Below are some print books (many are also available as ebooks) that parents of children with solid tumors have found helpful. You might find there are some print books you wish to own. If they are not in stock at your local or online bookstore, ask if they can be special-ordered for you—most bookstores are happy to do this for customers. Copies of out-of-print books can often be located through the internet from used bookstores or private sellers on sites such as Amazon.com. Ebooks are available in many different formats and from many online booksellers (e.g., www.amazon.com, www.barnesandnoble.com) or from local libraries.

General reading (for adults)

Bracken, Jean Munn. Children with Cancer: A Comprehensive Reference Guide for Parents. (2010). Comprehensive coverage of childhood cancers, written by a librarian who is the parent of a survivor of childhood cancer.

Cochran, Lizzie. Singing Away: Stories of Faith, Hope & Love in the Fight Against Childhood Cancer. (2013). True stories written by families of children with cancer.

Jampolsky, Gerald G. Advice to Doctors and Other Big People from Kids. (1991). This book is full of stories from children with catastrophic illnesses that remind us how perceptive and aware children of all ages are, and how necessary it is to involve them in medical decisions. Available at www.healingcenter.org/library.html.

Kushner, Harold. When Bad Things Happen to Good People, revised ed. (2004). Rabbi Kushner wrote this comforting book about how people of faith cope with catastrophic events.

National Cancer Institute. Young People with Cancer: A Handbook for Parents. This booklet describes the different types of childhood cancer, medical procedures, dealing with the diagnosis, family issues, and sources of information. To obtain a free copy, call (800) 4-CANCER / (800) 422-6237, or read it at www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/youngpeople.

Sourkes, Barbara M. Armfuls of Time: The Psychological Experience of the Child with a Life-Threatening Illness. (1996). Written by a psychologist, this eloquent book features the voices and artwork of children with cancer. It clearly describes the psychological effects of cancer on children and explains the power of the therapeutic process.

Woznick, Leigh; Goodheart, Carol. Living With Childhood Cancer: A Practical Guide to Help Families Cope. (2002). Written by a mother–daughter team, this book draws on the authors’ experiences with cancer, as well as their professional expertise and stories from others to help families address the psychological impact of childhood cancer.

General reading (for children)

Bourgeois, Paulette. Franklin Goes to the Hospital. (2011). Franklin the turtle goes to the hospital for an operation to repair his broken shell, and everyone thinks he’s being very brave. But Franklin is only pretending to be fearless. He’s worried that his x-rays will show just how frightened he is inside. (For young children.)

Crary, Elizabeth. Dealing with Feelings. I’m Frustrated; I’m Mad; I’m Sad Series. (1992). Fun, game-like books to teach young children how to handle feelings and solve problems.

Diaz, Jonathan and others. True Heroes: A Treasury of Modern-day Fairly Tales Written by Best-selling Authors. (2015). Gorgeous photographs and stories written by bestselling authors make children with cancer the heroes of their own modern-day fairy tales.

Gaynor, Kate. The Famous Hat: A Story book. (2008). This book helps children with cancer prepare for hospitalization, chemotherapy, and hair loss.

Keene, Nancy; Romain, Trevor. Chemo, Craziness & Comfort: My Book About Childhood Cancer. (2002). A 200-page resource that provides practical information for children diagnosed with cancer between 6 and 12 years of age. Warm and funny illustrations and easy-to-read text help the child (and parents) make sense of cancer and its treatment. Available free from www.acco.org/Information/Resources/Books.aspx.

Krisher, Trudy. Kathy’s Hats: A Story of Hope. (1992). A charming book, for children ages 5 to 10, about a girl whose love of hats comes in handy when chemotherapy makes her hair fall out.

Paul, Trisha. Chronicling Childhood Cancer: A Collection of Personal Stories by Children and Teens with Cancer. (2014). Ten children and teens describe the cancer experience in their own words and pictures.

Richmond, Christina. Chemo Girl: Saving the World One Treatment at a Time. (1996). Written by a 12-year-old girl with rhabdomyosarcoma, this book describes a superhero who shares hope and encouragement.

Skole, Gary; Skole, Jarrod. Imagine What’s Possible: Using the Power of Your Mind to Help Take Control of Your Life During Cancer. (2011). Techniques using visualization and guided imagery to help children ages 9 to 12 cope with fear, pain, anxiety, and other challenges.

