audience. But when it was later published as a book, the publishers marketed it to children, and it quickly became a bestseller.
Where the Red Fern Grows was one of the only two books written by Rawls, and it is considered a standout in children's literature. In 1974, it was adapted into a heart-wrenching film. At the time Rawls wrote this novel, he was living in Idaho Falls, where a statue of Billy, Old Dan, and Little Ann was eventually erected outside the Idaho Falls Public Library in honor of the story.
7. A Taste Of Blackberries, 1973 by Doris Buchanan Smith
In this American Library Association Notable Book by Doris Buchanan Smith, the unnamed 10-year-old narrator starts by picking blackberries with his adventurous best friend, Jamie. When Jamie is stung by a bee and falls into anaphylactic shock, the narrator dismisses it as a prank and abandons him to grab a popsicle. Tragically, Jamie dies.
This book, which was groundbreaking in 1973, explores the theme of death in children's literature. It portrays how children cope with the sudden loss of a loved one, setting itself apart from others that focus on the death of an animal. At the same time, it conveys an uplifting message about the healing process and is considered a significant milestone in the genre.
6. A Wrinkle In Time, 1962 by Madeleine L’Engle
Meg Murry’s father, a brilliant scientist, has vanished while working on a top-secret government project called 'The Tesseract.' This mysterious phenomenon bends time and space, and her father journeyed to another planet to confront a malevolent force – a dark cloud that is slowly overtaking the universe. By the story's end, Meg's younger brother falls under the control of a different dark entity, and Meg must prove her love for him is stronger than anything else in order to break its hold.
That final moment is an incredibly emotional scene, particularly for adults. Many can relate to having experienced the desire to express love in a way that could reach someone they've lost.
This novel is widely regarded as one of the finest works of children's science fiction. It won the 1963 Newbery Medal, which recognizes excellence in children's literature.
5. The Velveteen Rabbit, 1922 by Margery Williams
The Velveteen Rabbit tells the story of a stuffed rabbit given to a young boy as a Christmas present. Though not as elaborate as the other gifts, the rabbit longs to be loved by its owner. An older toy explains that with enough love, it can become real. The rabbit becomes the boy's favorite, but when the boy contracts scarlet fever, all his belongings are set to be burned. However, a fairy takes the Velveteen Rabbit away, and later, the boy sees a rabbit in the wild that resembles his beloved toy.
This timeless classic resonates with that part of us that hopes there’s something beyond death. If we could just see those we love once more, even for a brief moment, maybe death wouldn’t seem so frightening.
Before creating The Velveteen Rabbit, Margery Williams wrote adult fiction, including works in the horror genre. She was known for exploring dark themes in her novels, which she later carried over to The Velveteen Rabbit. After the novel's success, she shifted her focus to writing children's and young adult books, a path she continued until her death in 1944.
4. Old Yeller, 1956 by Fred Gipson
Old Yeller has become synonymous with the phrase 'sad story.' The novel follows 14-year-old Travis Coates, who is managing his family’s ranch while his father is away on a cattle drive. A scruffy dog shows up at the ranch, and Travis initially wants nothing to do with it. But as the dog saves various members of the family, they develop a deep bond. Tragedy strikes when a rabid wolf attacks, and although Old Yeller successfully defends the family, he contracts rabies. Travis is ultimately forced to put down his beloved dog.
The loss of a beloved animal has always been a profound source of sadness in literature. Yet, Old Yeller intensifies this grief by making Travis the one who must end the dog's life himself.
Adapted into a 1957 Disney film, the book is regarded as one of the most poignant and heart-wrenching novels for children. It has earned numerous accolades, including a Newbery Honor.
3. Sad Book, 2004 by Michael Rosen
Michael Rosen is an acclaimed and versatile children's author from the United Kingdom. He served as the British Children's Laureate from 2007 to 2009.
In 1999, Michael Rosen’s 18-year-old son Eddie tragically passed away from meningitis. In 2004, he published Sad Book, a deeply personal work that reflects his journey through grief. This is how the book begins:
This is me feeling sad. Maybe you think I look happy in this picture. But in reality, I’m sad, only pretending to be happy. I do this because I worry people won’t like me if they see that I’m sad.
The illustrations by Quentin Blake convey a subtle, haunting sense of loss. It’s a feeling that's difficult to describe, but Blake captures it perfectly through his art.
Rosen explained that he wrote the book because, after Eddie’s death, he continued visiting schools to speak with children. He’d share stories about Eddie’s childhood, and when the children asked how old Eddie was, he would have to explain that Eddie had passed away. As children often do, they asked many questions. Rosen wrote Sad Book to help explain his grief and experiences with loss to them.
2. Love You Forever, 1986 by Robert Munsch
This timeless classic by Robert Munsch tells the story of a mother who lovingly raises her son into adulthood. At various stages of his life, even as an adult, she continues to hold him and sing to him:
I’ll love you forever, I’ll like you for always, As long as I’m living My baby you’ll be.
By the end of the story, the son cradles his dying mother and sings the same song back to her. It’s a simple yet profoundly emotional tale.
Munsch wrote this story after experiencing the heartbreaking loss of stillborn babies on two separate occasions. He created the song as an ode to his lost children. Initially, it was a private expression, and Munsch had no plans to publish it. However, after performing live readings of Love You Forever, he saw the deep emotional impact it had on audiences, which led him to publish the book.
The book saw remarkable success in retirement communities, such as those in Arizona, where children were scarce. Many adults bought it for their aging parents, moved by its heartfelt depiction of parenthood.
Since its release in 1986, over 15 million copies of the book have been sold, making it one of the top-selling paperback children's books ever. Munsch received the Order of Canada in 1999 and earned a place on the Canada Walk of Fame in 2009. Love You Forever continues to be his most beloved book.
1. Bridge To Terabithia, 1977, by Katherine Paterson
This celebrated children's novel follows two isolated 11-year-olds, Jess and Leslie. Jess lives on a farm with his four sisters, while Leslie has just moved to the area. Initially, Jess isn’t fond of Leslie, but they soon discover their deep connection. Together, they create an imaginary world in the forest named Terabithia to escape their everyday struggles. One day, Jess leaves Leslie behind to visit an art gallery with a teacher he admires. Leslie ventures into the forest alone, where she tragically accidentally drowns. This twist is deeply emotional, regardless of age.
Katherine Paterson, the author of Bridge to Terabithia, wrote the book after her son’s best friend tragically died after being struck by lightning at the beach. Explaining such a meaningless loss to her son was incredibly difficult. For both children and adults, the suddenness and certainty of death can be a challenging reality to accept.
Bridge to Terabithia is widely praised for its portrayal of realism, especially in its handling of grief and sorrow during mourning. The novel won the Newbery Medal, and Disney adapted it into a film in 2007, thirty years after its initial publication.
