Perhaps one of the most challenging aspects of motherhood with a chronic illness is helping your children understand what’s going on with your body and encouraging acceptance about how your illness affects them. How can you help them develop empathy for what you are experiencing, especially if your illness is invisible? Where is the line between being honest and worrying them? What’s the best way to address their concerns in child-friendly language? This is a topic that will probably need to be an ongoing conversation in your family – and sometimes reading a book together can help!
Here’s a list of all the children’s books we’ve reviewed on our site to make it easier for you to browse all the options. All of these books can be considered tools to help children cope with having a parent with a chronic illness, and often they can be helpful even if the specific diagnosis mentioned is not yours. But please check out each individual review to find out if the book is right for your family!
Review of: Aunt Barby’s invisible, endless Owie by Barbie Ingle and Tim Ingle
Review of: How do you care for a very sick bear? by Vanessa Bayer
Review of: How many marbles do you have? Helping children understand the limitations of people with chronic fatigue syndrome and fibromyalgia by Melinda Malott
Review of: In my heart – A book full of feelings by Jo Witek
Review of: Mommy has to stay in bed by Annette Rivlin-Gutman
Review of: Mom Too bad by Rosana Sullivan
Review of: Mom goes to the hospital by Josie Leon
Review of: Mom, what’s wrong? Through Jessica Hensarling
Review of: My special butterfly by Kelli Roseta
Review of: Noah the Narwhal – A story of ups and downs by Judith Klausner
Review of: Ravyn’s Doll – How to Explain Fibromyalgia to Your Child by Melissa Swanson
Review of: Some days (board book) by Caitlyn PW Jones
Review of: Some days: a story about love, ice cream and my mother’s chronic illness by Julie A. Stamm
Review of: What does Super Jonny do when mom gets sick? by Simone Colwill
Review of: When mom is sick by Ferne Sherkin-Langer
Review of: When Pete’s father got sick by Kathleen Long Bostrom
Review of: Why does mommy hurt? Helping children cope with the challenges of having a caregiver with chronic pain, fibromyalgia, or autoimmune diseases by Elizabeth M Christy
Review of: Wonder Mom by Jennifer