General reading (for teens)

Gravelle, Karen. Teenagers Face to Face With Cancer. (2000). Sixteen teenagers talk openly about their experiences with cancer—from the physical difficulties of coping with treatment to the emotional trauma, which can be as painful as the illness itself. A heartfelt, honest book that demonstrates clearly how having cancer changes young people and how strength can emerge from struggles.

General reading (for siblings)

Dodd, Mike. Oliver’s Story. (2004). A 40-page illustrated book for 3- to 8-year old siblings of children diagnosed with cancer. Order a free copy in English or Spanish from www.acco.org/Information/Resources/Books.aspx.

Loughridge, Sally. Daniel and His Starry Night Blanket: A Story of Illness and Sibling Love. (2015). With lovely images and comforting words, this book explores the many emotions felt by Daniel over the course of his sister’s treatment for cancer.

National Cancer Insitute. When Your Brother or Sister Has Cancer: A Guide for Teens. (2012). This 100-page book helps siblings of a child with cancer prepare and cope with some of the challenges they face. Available free at www.cancer.gov/Publications/patient-education/sibling-has-cancer.

O’Toole, Donna. Aarvy Aardvark Finds Hope: A Read Aloud Story for People of All Ages About Loving and Losing, Friendship and Hope. (1988). Aarvy Aardvark and his friend Ralphie Rabbit show how a family member or friend can help another in distress.

Hospitalization

Keene, Nancy. Your Child in the Hospital: A Practical Guide for Parents, 3rd ed. (2015). A pocket guide full of parent stories to help others prepare their children for short- or long-term hospitalization.

Memoirs

MacLellan, Scott. Amanda’s Gift. (1998). A review of the emotional and financial impact of a child’s 7-year fight with cancer, including a liver transplant. It covers the complexities of insurance coverage and all areas of life as a caregiver, including the impact on faith and marriage.

Scott, Bar. The Present Giver: A Memoir. (2011). Passionate and beautiful story by singer/songwriter Bar Scott about her 2-year-old son Forrest’s journey through treatment for and death from stage IV liver cancer.

Soukup, Kathy; Soukup, Joel. Standing Tall: On One Leg. (2013). Short, inspirational memoir about a young man, age 16, diagnosed with osteosarcoma.

Strumpf, Katie. I Never Signed Up for This! An Upfront Guide to Dealing with Cancer at a Young Age. (2006). Written by a 25-year-old survivor with an upbeat attitude, this book covers returning to school, dealing with parents and doctors, losing your hair, and coping with the fear of death.

Neuroblastoma

Children’s Neuroblastoma Cancer Foundation. The CNCF Handbook for Parents of Children with Neuroblastoma. (2009). A handbook covering medical tests, tumor pathology, clinical trials, and coping with treatments. Available for free download from Children’s Neuroblastoma Cancer Foundation at www.cncfhope.org/CNCF_Neuroblastoma_Parent_Handbook.

Parenting

Faber, Adle; Mazlish, Elaine. How to Talk so Kids will Listen…and Listen so Kids Will Talk. (2012). A book about how to effectively communicate with your child.

Nelson, Jane. Positive Discipline. (2006). This parenting book explains how to focus on solutions while being kind and firm.

Radiation

National Cancer Institute. Radiation Therapy and You: Support for People With Cancer. (2007). A 60-page booklet that explains conventional radiation, what to expect, possible side effects, and follow-up care. Available online at www.cancer.gov/publications/patient-education/radiation-therapy-and-you.

Retinoblastoma

Talusan, Grace. Joey’s Special Eye. (2008). A coloring book that tells the story of Joey, who has his eye removed due to retinoblastoma and receives a prosthetic eye. Available at www.eyecancer.com/foundation/retinoblastoma-posters-and-coloring-books.

Chernus-Mansfield, Nancy. My Fake Eye: The Story of My Prosthesis. (1991). A 3-year-old’s experience with enucleation and the subsequent fitting of prosthesis is reassuring to both the child and the family. Available in English and Spanish from the Institute for Families, which provides support for families of children with vision loss. Available at www.instituteforfamilies.org/books-and-dvds.

School

Hoffman, Ruth (editor). Educating the Child With Cancer: A Guide for Parents and Teachers, 2nd ed. (2011). A book written by top researchers in the field that includes parents’ personal experiences. Order a free copy from www.acco.org/Information/Resources/Books.aspx.

Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. Living and Learning with Cancer. (2013). Booklet about returning to school and obtaining accommodations (appropriate for children with any type of cancer). Available at www.lls.org/content/nationalcontent/resource-center/freeeducationmaterials/childhoodbloodcancer/pdf/learninglivingwithcancer.pdf.

Princeton Review. K&W Guide to College Programs and Services for Students with Learning Disabilities or Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder, 12th ed. (2014). Excellent reference book that is available at most large libraries.

Silver, Larry. The Misunderstood Child: Understanding and Coping with Your Child’s Learning Disabilities, 4th ed. (2006). Comprehensive discussion about positive strategies that can be implemented at home and in school to help children with learning disabilities.

Siblings

Faber, Adele; Mazlish, Elaine. Siblings Without Rivalry: How to Help Your Children Live Together So You Can Live Too, revised edition. (2012). Offers dozens of simple and effective methods to reduce conflict and foster a cooperative spirit. Helpful information for all stressed parents.

Greves, Julie; Tenhulzen, Katy; Wilkinson, Fred. Upside Down and Backwards: A Sibling’s Journey Through Childhood Cancer. (2014). Child life specialists and social workers from Seattle Children’s Hospital describe the effect of cancer on siblings.

Survivorship

Keene, Nancy; Hobbie, Wendy; Ruccione, Kathy. Childhood Cancer Survivors: A Practical Guide to Your Future, 3rd ed. (2012). A user-friendly, comprehensive guide about late effects of treatment for childhood cancer. Full of stories from survivors of all types of childhood cancer. Also covers emotional issues, insurance, jobs, relationships, and ways to stay healthy.

Technical reading

Medical textbooks are very expensive. If you’d like to read one, you can usually obtain it through interlibrary loan (ask your local reference librarian).

Bleyer, Archie; Barr, Ronald. Cancer in Adolescents and Young Adults. (2007). Medical textbook.

Francis, Jasmine H; Abramson, David H. (editors). Recent Advances in Retinoblastoma Treatment. (2015). Medical textbook.

Hayat, M.A. (editor). Neuroblastoma. (2011). Medical textbook.

Institute of Medicine. Comprehensive Cancer Care for Children and Their Families. (2015). Summarizes needed improvements in research, treatments, and outcomes. Available as full text online or as a paperback at www.nap.edu/catalog/21754/comprehensive-cancer-care-for-children-and-their-families-summary-of.

Kleinerman, Eugenie. (editor). Current Advances in Osteosarcoma. (2014). Medical textbook.

Pizzo, Philip A.; Poplack, David. (editors). Principles and Practice of Pediatric Oncology, 6th ed. (2010). Medical textbook.

Pritchard-Jones, Kathy; Dome, Jeffrey. Renal Tumors of Childhood: Biology and Therapy. (2015). Medical textbook.

Treatment journals

Alex’s Lemonade Stand Treatment Journal. Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation provides a free treatment journal to help parents of children with cancer keep track of important information. Parents can request a hard copy of the journal or can create their own online journal at www.alexslemonade.org/childhood-cancer-treatment-journal.

Crawford, Bonnie; Lazar, Linda. In My World. (1999). Journal for teens coping with life-threatening illnesses. Includes chapters called “Things Accomplished in My Life,” “I’ve Been Thinking,” and “Questions I’d Like Answered.” Available by calling (866) 218-0101 or visiting www.centering.org.

Terminal illness and bereavement

Callanan, Maggie; Kelley, Patricia. Final Gifts: Understanding the Special Awareness, Needs, and Communications of the Dying. (2012). Written by two hospice nurses with decades of experience, this book helps families understand and communicate with terminally ill people. Compassionate, comforting, and insightful, it movingly teaches how to listen to and comfort the dying.

Bereavement: A Magazine of Hope and Healing. For a free copy or to subscribe, call (888) 604-4673 or visit www.bereavementmag.com.

Bernstein, Judith R. When the Bough Breaks: Forever After the Death of a Son or Daughter. (1998). A serious and sensitive book about how to cope with the loss of a child.

Gilbert, Laynee. I Remember You: A Grief Journal, 2nd ed. (2000). A journal for recording written and photographic memories during the first year of mourning. Beautiful book filled with quotes and comfort.

Kübler-Ross, Elisabeth. On Children and Death: How Children and Their Parents Can and Do Cope With Death. (1997). In this comforting book, Dr. Kübler-Ross offers practical help for living through the terminal period of a child’s life with love and understanding. Discusses children’s knowledge about death, visualization, letting go, funerals, help from friends, and spirituality.

