Hearing the words, “You have cancer” was hard to digest. How would I tell my children? How would I explain this to the kids at school? How could I break down information that I was just learning into easy terms for them to understand? Could I find cancer books for kids to help explain this?
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One of the things that has really stuck with me is that there are over 5 million children in the world who have a parent who is dealing with cancer.
That number is staggering to me. And while cancer is scary it isn’t always as horrible. Being open and honest and helping kids understand cancer can be so helpful. Here are some great books I have found to help kids learn about and understand cancer along with the ways to treat cancer.
Cancer Books for Kids
I get lots of questions from kids about cancer. But there are two I get most often.
#1 – Is Cancer contagious?
#2 – Why does it make you lose your hair?
Here are a few picture books that have really helped to explain all of this to my own children and my students.
Cancer Party by Sara Olsher
One of the best resources I have found to help myself and kids understand cancer is Cancer Party from Sara Olsher from Mighty and Bright. This breaks down the science of cancer and the treatments into kid friendly terms. This book has helped me explain cancer to my own 2nd and 4th grader. It has also helped me explain what is happening to me to the 578 students I have at my school. Many want to know why I have been out lately and why I have lost my hair.
She also has a book that goes into more detail for kids who have a family member in the house who is undergoing treatment for cancer called Someone I Love Has Cancer.
We ended up buying her calendar to put on the fridge. My daughter broke into tears one night saying that she wished I never had cancer so we could do things again. This calendar has helped the kids know when my bad days are. They can plan fun things around those days so we are still able to do fun things again, just not on those days.
When a Kid Like Me Fights Cancer
Adults aren’t the only ones who get cancer. Kids, unfortunately, get it too. I love how the book When a Kid Like Me Gets Cancer by Catherine Stier Breaks down cancer for kids. Going through this cancer journey has opened me to so many stories that have been shared by my students. I can’t believe how many of them have either HAD cancer themselves or has a parent who has or had cancer. Having books like this one available can help so many kids not feel so alone.
Cancer Hates Kisses
Have young kids? Cancer Hates Kisses is a great book that simplifies what happens with cancer treatments. It circles around the premise of all of the good things you can do that cancer hates – kisses, hugs, and time together. It also talks a little bit about chemo and radiation and how parents may feel when they have these treatments.
These cancer books for kids have been so helpful in explaining what is happening to me to my own children, as well as, the 550 that I teach at school.
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