For Kids

Few books, groups, or other resources are available for the children of mothers with cancer. Here are some of the ones we have found.

BOOKS

Children:

• Nowhere Hair, by Sue Glader, Pink Power Mom 2011; Gold Medal in Health category at 2011 Moonbeam Children’s Book Awards – by a landslide! – vetted and loved by 100+ cancer programs, this comes highly recommended!
• What’s Up With Bridget’s Mom? Medikidz explain breast cancer is a way cool graphic novel for elementary-age kids that explains cancer, radiation, and chemotherapy at an age-appropriate level.   My kids think it’s awesome, and so do I!  Buy this book and shop for others at the American Cancer Society Bookstore;
• Hope the Bear, by Lynette Wilhardt and distributed by Kids Konnected;
• In Mommy’s Garden, by Neyal Ammary, MPH; illustrated by Christopher Risch;
• Kemo Shark (coloring book), by H. Elizabeth King and distributed by Kidscope;
• The Paper Chain, by Claire Blake, Eliza Blanchard, and Kathy Parkinson;
• Our Mom has Cancer, written by real-life kids, has real-life coping strategies; and
• Mommy and Me… taking care of each other, is a 34 page book that provides words to help explain cancer to children which is included with the purchase of every Kimmie Cares doll.  The Kimmie Cares dolls also comes with two different removable wigs and a scarf so children can model their doll to ‘look just like Mommy’ before , during and after treatment.

Teens:

• Heaven’s Not A Crying Place: Teaching Your Child About Funerals, Death and the Life Beyond, by Joey O’Conner
• Love Sick: Teens Reflect on Growing Up with a Parent Who Has Cancer, a new publication edited by Kids Konnected
• Will I Get Breast Cancer?: Questions and Answers for Teenage Girls, by Carole Vogel

SUPPORT

• Kids Konnected A site dedicated to the support and education of children who have a parent with cancer or who have lost one.

OTHER LISTS OF REFERENCES

• Google Answers has a good list as well.  We haven’t tried them all, but you may find something helpful there.

In addition, The Wellness Community and local hospitals often offer support groups or special events for caregivers, spouses, and/or children of cancer patients. Call your local medical facility to find out more.

FAMILY HEALTH HISTORY

It is so important to know your family health history. This can start in childhood by not hiding an illness or calling it something else (like the flu).  Too many of us come from families with cancer histories that were unacknowledged or vague at best. One sure way to beat cancer is to be one step ahead and look for it before it’s arrival. Toward that end, the U.S. Surgeon General has created this site to record and update your family’s health history. Please take advantage of it today.

• My Family Health Portrait