It’s day four of December, and we’re continuing our journey through books on grief. Each title brings a fresh perspective, offering tools and stories to navigate loss in your own way. Let’s move through this season with care and reflection.
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Goodbye Mog
By Virginia Woolf
Goodbye Mog (2001) provides a thoughtful and gentle way to introduce young children to the concepts of loss and grief. The story follows the Thomas family as they bid farewell to their cherished pet, Mog, a beloved character familiar to generations of readers.
“Mog was tired. She was dead tired… Mog thought, ‘I want to sleep forever.’ And so she did. But a little bit of her stayed awake to see what would happen next.”
Author Judith Kerr aimed to explore themes of death, dying, and the enduring nature of memory and legacy, a reflection perhaps influenced by her own stage of life as she neared 80.
Featured Amazon review…
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Really sad but the children I teach absolutely love all the …
“Really sad but the children I teach absolutely love all the Mog books so we had to have the end as well. I must admit I felt a bit teary when Mog leaves and some of my class were a little sad but it is funny in places with the new kitten and Mog teaching it what to do. I do think it is good for children to deal with difficult issues in a safe environment and be able to talk about it so this book has been popular with the children.”
Amazon customers say…
Readers appreciate the story for its ability to help children process and understand the loss of a pet. Many describe the emotional tone as sincere and moving. The writing is often praised for its warmth and quality, while the illustrations are admired for their charm and beauty.
Photo by Huzeyfe Turan on Unsplash
Discover more books that might help support you over on the festive season on our ‘Books for Grief‘ Hub
🧠 Understand the ‘Stages’ of Grief
Many people first encounter grief through the idea of “stages,” but the model is often simplified or misunderstood.
Our Stages of Grief page looks at where the framework began, what each stage represents, and how it can support understanding – without suggesting that grief unfolds in a tidy order.
Explore the page to learn:
📘 A clear explanation of what the Five Stages are (and what they’re not)
🧭 Why grief rarely moves in a straight line
🌊 How feelings can rise and fall in waves
🧩 Other grief models that may resonate more with your experience