Jill’s Book Bank – Help for Kids

Book reading photo for Jill's Book Bank

HELP KIDS COPE
WITH CURATED BOOK COLLECTION

A new cancer diagnosis is stressful for an entire family, especially at the beginning. Pink Lemonade Project has curated a list of books to help parents discuss a new breast cancer diagnosis with children of all ages. The collection includes books for very young children to adolescents.  You can purchase the books through Amazon Smile on our website. Providers may request books for their patients (click link below).  We are currently expanding this list to include titles in Spanish and Russian.

This program is generously funded by a bequest from the estate of former Vancouver Public Schools’ elementary school teacher, Jill Garrow.

Current Book Selection

Can I Still Kiss You?  Answering Children’s Questions About Cancer. By Neil Russell.

ISBN-10: 1558749284

A question and answer book written by a cancer patient who journaled the questions he was asked by his children during his cancer experience. Appropriate for all ages.

Chemo Cat by Cathy Nilon.

ISBN-10: 0979192145

Written by a cancer survivor in the voice of her 4 year old child.  It is meant to open a dialog with children without scaring them.  It explains the changes mom will go through with chemotherapy.

Our Family Has Cancer, Too by Christine Clifford.

ISBN-10: 1-57025-144-4.

A cartoon illustrated book that describes a family’s experience with cancer and how they coped. Appropriate for ages 3 to 16.

Once Upon a Hopeful Night by Risa S. Yaffe

ISBN-10: 1890504106

A bedtime tale to help comfort kids who are struggling with their parent’s cancer. Appropriate for ages 3 to 10.

How Do You Care For a Very Sick Bear? By Vanessa Bayer

ISBN-10: 1250298431

When someone dear is dealing with illness, it’s difficult to know what to do or say. The actor Vanessa Bayer experienced this firsthand when she was treated for childhood leukemia. In her first children’s book, she offers gentle, reassuring advice that people of all ages will appreciate.

For the Women We Love by Marc Heyison, Matthew Loscalzo.

ISBN-10: 0910155712

When a woman is diagnosed with breast cancer, it is vital that the men in their life move beyond traditional roles, adding new responsibilities like that of caregiver and nurturer. They can be crucially helpful with treatment, recovery, and dealing with myriad issues that are sure to arise.

The Invisible String by Patrice Karst.

ISBN-10: 031648623X

Specifically written to address children’s fear of being apart from the ones they love, The Invisible String delivers a particularly compelling message in today’s uncertain times that though we may be separated from the ones we care for, whether through anger, distance, or even death, love is the unending connection that binds us all, and, by extension, ultimately binds every person on the planet to everyone else.

This title is available in Spanish and Russian translations.

A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness.

ISBN-10: 0763660655

The monster in Conor’s backyard is not the one he’s been expecting — the one from the nightmare he’s had every night since his mother started her treatments. This monster is ancient. And wild. And it wants something from Conor. Something terrible and dangerous. It wants the truth. From the final idea of award-winning author Siobhan Dowd — whose premature death from cancer prevented her from writing it herself — Patrick Ness has spun a haunting and darkly funny novel of mischief, loss, and monsters both real and imagined.

A Tiny Boat At Sea by Izetta Smith, MA.

ISBN-10: 097242413X

This insightful book teaches us how to help children who have had a parent or family member who has been diagnosed with cancer. When a parent is diagnosed with cancer, the illness and treatment can be stressful for the whole family. Parents almost always express the concern for the well-being of their children. This booklet is easy to use and touches on how to support children without burying the information in pages of explanations.

A Volcano In My Tummy.  Eliane Whitehouse and Warwick Pudney.

ISBN-10: 0-86571-349-9

This presents a clear and effective approach to helping children and adults alike understand and deal constructively with children’s anger. Using easy to understand yet rarely taught skills for anger management, including how to teach communication of emotions, A Volcano in My Tummy offers engaging, well-organized activities which help to overcome the fear of children’s anger which many adult care-givers experience.

That’s Me Loving You. Amy Krouse Rosenthal.

ISBN-10: 978-0-593-70449-3

A heartwarming story that will comfort kids with separation anxiety about going back to school. Amy Krouse Rosenthal captures parents’ desire to be ever-present in this simple and touching poem offering reassurance of their love. Signs of affection can be found in the natural world around us—from a soft breeze to a shimmering star.

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