Spirituality in Death-Related Literature for Children

Abstract

Elsewhere (see “Bereavement, Grief, and Mourning in Death-Related Literature for Children” in this special issue) I have explained that as I prepared a series of annotated bibliographies on death-related literature for children and adolescents (Corr, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003a, 2003b), I realized that this literature was rich in many not-very-well explored topics. In particular, it struck me that themes related to spirituality often appear in this literature. Nevertheless, it does not appear that any formal studies of the spiritual dimensions that appear in this body of literature have been published in any of the major professional journals in the field of dying, death, and bereavement. In this article, I offer an initial attempt at rectifying that apparent gap in attention. I also hope to stimulate increased appreciation of this and other interesting facets of death-related literature that is intended to be read by or with children.