"I'm Still Me" by Dr. Wellbooks. Appropriate for younger children coping with cancer and cancer treatment.
"Lifetimes" by Brian Mellonie and Robert Ingpen. New York: Bantam Books, 1983. Good book to teach small children about death. Great illustrations and easy to understand.
"Someday Heaven" by Larry Libby. Multnomah Publishers, Inc. September 1999. This is a book for children on heaven from a biblical perspective. Provides clear explanations, but with room for varied beliefs.
"Waterbugs and Dragonflies" by Doris Stickney. Cleveland: The Pilgrim Press, 1982. This is a delightful fable inspired by the author's need to explain the death of her child's friend.
"An Alphabet about Kids with Cancer" by Rita Berglund and Katy Tartakoff, 1991; Denver: The Children's Legacy. About living with cancer.
"Annie Loses Her Leg but Finds Her Way" by By Sandra J. Philipson, Robert Takatch. Greenleaf Enterprises, 1999. A dog loses her leg to cancer but recovers and teaches kids that you don't have to be perfect to be happy and live a great life.
"My Book for Kids with Cansur" by Jason Gaes. Publishers West Group. An autobiography of a young boy who got sick and was cured. Tells of his journey from diagnosis, through treatments and to remission.
"Kathy's Hats: A Story of Hope" by Trudy Krisher. Albert Whitman and Company, 1992. A little girl loses her hair as a result of treatment for cancer, and she learns that the most important thing about a person is the way she thinks about things.
"Oncology, Stupidology...I want to go home!" by Marilyn Hershey. The character , after learning he has cancer, would rather go home but in the process enjoys the playroom and making new friends.
"This is My World" (workbook) by Lori Wiener. Child Welfare League of American, 1999
"Charlotte's Web" by E.B. White. New York: Harper and Row, 1952. A classic book for all ages for addressing the idea of life cycles.
"The Fall of Freddie the Leaf" by Leo Buscaglia. New York: Henry Holt and Company, 1982. A story of the life cycle for all ages that is timeless.
"The Tenth Good Thing about Barney" by Judith Viorst. Boston: Atheneum, 1971. For children in mid-elementary grades. A boy learns about life cycles when his cat dies.
"Am I Still a Sister?" by Alicia M Sims. Louisiana: Big A & Company, 1986. Written by a sibling after the death of her brother. In a diary format, expresses the feelings that that are evoked from a siblings death.
"The Jester Has Lost His Jingle" by David Saltzman. David wrote this absolutely charming tale after being diagnosed with Hodgkin's Disease. It's about smiling, laughter and hope. He died of the disease in 1990, just before his 23rd birthday.
"Straight Talk about Death for Teens" by Earl A Grollman. Boston: Beacon Press, 1993. Directly addresses issues teen face from the first day on.
"A Special Kind of Courage" by Geraldo Rivera. New York: Simon and Schuster, 1976. Collection of biographies of young people selected for their courage in the face of major life challenges.
"Too Old to Cry, Too young to Die", compiled by Edith Pendleton. Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1980. Three dozen teenagers share their experiences battling several forms of cancer. Practical tips included.
"What Happened to You Happened to Me" by Mary A Kjosness & Laura A Rudolph. Children's Orthopedic Hospital and Medical Center Seattle, Washington, 1980. Children and teens living with cancer provide support and great tips for getting through treatment.
Young People with Cancer. A Handbook for Parents. NIH/NCI
"Children with Cancer" by Jeanne Munn Bracken. New York: Oxford University Press, 1986
"The Bereaved Parent" by Harriet Sarnoff Schiff. New York: Crown Publishers, 1977. Wise counsel addressing how to go on with your life after the death of a child.
"Miracles of Courage: How Families Meet the Challenge
of a Child's Critical Illness" by Monica Dickens
New York: Dodd, Mead, 1985.
"Amanda's Gift" by Scott N. Maclellan. Health Awareness Communications, Inc., 1998. A review of the emotional and financial impact of a child's cancer and other illnesses,on the family. A detailed summary of the health care system, the complexities of insurance companies and large hospital networks. Touches on all areas of life as a caregiver, including the impact on faith and marriage.
"Cancer and Self-Help : Bridging the Troubled Waters of Childhood Illness" by By Mark A. Chesler, Barbara K. Chesney . Univ of Wisconsin Press, 1995
"Childhood Cancer: A Parent's Guide to Solid Tumor Cancers" by Honna Janes-Hodder, Nancy Keene, Honna Janes Hodder. O'Reilly & Associates, 1999. A complete parent guide that includes detailed medical information about solid tumor childhood cancers, including neuroblastoma, Wilms tumor, liver tumors, soft tissue sarcomas, and bone sarcomas. Day-to-day practical advice also covered.
"Childhood Leukemia : A Guide for Families, Friends &Caregivers" by Nancy Keene. O'Reilly & Associates; 1997. A comprehensive parent guide which covers medical information about leukemia and the various treatment options. Practical advice on how to cope with procedures, hospitalization, family and friends, school, social and financial issues, communication, and, if therapy is not successful, the difficult issues of death and bereavement.
"Fighting Chance: Journeys Through Childhood Cancer" by Harry Connolly, Tom Clancy, Curt I. Civin Woodholm House Pub, 1998; Containing 200 images, this book follows courageous patients, strong families, and brilliant caregivers battling cancer in and out of the hospital.
"From Erin With Love: Knowledge of Life After Death" by Helen M. Fisher. Swallowtail Pub, 1996. Book about her daughters fight for life and the courage of both a mother and daughter during her illness and beyond.
"Caregivers Handbook, A Complete Guide to Home Health Care" put out by the Visiting Nurses Association. A comprehensive guide on how to care for the sick at home, including how-to's with pictures.
"Surviving Childhood Cancer", A Guide for Families" by Margot Fromer. A very practical and useful guide containing information such as handling school, siblings, financial issues and the like. Inspirational stories are also tossed in throughout.
"A Practical Guide to Paediatric Oncology and Palliative Care" put out by the Royal Children's Hospital in Brisbane Australia. It's a fabulous practical guide for clinicians and knowledgeable parents. Although hard to get a hold of, the Lombardi Ped/Onc has copies that may be borrowed.
Childhood Cancer Family Resource "My Hair is Falling Out ... Am I Still Pretty?" This is a Childhood Cancer Education Video and the 1996 Parents' Choice Silver Honor Winner. They have developed a workshop and workbook that supports the film and have adapted the workshop for teachers, so that they can present it to their students. Call 800-221-3170 or email CancerEd@aol.com for more information.
Additional book titles and recommended reading may be
found on the Cancer Care web site, www.cancercare.org,
on the University of Michigan web site, www.cancer.med.umich.edu,
or by running searches through internet vendors such as Amazon (www.amazon.com)
or Barnes and Noble (www.bn.com).
If you are specifically looking for written literature due to lack of access
to a computer, please speak to one of Lombardi's Pediatric Nurses or a Social
Worker who can assist you in using the computers available to the public in
The Nina Hyde Resource Room.