Picture Books About Illness

Check out these books if you're looking for a way to help talk to your child about illnesses, both serious and more common.

Updated June 14, 2024
LINCC (Libraries in Clackamas County)Molalla Library
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The perfect shelter
Welsh, Clare Helen
Paper Book
A story about sisters. A story about love. A story about how it feels when someone close to you has cancer. When the author's uncle was diagnosed with cancer, she wrote this text for her children, to help them name and explore the complicated feelings borne of heartbreaking situations.
Abuela's super capa
Siqueira, Ana
Paper Book
A heartwarming bilingual picture book about a young boy who learns to accept that Abuela needs to retire her super capa.  Saturdays are superhero days. Equipped with their milkshakes and capas, Luis and his abuela can turn anything into an adventure. But when Abuela gets sick,...
Franklin goes to the hospital
Bourgeois, Paulette.
Paper Book
When Franklin's shell cracks and he has to go to the hospital, he must learn to be a brave turtle. Through Franklin's story, children will understand the different procedures involved in going to the hospital. Text copyright 2004 Lectorum Publications, Inc.
Sick Simon
Krall, Dan
Paper Book
Are germs gross, or great? Sick Simon learns how to be health-conscious during cold and flu season in this clever picture book from the author-illustrator of The Great Lollipop Caper. Simon is going to have the best week ever. Who cares if he has a cold? He goes to school...
Bear feels sick
Wilson, Karma.
Paper Book
The sixth installment of Karma Wilson's award-winning, New York Times bestselling series about a Bear and his forest friends. Autumn has come to the woods, and Bear doesn't feel well. He sniffles and sneezes. He cannot sleep. He aches all over. Worst of all, he's feeling...

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