Mitchell, Ellen, and others. Beyond Tears: Living After Losing a Child. (2009). Comforting book written by nine mothers who each lost a child. Includes a chapter written from the perspective of surviving siblings.

Orloff, Stacy; Huff, Susan. (editors). Home Care for Seriously Ill Children: A Manual for Parents. (2003). Helps parents explore the possibility of home care for the dying child. Contains practical information about what to expect, methods of pain relief, and management of medical problems. Available from Children’s Hospice International by emailing [email protected] or online at http://75.103.82.45/publication-order-form.

Wolfelt, Alan. Healing a Parent’s Grieving Heart: 100 Practical Ideas After Your Child Dies. (2002). A list of practical actions a parent can take to memorialize their child’s life and to cope and heal in the months and years that follow.

Sibling grief (adult reading)

Grollman, Earl. Talking About Death: A Dialogue Between Parent and Child, 4th ed. (2011). A classic guide for helping children cope with grief. Contains a children’s read-along section to explain and explore children’s feelings. In very comforting language, the book teaches parents how to explain death, understand children’s emotions, learn how children react to specific types of death, and know when to seek professional help.

Schaefer, Dan; Lyons, Christine. How Do We Tell the Children? A Step-by-Step Guide for Helping Children and Teens Cope When Someone Dies, 4th ed. (2010). If your terminally ill child has siblings, read this book. In straightforward, uncomplicated language, the authors describe how to explain the facts of death to children and teens, and show how to include children in the family support network, laying the foundation for the healing process to begin. Also includes a crisis section with quick references for what to do in a variety of situations.

White, P. Gill. Sibling Grief: Healing After the Death of a Sister or Brother. (2008). This book explains the emotional significance of sibling loss, drawing on clinical experience, research, and wisdom from hundreds of bereaved siblings to explain the five healing tasks specific to sibling grief.

Sibling grief (young child)

Buscaglia, Leo. The Fall of Freddy the Leaf: A Story of Life for All Ages. (1982). This wise yet simple story about a leaf named Freddy explains death as a necessary part of the cycle of life.

Hanson, Warren. The Next Place. (2002). A book of warm and peaceful images that helps young children think about the continuity and beauty of all lives, and provides comfort to teens and adults, as well.

Hickman, Martha. Last Week My Brother Anthony Died. (1984). A touching story of a preschooler’s feelings when her infant brother dies. The family’s minister (a bereaved parent himself) comforts her by comparing feelings to clouds—always there but ever changing.

Karst, Patrice. The Invisible String. (2000). This gentle, sweet book explains the connections between family members and helps children cope with fear of separation and loss, whether through absence or death.

Mellonie, Bryan; Ingpen, Robert. Lifetimes: The Beautiful Way to Explain Death to Children. (1983). Beautiful paintings and simple text explain that dying is as much a part of life as being born.

Varley, Susan. Badger’s Parting Gifts. (1992). Badger’s friends share the memories he left them and learn to accept his death. (For grades K to 3.)

Sibling grief (school-aged children)

Romain, Trevor. What on Earth Do You Do When Someone Dies? (1999). Warm, honest words and beautiful illustrations help children understand and cope with grief.

Rosen, Michael. Michael Rosen’s Sad Book. (2011). Written to document the author’s grief after the sudden death of his teen son. The moving illustrations can help children and adults both understand grief and loss, and feel understood.

Temes, Roberta. The Empty Place: A Child’s Guide Through Grief. (1992). Explains and describes feelings after the death of a sibling, such as the empty place in the house, at the table, and in a sibling’s heart.

Sibling grief (teenagers)

Gravelle, Karen; Haskins, Charles. Teenagers Face to Face with Bereavement. (2000). The perspectives and experiences of 17 teenagers comprise the heart of this book, which focuses on teens coping with grief.

Grollman, Earl. Straight Talk About Death for Teenagers: How to Cope with Losing Someone You Love. (1993). Wonderful book that discusses denial, pain, anger, sadness, physical symptoms, and depression. Charts methods to help teens work through their feelings at their own pace.

Hyatt, Erica Goldblatt. Grieving for the Sibling You Lost: A Teen’s Guide to Coping with Grief and Finding Meaning After Loss. (2015). Helps teens understand grief, the symptoms that accompany it, various ways to cope, creating meaning out of loss and suffering, and when and how to ask for help.