Death and grief in illustrated storybooks: An inventory of Swedish literature for young children

Abstract

Storybooks play a crucial role in the experience of childhood. As death is an inevitable part of life, storybooks can be a helpful tool to start communicating about death and grief. The aim of this study was to learn which storybooks were available regarding death and grief for Swedish-speaking children. During spring 2023, a literature search was conducted. A total of 62 books were included in the content analysis to assess language, words, symbolism, and coping strategies. This study provides valuable insights for adults, aiming to enrich the literary experiences of children and promote meaningful conversations about death and grief.