This qualitative case study describes three adult siblings' experiences and their perceptions of support connected with the time before and after their father's suicide. At the time of the suicide, participants were ages 1, 5, and 8 years old. We considered commonalities and disparities among the three survivors' perceptions. We also considered how their reported experiences compared to extant literature on child survivors of parent suicide. Our findings suggest that, although the siblings experienced the same traumatic event, each had unique perceptions of the parent's suicide. Immediately prior to closing each interview, to deescalate from the intense topic of suicide, participants offered their impressions of potentially therapeutic children's books and how bibliotherapy may or may not support surviving children. Participants' perceptions of selected children's picture books offer insights about opening communication and addressing challenges specific to a parent's suicide. Implications for teachers, parents, and school-based mental health professionals are provided. We conclude that postvention must consider and monitor each child's perceptions and provide individualized interventions that encourage open communication and support adaptive coping to navigate the intense grief associated with a parent's suicide. KeywordsSuicide • Child survivors of parent suicide • Postvention support for child survivors of parent suicide • Bibliotherapy • Qualitative methods Highlights • Following a parent's suicide, children's memories are highly influenced by what adults say and do following the suicide. • Even though siblings share a similar trauma, their narratives may indicate highly individualized memories and responses. • Following a parent's suicide, identify supportive interventions that are individualized to the child's perceptions and needs. • Carefully select children's books to support child survivors. Consider how stories might trigger strong responses.
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