Medically Inclusive Books

I especially love collecting books that demonstrate medical inclusion. The ones listed below are those that I would recommend. If you have others that you think I would appreciate, please share them with me!

Any guesses as to which book on this list is celebrating its 20^th birthday this October?

Books that specifically mention NF

NF Buddies

This book began as a tool to explain my son’s condition in a way that he and his buddy could understand. After seeing the booklet the boys carried to appointments, Jaxon’s neurologist encouraged us to expand it to include and support more children. So we did, and thanks to the generosity of Julian Anderson, we were able to share it with the NF community. I recommend this book for all ages who want to better understand NF. Physical copies are available through the NF Network and the pdf is easily accessible through internet searches.

My Life Beyond Neurofibromatosis by Hey Gee and G.W. Page

At age 10, G.W. Page (who has NF1) helped Hey Gee create this superhero story for graphic novel fans wanting to learn more about NF. The main character and his dog save the day, battling a villain originally created to help cure a rare disease. It includes information about NF, being genetically different, and traveling to see specialists.

The Beautiful Heart of Sullivan Scott by Jennifer Powers

This Young Adult novel shares the experiences of a fictional character with a facial plexiform. She is an aspiring fashion designer who lacks the confidence to wear the trendy clothes she creates. Sullivan, nicknamed Sully, shares her creations online creating a popular alter ego. This book includes explanations of NF1 scattered throughout the story and addresses the subjects of friendship, discrimination, and the side effects of social media.

Soundtrack of Silence: Love, Loss, and a Playlist for Life by Matt Hay

Matt Hay’s memoir shares intimate details of what life is like for someone affected by NF2 as he navigates college life, marriage, losing his hearing, and adjusting to a cochlear implant. Music and determination are at the heart of this book, helping those who want to better understand the condition gain empathy.\

 

Books depicting hospital visits

At the Hospital A Shine-a-Light Book by Carron Brown & Ipek Konak

This non fiction book spotlights hospitals. Like other books in the series, readers are encouraged to shine a light on the back side of certain pages to see the black and white image shine through. A variety of hospital departments and employees are highlighted as the book showcases patients and why they are visiting.

The Hospital. The Inside Story by Dr. Christle Nwora and Ginnie Hsu

This book is written for older children as it includes longer paragraphs detailing departments, patients, and procedures found within the hospital. It also has a two page index so children can search specific topics.

Sometimes by Rebecca Elliott

Originally published in England, this fiction picture book shows a brother and sister who “sometimes” play make believe at the hospital due to the sister’s need for medical intervention. This cute story is told from the brother’s perspective, including a few medical devices and friends who are also at the hospital.

Books that spotlight conditions many NF patients experience

I Absolutely, Positively LOVE MY SPOTS by Lid’ya C Rivera & Nina Mata

A vibrant young girl with vitiligo celebrates her beauty marks in this picture book. She is depicted as a rock star, and a princess, playing make believe with her friends. She encourages all who read it to “love the skin you’re in and you will always win!”

Warrior A Patient’s Courageous Quest by Shannon Stocker & Sarah K. Turner

This manga inspired picture book follows a child’s goal of ringing the bell at the end of chemotherapy. Maria is joined by her therapy dog Hercules as they try to rid the kingdom of the ferocious beasts plaguing it. It is inspired by the author’s daughter’s experience with an inoperable brain tumor.

Astronaut Haley’s BRAVE Adventure by Hayley Arceneaux & Lucie Bee

This is a fiction depiction of Haley Arceneaux visiting space as a child after her cancer diagnosis. It is a fun read and showcases Haley with an IV pole, arm crutches, and also without hair.

Haley’s true story is far more inspirational. She includes her actual story through an additional book, Wild Ride. Hayley was successfully treated for bone cancer at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, later training to become a nurse. She eventually achieved her goal of working for St. Jude and was invited to join the crew of the SpaceX Inspiration4 for a three-day space mission.

Dash and the Cancer Center,  Learning about Leukemia

A chapter book in the Helping Paws Academy series By Pat McCaw, M.D. & Beth Hughes

Dash is a dog who has completed his therapy dog training and is learning how to support children on chemotherapy. Illustrated in shades of blue, the pictures in this book help to keep the attention of those learning to read longer texts.

When a Kid Like Me Fights Cancer by Catherine Stier & Angel Chang

Written in association with the National Pediatric Cancer Foundation, this picture book engages young readers, explaining what a boy has learned about the cancer he is fighting. It is developmentally appropriate for all ages and encourages children by explaining that we fight cancer with the support of our community.

Goodbye Cancer Garden by Janna Matthies

This beautiful book explains a mom’s cancer battle. It is well written and has soft, inviting illustrations. Unlike many of our NF cancer experiences, short term chemotherapy is successful for the mother and is perfectly timed within the season the family plants and harvests a garden.

Picture Books Promoting Inclusion

You Can by Alexandra Strick & Steve Antony

Empowering life advice is shared in this picture book featuring 14 fictional characters, each with challenges that are represented only through pictures. The front end pages depict the children as babies and readers have the fun of watching them grow with each page turn. While including pictures of children in wheelchairs has become common for those wanting to appear inclusive, this book shares images we rarely see in picture books, like a child with a cleft palate and one using a white cane. Like several of the other books, this book was first printed overseas.

What Happened to You and You’re So Amazing are two timely picture books from the UK written by James Catchpole and illustrated by Karen George. They highlight the frustrations of a child when strangers notice and comment about his leg length difference. Joe finds sincere friendship with a peer named Simone. Together they handle these challenges with the refreshing bluntness of childhood.

Yes I Can! A Girl and her Wheelchair illustrated by Violet Lemay

Written by Kendra J. Barrett, Jacqueline B. Toner, and Claire A. B. Freeland

This book highlights a girl in a wheelchair and how she adapts to life inside the classroom, a field trip to the bowling alley, and a friend’s birthday party at a trampoline gym. She understand that she cannot do everything in the same way as her friends and appreciates that her peers learn to support her desire to participate.