8 Helpful Kids Books To Use When Cancer Affects A Family
A cancer diagnosis can be earth-shattering. It’s normal for children to feel worried or confused when cancer touches their lives, whether it’s their own diagnosis or the diagnosis of a loved one. Yet, it can be hard to know what to say and how to approach the topic in a gentle way.
These 8 picture books will help kids understand what it means to have cancer, what the experience might be like, and how they can cope with the emotions and changes that come with it. The books also serve as a great reminder to kids that they don’t have to face this scary time alone.
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mom and the polka-Dot boo-boo by eileen sutherland
Recommended Grades: Pre-K to K
This story follows a mom who is explaining her breast cancer to her child. The explanations are very simple and relatable, making this a great book for younger children.
cancer hates kisses by Jessica Reid sliwerski
Recommended Grades: K-2
In this book, the child’s mama is a cancer-fighting superhero. She’s fighting cancer bravely by doing things like having surgery and going through chemo. Throughout the process, her kids help her fight by giving her hugs, kisses, compliments, and other things that cancer hates. This is a great book for helping kids understand their important role, as a parent or loved one experiences the many things that having cancer entails.
fritzy finds a hat by scott hamilton and brad paisley
Recommended Grades: K to 2
Fritzy Goldwing has an important job - to find the perfect hat for his mom to wear to her doctor appointment. He has many ideas about what would be helpful - a hat with a phone to stay in touch, one with soup and crackers for when she’s not feeling good, etc. Finally, he thinks of just the right hat to keep his mom encouraged.
they call me brave by shane autumn nebbia
Recommended Grades: K to 2
When Ava was young, she found out she had cancer. This was a scary time for her family, but she knew she was tough. Even through the ups and downs of having cancer, Ava’s positive attitude, friends, and family are her source of joy in this hard time. Her name is Ava, but they call her brave.
my dad and the dragon by montserrat coughlin kim
Recommended Grades: K to 3
Cameron’s dad has a cancer dragon in him. Thankfully, there are ways that his dad can fight the dragon, like with radiation and chemotherapy. Still, the cancer dragon sometimes does things like send him to the hospital, burn off his hair, and cause him to act different. When he has questions or wants to talk about how he feels, Cameron can talk to his mom or his sister. He also remembers that the cancer dragon isn’t his dad, but that they just have to live with the dragon for now.
when a kid like me fights cancer by catherine stier
Recommended Grades: K to 3
The boy in this book is diagnosed with cancer, something that he doesn’t know much about. Readers follow along as the boy learns more about what cancer is and what it might be like to experience it. This is a great book for kids who have been recently diagnosed, or for kids who know another child who has been diagnosed.
mama’s year with cancer by nancy churnin and shayna vincent
Recommended Grades: 1 to 3
This story follows a girl as she experiences her mom having cancer. Readers follow along as the mom goes through chemotherapy, loses her hair, and manages sickness and fatigue. We also see the ups and downs that the girl experiences during this time. In the end, the mom gets to accomplish her goal of ringing the bell that shows she’s in recovery.
what happens when someone i love has cancer by sara olsher
Recommended Grades: 1 to 4
Mia’s stuffed animal Stuart wonders how someone’s days and routines are different when someone we love has cancer. First, Stuart learns what cancer is. Then, he learns how it’s treated through surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy. This is a great book for helping kids learn about what to expect when a friend or family members gets diagnosed.
Cancer brings a lot of change and a lot of feelings. My hope is that these books will give kids space to explore those feelings and see that love and hope can still shine through hard times.
