Children's Books About the Heart and Heart Conditions/Procedures
Today I am sharing heart books! I read through a lot and these were my favorites. I truly appreciated how many I could find that actually talked about procedures and surgeries. These can be so scary for kids and adults can often struggle with how to prepare kids. These books seem like they will be super helpful with that specifically. Be sure to read the descriptions below to find the right book for your family.
Cardiology for Kids by Betty Nguyen and Brandom Pham
This book talks about the parts of the heart, how it works, and some common heart conditions. The book is written mostly in simple words and the illustrations increase understanding. The common conditions covered in the book tend to be adult heart issues which could be helpful if a parent or grandparent has a heart related condition or event. It does not cover pediatric conditions. This book would be good for preschool- middle elementary.
Your One and Only Heart by Rajani LaRocca
This is an interesting book of poems about the heart. The poems teach kids about different aspects of the heart and help them relate to how it works and its importance. The end of the book does have some more direct education as well. This book wouldn’t be for all kids and does not directly teach about a specific heart condition, but I think the poems themselves are an interesting way to build a deeper understanding with kids. If you have a child who is curious about the body or who has a heart condition, this could be a great way to learn and think together. This book would be best for school-age kids.
Connected at the Heart: A story for kids living with congenital heart disease by 2HEARTS (a group of pre-teens and teens who wrote the book together at a workshop)
First of all, the child life specialist in me loves the fact that this group of kids were given the opportunity to write a book that they wished existed when they were younger. The book tells the story of a boy who goes to the hospital for an appointment. He meets a lot of kids/teens throughout the day who help him understand what to expect and help him find ways to cope with some of the harder aspects of CHD. The book covers a large variety of medical experiences that kids with CHD could experience. I recommend it for school aged kids especially those with CHD or who are closely impacted. Good for elementary school kids or could be interesting for a teen to read and suggest what they would add based on their experiences.
Henry Has Heart Surgery by Stephanie B Johnson
This book is the story of a boy who has heart surgery. The book covers all that he experiences at the hospital in a kid-friendly non-scary language. This book would be great for adults to read with kids prior to surgery (or after to encourage processing!). I love the inclusion of a child life specialist, the choices he is given, and how the information is from a child’s point of view. Great for young children through middle elementary. Also, available in Spanish. I even think upper elementary kids might get some benefit from it, if they don’t mind the child-like perspective. (This author has a second book called Henry Has a Heart Cath that I would love to read and maybe include on the list someday!)
SuperScar by Melanie Tucker
This book tells the story of a little boy who has surgery as a baby for a congenital heart defect. Even though he isn’t the same as other kids, the scar continues to remind him that he is brave and can do hard things. Good for preschool through young elementary.
Little Panda and Her Super Heart: A heart surgery story: an empowering children's book about congenital heart defects (CHD) by Marta Almansa Esteva
This book could be helpful for young children waiting for a heart transplant. The book tells the story of a panda who doesn’t feel well and goes to the hospital. The book talks about the different tests that the panda experiences. She then finds out that she needs a new heart. (This part could be scary and confusing if a child has a heart condition and does NOT need a transplant). The story then briefly and simply tells about waiting for her heart, the transplant surgery, and some time in the hospital after. The pages are colorful and use a wide range of mediums to depict the story - likely appealing to young children. I would recommend this book for young children through young elementary who are having or have had a transplant or who know someone going through that process.
Find the entire Hospital Book List tab on the home page!
