As a child life specialist, mom, and author, I have previewed all of the books in this list looking for things that matter to me: appropriate language, up-to-date medical practices, potential to build coping skills, etc. (Go to the blog and search ‘criteria’ to learn more. )

Different families and different situations can benefit from different types of books. So please know that not all of the books will be the best fit for your purpose. I tried to include a variety of books to fit a variety of needs.

The list is grouped into topics. I sorted them as best I could to help you find what you are looking for, but please keep in mind that one child might benefit from books from multiple topics. For example, if your child will spend the night at the hospital after a surgery, they may benefit from ‘surgery’ books, ‘inpatient’ books, and books about their specific diagnosis.

If you want to know more about each title before purchasing, the Words Worth Repeating blog also has descriptions of each book. Also, many of these books have videos on YouTube or previews on websites, so you can read them before buying. The blog ‘search bar’ can be another way to find the kind of books you are looking for.

The books in the PDF list are color-coded according to the following types of books:

Explaining books: These titles are educational and would be helpful when teaching or when helping a child process an event or diagnosis.

Story books: These titles tell the story of someone having a relatable experience. The details in these books might be different from a child's experience or might have magical perspectives, but they could still be interesting or relatable. Some add some fun and an imaginative way of looking at things. Some tell stories that can help a child see that they aren't the "only one".

Coloring/Activity Books: These titles offer opportunities for kids to engage with the material. This can increase interest and encourage deeper processing.