Cancer & Illness
The titles below are for all of you cancer warriors and your families. These books help to explain what cancer is and can help prepare kids for the treatment and recovery process. These books are sweet, gentle and hopeful. We hope they bring strength and a small bit of comfort to you and your loved ones.
It’s always a pleasure to share these pages with professionals, and it’s even better when those professionals are your friends! Shirley Goldman, MSW, LCSW, is an Oncology Social Worker. Shirley brings us exceptional insight as both a mother of 3 adorable boys, and a counselor, who has provided support to patients, caregiver and the bereaved. She’s shared her expertise in this post by offering practical advice for parents and families. A huge thank you to my dear friend, Shirley!
I hope you like the books I recommend! Please note that the links below are affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Books About Cancer
You Are The Best Medicine - written by Julie Aigner Clark, a two-time breast cancer survivor. This book beautifully describes all of the sweet ways that a child can bring comfort, joy and support to her mother as she prepares for cancer treatment. She discusses, hair loss, being tired, and feeling sick, in ways that children can understand. This book is fantastic because it makes connections between the challenges of cancer and the joys of motherhood. For example, explaining that when her hair falls out, she’ll be happy when she remembers how soft and warm her daughter’s bare head was as a baby.
Cancer Hates Kisses - written by a real mom who journeyed through cancer with her family. This kids in this book know their mother is a “cancer-fighting superhero.” They turn around bad days with dance parties, and heal her “warrior wounds” with kisses and laughter.
Amazing Annabelle - a fabulous book for children diagnosed with cancer. This book is full of beautiful and hopeful illustrations. It teaches kids to go to a better place when they’re scared. It also helps prepare kids for procedures such as scans, surgeries and treatment. For children 3+.
Mom & The Polka Dot Boo Boo - a gentle and hopeful book about breast cancer by a mother and daughter duo who’ve been through diagnosis, treatment & recovery. This one explains what to expect in the weeks and months following Mommy’s diagnosis. I love the illustrations in this book because they’re real drawings done by the author’s daughter, which makes it so relatable.
The Goodbye Cancer Garden - in the wake of mom’s cancer diagnosis, her family decides to plant a garden to watch and care for during her treatment. I love the way this family channels their energy into something positive and active that they can do together. This book is sweet and gentle enough to read with children 4+.
The Long and Short of It - this book is appropriate for older children, ages 6+. Readers will follow two girls, one with hair, and one without. Their parallel stories about “hair problems,” feature great themes of friendship, self-esteem, courage and so much more.
Punk Wig - this is a good one for older children (1st graders and older). The story of a mother and her loving son. He supports her with kindness and humor as she journeys through treatment, hair loss and, recovery.
Lasting Love - When Mom came home from the hospital she brought a magical creature home with her. The creature represents the strongest part of herself, and also the part of her that loves her son the most. This deeply moving book captures the depth of love between parents and children. With beautiful illustrations and simple text, young readers will find comfort in learning about the bond that continues beyond life and flourishes forever in our hearts.
Hair for Mama - It’s time for a family photo but Marcus’s mom doesn’t want to be in it. She’s lost all of her beautiful hair, following chemotherapy, and would rather not be remembered without hair. Marcus decides to go for a haircut, hoping that his hair can be used for a wig for Mama. This sweet and deeply touching book shines a light on the trials and triumphs of navigating cancer. For readers ages 5+.
Books About Illness and Hospitalizations
Surgery on Sunday - Meet Sunday, a brave little girl with a big imagination. Follow Sunday as she prepares for ear surgery. This funny and colorful book is a great read for any child preparing for medical procedures or hospital stay. I love the way this book helps readers learn about scary experiences, such as getting an IV and anesthesia, with love and humor.
How Do You Care For a Very Sick Bear? - this sweet and simple book is perfect for even the youngest child. In this short story, the author gently explains the changes that occur when bear’s best friend gets sick, and how her friendship can help. Author and Leukemia survivor, Vanessa Bayer, conveys the message that no matter what happens, true friends will always be there for each other.
