The End of Something Wonderful: A Practical Guide to a Backyard Funeral by Stephanie V.W. Lucianovic (review)

Most children's first encounter with death involves the passing of a small animal, and this breezy guide gives advice on how to create a ritual, handle practicalities, and negotiate emotions. There's genuine appreciation of the mourning process ("Having a backyard funeral helps when you can't find all the words") and the importance of process here, while the humor, which occasionally gets very dark ("Don't get excited and try [to] bury something that isn't dead"), will be relished by middle-graders even through their tears. The digital art is somewhat flat and cartoonish, but it offers a lively variety of pet owners and pets. Kids flexible enough to also see the funny side will appreciate this guide to early mourning.