Books for Common GI issues
Today, I am sharing some books I found about common GI issues!
Poop Books: There are several books out there about constipation and pooping. This makes sense as this can be a common problem in children. The books offer suggestions and encourage behaviors that help kids poop. These could be a great addition to a pediatric inpatient floor, as lots of time resting instead of being active can lead to constipation.
I was also excited to find resources about Celiac Disease. The two Celiac books are stories that help a child feel less alone and focus on the positives in Celiac Disease. This is important because this drastic change in diet is hard for many kids. Both of these titles would also be great for classrooms.
I was excited to read this Crohn’s Disease resource because
1)there aren't many out there!
2) it was written by a child life specialist!
One of the things that I look for in books are kid-appropriate descriptions and support for feelings, and this book is full of both (read more about the book and the author below!)
Of course, I am only recommending titles that I have read myself. Let me know if you have other favorites or some topics that you were hoping to find resources about. I will definitely add to this list in the future!
Boo Can’t Poo by Xiao Jing "Iris" Wang, MD
Talks through simple things kids can do to help them poop - including diet, exercise, and positioning on the toilet. Can help reinforce some of these concepts for young children.
Sam the Sloth and the Poop That Wouldn’t Come by Bloom Books for Young Readers
Encourages young children to stay on the toilet and play. Good for kids who don’t sit long enough to poop. Talks about telling jokes, blowing bubbles, etc encouraging kids to relax so the poop can come out.
It Hurts When I Poop: A Story for Children Who Are Scared to Use the Potty by Howard J. Bennet, M.D.
The story of a constipated little boy. The boy’s doctor tells him stories and gives him tips on what would make pooping easier. Relatable way for adults to talk to kids about constipation. The boy in this story uses a pullup to poop and there is some discussion about moving away from that as pooping becomes easier - this part may or may not be applicable to your situation.
Violet and the Crumbs: A Gluten-Free Adventure by Abigail Rayner
This is a story of a girl who has Celiac Disease. It shares how frustrating parties and school were when she was constantly worried about gluten crumbs making her sick. When she learns more about animal diets and how many of them get sick from gluten too, Violet feels less alone. In the end, she tries advocating for herself and teaches her friends how they can share meals with her. Would be good for school age kids (and honestly it would be helpful for adults who might encounger a kid with Celiac).
The Gluten Glitch by Stasie John
This is a story of a boy with Celiac Disease. He is sad that he couldn’t have one of his friends cupcakes at school. His mom reminds him how bad he feels when he eats gluten and reminds him of all the yummy things he can eat. Simple and relatable story for preschool through middle elementary school.
The Blank Page: Adding Colorful Purpose to Crohn’s Disease by Allie Jones, CCLS
The book uses a page as an analogy for a person, talking about the different emotions and experiences that make up the entire page. When the “page” gets Crohn’s Disease, the teacher page teaches it more about Crohn’s Disease. The book explains Crohn’s Disease in a way that kids can understand and talks about feelings they might have, while instilling hope that things will get better. As a bonus, there are several hands-on activities on the last several pages. (Allie is a fellow child life specialist author. She is always coming up with more diagnosis teaching books, you can find them at www.childlifetogo.com). Would be good for preschool through elementary.