Feel Better, Mommy - Abby’s mom has a boo boo so her Nana takes her to the hospital to visit. At first she’s nervous about going to the hospital, but she soon learns that the hospital is a safe place that will help her mom to heal.
What Are Germs? - a fun and colorful lift-the-flap book. I like the question and answer format of the book, which will help you answer the questions your child may be asking.
The Perfect Shelter - this book is perfect for siblings who are navigating serious illness together. These sisters love building the perfect shelter out of branches and twigs, but when one sister becomes very sick, there’s no one to build or laugh with, and nothing seems right. Together the weather the storm and find ways to support each other. This story is full of hope and sensitivity, perfect for all families who’ve been impacted by illness.
My Mommy Medicine - Is there anything better than having Mom take care of us when we’re sick? Who has the magic touch to get us back to sleep after a nightmare? Mommy of course! When her little girl wakes in the middle of the night feeling sick, mommy is there with soothing hugs, hot cocoa, and cuddles that cure-all. I love this book so much! It brought a tear to my eye, as a mama of 2 little ones.
Books About Courage & Strength
Be Brave Little One - a sweet and simple book about having courage in the face of challenges. This book is perfect for any family dealing with illness or any difficult phase.
Brave As Can Be: A Book of Courage - a beautiful book about overcoming your fears, including being afraid of the dark, a storm, and a neighbor’s dark. This is a great book to use when starting a conversation about courage and bravery.
Go Get ‘Em Tiger! - super fun and colorful book that encourages our little ones to be brave, take risks, and face challenges. I love the way this book talks about celebrating success and learning from failure. Books with messages like these are so important for nurturing resilience in our kids.
Brave Enough For Two - A beautiful story about sharing our inner strength with the ones we love when they need it most.
How Do You Make a Rainbow? - A joyful story celebrating love, positivity, and the precious relationship between a child and her grandad. With lyrical, easy-flowing text, and adorably colorful illustrations, this book is sure to brighten any rainy day.
By Caroline Crow
“More titles coming soon!”
Advice from Shirley Goldman, Oncology Counselor, MSW, LCSW
One of the most common thoughts to wonder when it comes to disclosing information about a loved one with cancer to a child is whether they should even tell them what is going on. It is understandable to wonder whether children are better off not knowing. But the reality is that children tend to know more than we give them credit for. For the most part, children can be very intuitive, and can sense much more than we think. For this reason, honesty and openness is crucial. When you, as the grown-up, are open and honest about what is going on, it gives children a sense of security. It provides and a safe space to open up about their thoughts and concerns. Remember, children learn by example. If they sense that something is wrong but you're not talking about it, they may also learn to suppress their fears when it comes to this topic.
While opening the discussion on cancer can be challenging, here are some points to make it feel a bit more manageable:
Plan ahead. Prepare what you would like to say, who you would like to be present, and schedule a time to sit down when your child is well-rested, well-fed, and not distracted.
Use age-appropriate language. You can discuss any parts of the cancer journey, including treatments, side effects, and lifestyle changes. Just remember to use words and examples that your child can understand and relate to.
Encourage your child to ask questions and voice their concerns. If they cannot think of any on the spot, let them know that this is an open-ended discussion and that questions can be asked at any time they pop up.
Check-in with your child from time to time after your conversation to see if they have thought of any questions and to remind them that there’s never a bad time for questions (and no bad questions!)
Spend some time focusing on your child during the discussion. It can be easy to get wrapped up in how cancer will affect the person going through cancer. But don’t forget to also acknowledge any effects it may have on your child.
Reassure them that they will continue to be cared for throughout this journey as well. If there will be changes to their care, for example, more time with grandma or a new sitter, tell them about this too! The goal is to let them know that they will not be forgotten in all of this.
Read books together about cancer and its side effects. This is a great way to keep the conversation going and open our minds to new thoughts. Books geared towards children keep the dialogue open and can get kids thinking about everything in a different light.
Did you like these books?
Do you have other favorites on this topic ?
Do you have a topic that you'd like to see here?
E-mail bigbooksforlittlehands@gmail.com, I'd love to do a post for you.
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