Children's Books About Alopecia Areata
* This image shows the old name of the ‘Is There a Book for That?’ blog/book list.
Today, I am sharing books about alopecia aerata. This condition can be hard for kids because the hair loss is very visual and sometimes interupts cultural traditions and styles. In addition, the cause can be confusing for kids and adults, and the outlook varies and is unpredictable.
Fortunately, there are many titles about this topic. I sifted through them this week and am sharing some of my favorites. Most of these books are about kids who have alopecia, but I think could still be impactful in situations when a parent or other loved one has the condition. Check out the descriptions below to find what works for your child/ family!
Spots That Make Us Special by Meridith Pensler
This book talks about a large variety of skin differences including eczema, psoriasis, vitiligo, mollascum, and alopecia. Each kid shows the difference they deal with and mentions what they do to treat it. It doesn’t go into great depth about any of them, but it normalizes skin differences and helps kids feel less alone in being different. Great for young kids through middle elementary.
https://amzn.to/4buK6aG
Hair in My Brush by LaTesha Young
This book tells the story of a young girl who loses her hair. Every morning her mother would do her hair, as a part of getting ready for the day. When she loses her hair, she misses this tradition and her mother replaces it with a new tradition. Looking at herself in the mirror and repeating a powerful mantra. This book could be a good book to introduce positive coping techniques and reinforce that hair is not needed to be smart, beautiful, and capable. Good for preschool through middle elementary.
https://amzn.to/4sBJHe5
A Kids Book About Alopecia by Bergson Van and Karen Lee
This book teaches the reader about alopecia areata with the help of a young child. The book is educational teaches the reader about what causes it, possible treatments, responses from others, and how to handle the responses. The book is written in simple and easy to understand language. My only critique is that it is a little long, and there are very few pictures. This might make it hard to keep a child’s attention, but you could pick certain pages to reinforce important and relevant concepts. Good for elementary school.
https://amzn.to/3PghSJk
Shreya’s Very Own Style by Suhani Arikh
This book starts with a definition of alopecia areata and then tells the story of a school age girl who is very good at lots of things, but every time she has success, she has a hard time not focusing on her alopecia instead and how she wishes she had hair styles like her friends. The general lesson it teaches is that your hair is a part of who you are, but just one small part. Good for preschool through middle elementary.
https://amzn.to/4rH9FLU
What’s Silly Hair Day with No Hair? By Norene Paulson
This story is about a girl with alopecia who is generally confident, but struggles with what she will do for ‘silly hair day’ at her school. She and her best friend try a variety of options, but nothing feels right. In the end, her teacher changes the name of the day to ‘silly hair and head day’, and she finds a way that decorating her head feels good to her. This book demonstrates confidence and embracing uniqueness. Good for preschool- middle elementary.
https://amzn.to/4bV9Ld1
My Hair Went on Vacation by Paula Quinn
This is a real life story about a girl with alopecia. The girl loses her hair quickly and then likes to tell silly stories about where it went. The main message is that bald is beautiful. It demonstrates confidence and being yourself. Good for very young children through middle elementary.
https://amzn.to/4rIrCtx
Head-On: Stories of Alopecia by Deeann Callis Graham
This is a compilation of real life alopecia areata stories. Since alopecia is confusing condition with a variety of unpredictable outcomes, this book could help a family feel less alone. This is not a book that I would typically recommend because it does not fall under that children’s book category. That being said, I think it could be really interesting for older kids or for caregivers to use with school age children. The photos of real people partnered with their stories shows a wide variety of experiences and potential causes. Good for upper elementary-adult.
https://amzn.to/4lCkxsZ
My Mum by Amy Johnson
This is a simple book about a mom with alopecia. Its rhyming style and sweet words will feel comfortable to families. The empowering words and representation of a mama with no hair will feel special. I do think families might have trouble finding this resource. I found a reading of it on YouTube, but it looks like most places that are offering it our European websites. There is one organization that seems to be giving a way free copies. So that might be worth looking into. This book would be great for young children, ages 1-5.
This is another title that is hard to find in the states. I did find it in the UK here.
https://www.alopecia.org.uk/shop/my-mum-booklet
