Author Chloe James Releases Two Heartfelt Children’s Books About Love, Loss, and Remembering
Children’s author Chloe James is adding two new heartfelt stories to her growing collection of books centered around love, family, grief, and remembrance. Her newest titles, The Memory Garden and The Missing Star, were officially released on August 21, 2026.
Both books offer young readers gentle and comforting ways to understand some of life’s biggest emotions. Rather than avoiding the difficult subject of loss, James approaches it through the eyes of a child—using warmth, imagination, and reassurance to remind families that love does not simply disappear when someone is gone.
The Memory Garden
In The Memory Garden, James explores the loss of a beloved grandfather and the beautiful memories that remain behind.
At the heart of the story is the idea that memories can be cared for much like a garden. The people we love may no longer be physically beside us, but the moments we shared with them can continue to grow in our hearts.
Through a gentle story created especially for young children, The Memory Garden gives parents and caregivers an opportunity to begin conversations about grief without making the subject frightening or overwhelming.
The book encourages children to remember the little things—the laughter, stories, traditions, and special moments that made their loved one unique. In doing so, grief becomes more than simply missing someone. It becomes a way of recognizing just how deeply that person was loved.
The Missing Star
James continues exploring childhood grief in The Missing Star, a touching story about a young girl coping with the absence of her father.
Using the image of a missing star, the book gives children a simple way to understand the feeling that comes when someone important is no longer there. The world may still be filled with light, yet a child can recognize that one special piece seems to be missing.
The story follows the emotional connection between a daughter, her mother, and the father they continue to love and remember.
At its core, The Missing Star carries a reassuring message: someone can be absent from our everyday lives while remaining an important part of our story.
For families experiencing the death of a parent or another close loved one, the book can serve not only as a story but as a starting point for conversations children may not yet know how to begin themselves.
Continuing the Message That Began With When the Dragonfly Finds the Sky
James first introduced readers to her heartfelt approach to grief and remembrance with When the Dragonfly Finds the Sky: A Story of Love That Never Ends, released in March 2026.
Inspired by the loss of her own father, the book carries a deeply personal message about continuing to love and remember someone after they are gone. The dragonfly becomes a symbol of enduring love and connection—a reminder that the people who shape our lives can remain with us through the memories, lessons, and love they leave behind.
That same emotional foundation can be felt in James’ newest releases. While each story approaches loss differently, they share a common purpose: helping children understand grief in a way that feels gentle, safe, and filled with hope.
Stories Created for Children—and the Adults Reading Beside Them
What connects The Memory Garden, The Missing Star, and When the Dragonfly Finds the Sky is James’ approach to grief.
Her stories do not attempt to erase sadness. Instead, they make room for it while surrounding it with love, remembrance, and hope.
That approach makes the books meaningful for children experiencing loss, but also for the parents, grandparents, caregivers, teachers, and counselors who may be searching for the right words to comfort them.
With the August 21, 2026 release of The Memory Garden and The Missing Star, James continues building a collection of stories meant to be held onto—not only during moments of grief, but in the years afterward, when remembering someone we love becomes its own kind of gift.
About the Author
Chloe James is a children’s author, wife, and mother whose stories explore family, love, remembrance, and the emotional experiences that can sometimes be difficult for young children to put into words.
Her work is shaped by both her experiences as a mother and her own personal journey with loss. Her first book, When the Dragonfly Finds the Sky: A Story of Love That Never Ends, was released in March 2026. Inspired by the loss of her father, the book transformed a deeply personal experience with grief into a story of enduring love and remembrance for children and families.
Through gentle storytelling and heartfelt messages, James hopes to create books that children can connect with while giving families a way to begin conversations about grief, memories, and the people they will always carry with them.
Her newest books, The Memory Garden and The Missing Star, were released on August 21, 2026.
