Nick and the Grief Dragon

A parent would reach for this book when their child is experiencing the heavy, confusing, and often invisible weight of losing a loved one. It is specifically designed to help children who are struggling to articulate why they feel different, tired, or irritable after a death in the family. The story follows Nick, who is followed by a large, sometimes cumbersome dragon that represents his grief. By personifying grief as a dragon that changes size and behavior, the book provides a concrete visual for the abstract experience of mourning. It validates that grief is not something to be fixed quickly, but a companion that stays with you as you heal. It is a gentle, secular, and deeply comforting choice for children aged 3 to 8, offering a way to normalize the unpredictable 'weight' of sadness without being overly frightening.