Families who loved My Nana's Garden by Dawn Casey often look for books with a similar feel. These 20 recommendations were selected for their similarity in style, theme, and reading level.
A parent would reach for this book when a child is beginning to ask questions about the permanence of death or when a family is mourning the loss of a grandparent. It is a gentle, secular exploration of grief that uses the changing seasons to explain the natural cycle of life. The story follows a young girl and her Nana as they bond over the wildflowers and insects in a messy, beautiful garden, providing a sensory anchor for the reader. As the seasons turn to winter, Nana passes away, and the book transitions beautifully into a period of healing. The girl eventually returns to the garden, finding that her love for Nana continues to grow through the seeds they planted together. This is an ideal choice for children aged 3 to 7 because it validates the sadness of loss while providing a hopeful, tangible framework for remembering a loved one through nature and shared rituals.