9 Picture Books About A Family Member With A Chronic Illness
When someone in the family has a chronic illness, kids may feel confused, worried, or not sure how to talk about their feelings. Plus, if the diagnosis is new, they may struggle to understand what life will be like now.
These 9 books are wonderful tools for families or educators who want to support children who have a loved one living with a chronic illness. The list includes books that cover a variety of both mental and physical illnesses, as well as different family members who may be chronically ill.
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Brave Like Mom by Monica Acker
Recommended Grades: K to 1
Focus: A mom with a general physical illness
The mom in this story is brave and strong. She can open applesauce jars, she tries weird vegetables, and she helps trap spiders. She’s also brave and strong when she gets sick. She handles the needles, sleeping alone, and the aches and pains. The little girl is inspired to be brave and strong too. Her mom reminds her that being brave and strong doesn’t mean that you never cry or feel upset.
pockets full of rocks by Yair engleberg
Recommended Grades: K-2
Focus: A dad with depression
Ella’s dad is sick, but he doesn’t have a stomachache, a cut, or anything that Ella can see. One day, her dad explains that he has depression and that it’s like a deep sadness that stays around for a while and makes him not want to do fun things. He explains that it’s like having rocks in his pocket that weigh him down, but that there are ways to manage it like going to therapy, taking medicine, exercising, etc.
my happy sad mummy by michelle vasiliu
Recommended Grades: K to 2
Focus: A mom with bipolar disorder
In this story, a little girl shares her experience having a mom who has bipolar disorder. Her mom sometimes has very happy days, where she’s excited about everything and works so hard on things that she won’t rest. Sometimes, though, her mom has sad days where she doesn’t talk and doesn’t want to do anything but stay in bed. The girl’s dad explains that her mom’s brain isn’t always working right and that sometimes she needs help from medication or hospital doctors. The book ends with the helpful reminder that whatever her mom is experiencing, the girl loves her mom and knows that her mom loves her.
wonder mommy! by Jennifer Senne
Recommended Grades: K to 2
Focus: A mom with a general physical illness
The girl in this story loves to have fun with her mom, even on days when it’s hard for her mom to walk or when her muscles aren’t working right. The girl celebrates her “wonder mommy” and all the great things about her on her good days and her hard days.
Mommy has a monster on her back by liz long
Recommended Grades: K to 2
Focus: A mom with a general physical illness
The mom of the boy in this story has a monster on her back. She’s had it a long time, and some days it’s bigger than others. He doesn’t go away, but the mom has learned to live with the monster. The boy has also learned ways to care for his mom when the monster feels big and heavy. The readers see that it can be hard to live with the monster of chronic illness on your back, but thankfully the love that the mom has is bigger than the monster.
Big Tree is sick by Nathalie slosse
Recommended Grades: K to 3
Focus: General illness
Snibbles has been friends with Big Tree for a long time, and they have shared many special memories. One day, the doctor comes and tells Big Tree that there is a woodworm living under his bark. While Snibbles is waiting for Big Tree to feel better, he wrestles with anger, questions, and frustration. At the end of the book, Big Tree is still in a long recovery process, but there is hope for a brighter future.
some days by Julie A. Stamm
Recommended Grades: K to 3
Focus: A mom with multiple sclerosis
Wyatt’s mom has multiple sclerosis, and even though she has limitations, the two of them have so many fun adventures together. This book outlines some of the struggles that a person with M.S. might face, like having sore legs, needing to go to the bathroom right away, being tired, and feeling wobbly. Yet, it also shows all of the great ways that someone with M.S can love and be loved!
now one foot now the other by tomie depaola
Recommended Grades: K to 4
Focus: A grandfather who has had a stroke
Bobby and his grandpa Bob were the best of friends. They shared many memories together, including when Bob taught Bobby to walk by guiding him and saying, “first one foot, now the other.” One day, Bob has a stroke and is in the hospital for months. When Bob came home, he couldn’t walk, talk, or remember things from his past. Very slowly, Bobby helped Bob recover, including teaching him to walk.
The Perfect Shelter by Clare Helen Welsh
Recommended Grades: 1 to 4
Focus: A sister with a general physical illness
The girl and her sister worked together to build the perfect shelter. She noticed that something wasn’t quite right with her sister. Her parents told her that her sister was just tired, but she saw people crying about it. Eventually, her parents tell her that her sister is sick. As her sister goes into the hospital, has an operation, and spends time with the doctors, the shelter they built begins to fall apart. Eventually, her sister starts to feel a little better, and they celebrate by building a shelter right where they are in the living room.
I hope that these 9 books will help with normalizing the experiences of a child with a chronically ill family member, and remind them that love and connection remain strong even in difficult times.
