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Formerly known as California Oncology of the Central Valley Request an Appointment

The Complete List of Books to Help Kids Through Your Cancer Diagnosis

Women's Cancer Care > Personal Wellness > The Complete List of Books to Help Kids Through Your Cancer Diagnosis

As a parent, there are few things harder than telling your child you have cancer.

Luckily, there are so many different resources available to help break the news to your children, no matter their age, in a soft, easy-to-understand way. We have compiled a list of all of the best-rated children’s books from infant to teen reading level so you do not have to go searching.

Young Children:
Stickers On Her Bald Head

Stickers On Her Bald Head: Explaining Cancer and Chemo Hair Loss to Children in a Fun Way

by Chelsea Gomez

Cancer Hates Kisses

Cancer Hates Kisses

by Jessica Reid Sliwerski

The Invisible String book

The Invisible String

by Patrice Karst

Butterfly Kisses and Wishes on Wings

Butterfly Kisses and Wishes on Wings- When someone you love has cancer...a hopeful. helpful book for kids

by Ellen McVicker

Nowhere Hair

Nowhere Hair: Explain cancer and hair loss to kids

by Sue Glader and Edith Buenen

Hunter's Hero

Hunter's Hero: My Mommy has Breast Cancer

by Shannon Pierce

Mommy has a Boo-Boo

Mommy Has a Boo-Boo: Explaining Breast Cancer to Children

by Marci Greenberg Cox

Explaining to kids: Mammy has Breast Cancer

Explaining to kids: Mammy has breast cancer

by Yvonne Crawley

Mom and the Polka-Dot Boo-Boo

Mom and the Polka-Dot Boo-Boo

by Eileen Sutherland

Elementary Age:
Punk Wig

Punk Wig

by Lori Ries

Fritzy Finds a Hat

Fritzy Finds a Hat: A Gentle Tale to Help Talk with Children About Cancer

by Scott Hamilton

The Year My Mother Was Bald

The Year My Mother Was Bald

by Ann Speltz

Talking with my Treehouse Friends about Cancer

Talking with My Treehouse Friends about Cancer: An Activity Book for Children of Parents with Cancer by Peter van Dernoot

 by Peter van Dernoot

Cancer Activity Book

Because . . . Someone I Love Has Cancer by American Cancer Society

 by American Cancer Society

When Someone You Love Has Cancer

When Someone You Love Has Cancer: A Guide to Help Kids Cope by Alaric Lewis O.S.B.

by Alaric Lewis O.S.B.

Cancer Party!

Cancer Party!: Explain Cancer, Chemo, and Radiation to Kids in a Totally Non-Scary Way by Sarah Olsher

by Sarah Olsher

A Mom of Many Hats

A Mom of Many Hats

by Debbie Fink

BK's Mommy has Breast Cancer

BK'S Mommy Has Breast Cancer

 by Marquita Goodluck

Mom Has Cancer!

Mom Has Cancer! (Let's Talk About It Series)

by Jennifer Moore-Mallinos

It's OK, Mama Has Cancer

It's OK, Mama Has Cancer

by Shannon O’Brien

The Hope Tree

The Hope Tree: Kids Talk About Breast Cancer

 by Laura Numeroff

What Happens When Someone I love has cancer

What Happens When Someone I Love Has Cancer?: Explain the Science of Cancer and How a Loved One's Diagnosis and Treatment Affects a Kid's Day-To-day Life

by Sara Olsher

Hair for Mama

Hair for Mama

by Kelly Tinkham

The Goodbye Cancer Garden

The Goodbye Cancer Garden

 by Jenna Matthies

The Hope Tree

The Hope Tree: Kids Talk About Breast Cancer

by Laura Numeroff

What Happens When Someone I love has cancer

What Happens When Someone I Love Has Cancer?: Explain the Science of Cancer and How a Loved One's Diagnosis and Treatment Affects a Kid's Day-To-day Life

by Sara Olsher

Hair for Mama

Hair for Mama

by Kelly Tinkham

The Goodbye Cancer Garden

The Goodbye Cancer Garden

by Jenna Matthies

Young Adult:
My Parent Has Cancer And It Really Sucks

My Parent Has Cancer and It Really Sucks

by Marc Silver

Ida B

Ida B: . . . and Her Plans to Maximize Fun, Avoid Disaster, and (Possibly) Save the World

by Katherine Hannigan

less than perfect

Less Than Perfect

by Louise Albert

Your children will have questions, and that’s ok. We are here to support you along the way. Visit https://womencancerdev.wpengine.com/community/support-services/ for more information about how to get in touch with our in-house support services.

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1 Response
  1. Charissa Bates, LICSW, SSW

    Hello!
    I stumbled upon your website and I’d love for my book to be included on your resources page for children.

    Here is the book trailer: https://youtu.be/SSPxdacziDM

    Also, here is all the information on the book! Thank you for considering! 🙂 Charissa

    We Find Joy: Cancer Messed with the Wrong Family available now at: https://a.co/d/0gPoOah

    We hear a family member has been diagnosed with cancer. That’s a lot to take in! Guess what? You and your family have the power to create joy during this time. Our mom was diagnosed when we were 2, 5, and 7 and we learned a lot! We also had a lot of fun even though times were scary and sometimes hard on our family. Find ways to create, cope, and learn how to make the most out of each day.

    We Find Joy embraces the idea that joy can be found during the hardest of times. Children will feel empowered that they can create happy times during a parent or loved ones fight with cancer. Children will see themselves taking care of a loved one through making cards, playing a fight song, and working on their quiet voices while their fighter rests.

    The last couple of pages have a guide “From a kid who’s been there” where the author’s children came up with ideas to help other children cope with a loved ones diagnosis of cancer. There truly can be joy found during this very difficult time.

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