Grief in Children - A Handbook for Adults

Author Atle Dyregrov's second edition of Grief in Children does what it says on the tin. His clear and intelligent writing helps the reader understand children's reactions to the death of someone special and offers ways of helping bereaved children manage the tragedy they are faced with. When I first read Dyregrov as a trainee counsellor, and bereaved as a child myself, I found it was one of the most relevant and informative texts available. To acknowledge that "children grieve too" was a relief.

Returning some 13 years later, I worried that his work would now appear outdated. This fear was unfounded: it is simply a classic. He acknowledges that the way adults handle death can create problems for children and helps us understand the psychological pain of bereaved children with many illustrated examples. He suggests how best to provide a recovery environment and emphasises the importance of conversations.