The purpose of this article is to guide parents, guardians, and teachers, who wish to utilize the therapeutic qualities of literature, in aiding a grieving child. In a child's first decade of life, the first experience he or she has with death often is the very distressing loss of a beloved pet. This first introduction to the cycle of living and dying may be an overwhelming and destabilizing one for a young child, whose concept of the world is jarred by such a powerful event--even if the loss is that of a simple goldfish. A child's reaction to death and loss depends heavily on his or her stage of intellectual, emotional, and social development, which is usually determined by age. This article outlines the common conceptions of death that children experience at various stages in their development. The authors assert that books can be powerful tools in helping a child comprehend death and heal the loss of a pet. They conclude with some suggested strategies and standards by which adults can select books appropriate for their grieving child.