My Grandson Lew, by Charlotte Zolotow (Harper, 1974). Lewis, aged 6 years, and his mother exchange memories of his grandfather to ease their longing for him. The illustrations are wonderful. Ages 3 to 7.
The Tenth Good Thing About Barney, by Judith Viorst (Atheneum, 1971). A boy thinks of nine good things to say about his cat at its funeral. Later, he and his sister argue about whether the cat is in heaven or in the ground. Ages 5 to 9.
The Dead Bird, by Margaret Wise Brown (Young Scott, 1938 and 1965). Some children find and bury a stiff, dead bird. Daily, until they forget, they visit the grave with fresh flowers and sing songs. Ages 4 to 7.
Nana Upstairs and Nana Downstairs, by Tomie DePaola (Putnam, 1973). A boy visits his grandmother and great-grandmother, aged 94. The book's assets are the remarkable relationship the young child had