Families who loved Traveling Backward by Toby Forward often look for books with a similar feel. These 20 recommendations were selected for their similarity in style, theme, and reading level.
Reach for this book when your child is struggling to accept the physical decline or impending loss of a beloved grandparent. It provides a safe, imaginative space to explore the desperation of wanting to stop time and the difficult realization that death is a natural part of the human experience. Through the eyes of young Fanny, the story follows a magical attempt to reverse her grandfather's aging process using a mysterious elixir. While the premise is fantastical, the emotional core is deeply realistic, addressing grief, the fear of change, and the importance of saying goodbye. Best suited for children ages 8 to 12, this chapter book serves as a gentle bridge for families to discuss why we cannot live forever and how love persists even when physical health fails. It offers comfort by validating a child's wish to 'fix' the situation while ultimately guiding them toward acceptance.