I'll Always Love You

A parent might reach for this book when helping a child navigate the anticipated or recent loss of a beloved pet. It tells the story of a boy and his dog, Elfie, from puppyhood to old age. Every night, the boy tells his dog, 'I'll always love you.' When Elfie dies peacefully, the family grieves together, but the boy finds immense comfort in knowing he always expressed his love. For children 3 to 7, this book is a gentle, direct, and secular introduction to pet death. It validates sadness while offering a concrete, empowering message: love, and the memory of love, endures.