More Children's Books for the Hem/Onc Clinic
* This image uses the old name of the ‘Is There a Book for That?’ blog/book list.
This week in honor of September being both Pediatric Cancer Month and Sickle Cell Awareness Month, I am sharing some additional resources that I have found about both conditions.
Each of these titles offers a different perspective, so read below to find the story or the information that feels right for your family. Also, please remember that I have suggested books in previous weeks that also support this community. If you haven't already, check out my blogs from February 4 and March 12.
My Life Beyond Leukemia by Hey Gee and Rae Burremo
This book tells the story of a girl who has already fought cancer. She is returning to the clinic to get a Lumbar Puncture. The girl is sedated for the procedure, and during it, she has a dream that she is helping the other patients in the hospital. The book tells of multiple kids struggling with chemo and the girl helps them. She tells them that they are in charge of their bodies and gives some suggestions. I would say in general this book would be better for kids who have already started treatment. Some of the parts it brings up, like the port, port accesses, and the return of cancer after remission could be scary and confusing for kids new to cancer treatment. I could see that it could help school age kids who have already built some of their own cancer experiences.
https://amzn.to/4oSpVZU
My Life with Leukemia by Mari Schuh
This book tells the real story of a 9 year old with leukemia. The book does a nice job wording things simply and talking about multiple aspects of her treatment and her experience. It is honest about some of the negative aspects of leukemia including hair loss, 2.5 years of treatment, and not feeling good during chemo. It talks about having to stay away from other kids to stay healthy but doesn’t go deep into why. I think the simple words and topic are a great way to start the conversation about leukemia, but of course, it could benefit from additional supportive conversations. Could be great for classrooms who have a student with leukemia as well.
https://amzn.to/4pgStfl
A kids book about cancer by Dr. Kelsie Storm and Sarah Potter
If you are familiar with the “a kids book about…” series, you know that each book is full of words to talk about each topic, but there are no illustrations. This book is no different. While the book doesn’t include pictures, it does include words to start the important conversation, in this case about cancer. This book is general and would be appropriate for anyone having cancer. It does mention that cancer is serious and that people die from cancer, but it also reassures that most people with cancer survive. It talks about treatment options, feelings, and explains cancer on a simple level. I appreciate that this book stays simple but doesn’t try to sugar coat. Even if it isn’t a great fit for a caregiver’s children, a caregiver could benefit from reading it to practice easy ways of supporting and explaining. Best for ages 6-10.
https://amzn.to/3LH0Hip
When A Kid Like Me Fights Cancer by Catherine Stier
This is a children’s book that focuses on the interactions that a family fighting cancer may have with each other and with their community. Instead of explaining treatments or medical experiences, this book talks about interactions the child might have with their classmates or community members who support their fight from afar. Families may find that this book helps kids feel less alone while reminding them that everyone’s cancer fight is different, getting cancer is no one’s fault, and all feelings are ok. I appreciated the inclusive colorful illustrations. It appears that this book was created as part of the education efforts of the National Pediatric Cancer Foundation.
https://amzn.to/487CmtC
My Life Beyond Sickle Cell Disease by Hey Gee and Golden Ella
The book is a real life story about Sickle Cell disease. The girl in the story is a track runner. The book talks about different things she does to keep her body healthy and strong through a variety of stressors including things like drinking water, staying warm, and meditation to help with stress. She achieves in various ways. This story includes some educational aspects, but overall I think its best asset is that it shows a real life story of a teen taking care of her body and succeeding no matter her sickle cell struggles. Good for middle elementary through middle school.
https://amzn.to/3JFm0QP
Just Like the Moon by Maite Rodriguez
This book tells the story of a 6 year old girl with sickle cell. The book talks about her “super special blood”. It does a nice job giving a simple description and describing the genetic piece in a kid-friendly way. It talks about how she doesn’t like her “gross medicine” or getting out of bed to go to the hospital. It talks about the things she does to take care of herself. This could be good for kids 5-9 feel less alone in their experiences. One thing to be aware of is that the book ends with the girl meeting a transplant doctor. She talks about the possibility of not having to take the medicine and do some of these hard things anymore. This could be helpful to start the conversation if a cell transplant is something you are considering for your child. If this is not an option for your child or not something they could be experiencing, this book would need some clarification or may not be the right book for you.
https://amzn.to/48ghIZr
(I am adding links to all of the books to help you all easily find and purchase. I do receive a small commission, but it doesn't cost you any more and it doesn't take anything away from the author. It's just Amazon that makes a little less per purchase. :) This helps me justify spending time in my week finding more great books for you!)
