Children’s Books on Health Issues

Some conditions and diseases can be hard for children to understand. These children, tween, and teen books talk about many different health issues through stories. Books about tough health issues can help kids navigate through difficult emotions that surround challenging medical conditions, whether that be a temporary sickness, chronic conditions like asthma or diabetes, or serious diseases like cancer that might be affecting them, a family member or a friend. There are also books that touch upon various mental health issues such as anxiety, depression and suicide to name a few. The books on this list are available through the Sussex County Library System.

Updated December 17, 2024
S
Sussex County Library System (NJ)
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Aaron Slater, illustrator /
Beaty, Andrea.
Paper Book
Aaron Slater loves listening to stories and dreams of one day writing them himself. But when it comes to reading, the letters just look like squiggles to him, and it soon becomes clear he struggles more than his peers. When his teacher asks each child in the class to write a story, Aaron can't...
Aaron Slater, illustrator.
Beaty, Andrea.
Paper Book
Aaron Slater loves listening to stories and dreams of one day writing them himself. But when it comes to reading, the letters just look like squiggles to him, and it soon becomes clear he struggles more than his peers. When his teacher asks each child in the class to write a story, Aaron can't...
Alone together :
Fong, Petti,
Paper Book
The world is facing an epidemic of loneliness. The COVID-19 pandemic taught us new words, like isolation, quarantineand social distancing. In places like the UK and Japan, governments have appointed ministers of loneliness to examine the problem and find ways to help their citizens. What...
I am a masterpiece! :
Armstrong, Mia,
Paper Book
Tween actress Mia Armstrong celebrates her fun, funny, beautiful childhood living with Down syndrome in this debut picture book. Don't miss Mia in A Christmas in New Hope, streaming now! Mia likes many of the things other people like--going to the beach, the...
Breathe and count back from ten /
Sylvester, Natalia
Paper Book
A Pura Belpré Honor Book * A Schneider Family Book Award Honor Book for Teens In this gorgeously written and authentic novel, Verónica, a Peruvian-American teen with hip dysplasia, auditions to become a mermaid at a Central Florida theme park in the summer before her senior...
The busy body book : a kid's guide to fitness /
Rockwell, Lizzy
Paper Book
A celebration of the amazing human machine and a life on the move! Your amazing body can jump, sprint, twist, and twirl. Your body is built to move. Lizzy Rockwell explains how your bones and muscles, heart and lungs, nerves and brain all work together to keep you on the go...
Butterfly on the wind /
Pottle, Adam,
Paper Book
A magical picture book about a Deaf girl who creates a butterfly with Sign Language and sends it on a journey around the world. On the day of the talent show, Aurora's hands tremble. No matter how hard she tries to sign, her fingers stumble over one another and the words just...
Concrete kids. [online electronic book]
Leon, Amyra, 1992-
Ebook
A Goddard CBC's Social Justice Prize Nominee * A YALSA Amazing Audiobook for Young Adults "I will close my eyes and disappear into the pages of this book for many years to come."--Hanif Abdurraqib (New York Times bestselling author of Go Ahead in The Rain...
Deer run home /
LeZotte, Ann Clare,
Paper Book
Effie is Deaf, and no one in her family speaks sign language, her language. This moving story of survival and found family, inspired by a true court case, is perfect for fans of Wonder and Out of My Mind. * "Quietly extraordinary." --Kirkus Reviews,...
Dr. Seuss's sleep book.
Seuss, Dr.
Paper Book
Celebrate sleep with Dr. Seuss's classic rhyming bedtime story picture book. Van Vleck, a very small bug, is getting sleepy, and his yawn--contagious as yawns are--sets off a chain reaction, making all those around him feel sleepy, too! With typically Seussian nods to alarm clocks, sleepwalking,...
Eat your superpowers! :
Buzzeo, Toni.
Paper Book
Twenty-five different foods, grouped by color, are nutritionally decoded in this reference book for the preschool set. From grapes to beets and oatmeal to cashews, this reference book highlights and explains the benefits of 25 fruits, vegetables, nuts, and grains, each grouped...
Ellie Haycock is totally normal /
Schreiber, Gretchen,
Paper Book
The Breakfast Club meets Five Feet Apart in this big-hearted novel from debut author Gretchen Schreiber. Ellie Haycock has always separated her life into sections: Ellie at home and Ellie at the hospital. At home, Ellie is a proud member of her high school's...
Give me a sign /
Sortino, Anna
Paper Book
Jenny Han meets CODA in this big-hearted YA debut about first love and Deaf pride at a summer camp. Lilah is stuck in the middle. At least, that's what having a hearing loss seems like sometimes-when you don't feel "deaf enough" to identify as Deaf or hearing enough to...
How it feels to float
Fox, Helena
Ebook
A Kirkus Reviews Best Book of the Year A Chicago Public Library Best of the Best of the Year "Profoundly moving . . . Will take your breath away." --Kathleen Glasgow, author of Girl in Pieces A stunningly gorgeous and deeply hopeful portrayal of...
How to make friends with the dark.
Glasgow, Kathleen, 1969-
Paper Book
From the New York Times bestselling author of Girl in Pieces comes a novel about love and loss and learning how to continue when it feels like you're surrounded by darkness. "A rare and powerful novel." --Karen M. McManus, New York Times bestselling author of...
Hummingbird /
Lloyd, Natalie,
Paper Book
A Schneider Family Book Award Honor Book From the bestselling author of A Snicker of Magic comes a heartfelt story about a girl who -- armed with her trusty, snazzy wheelchair -- refuses to let her brittle bone disease stand in the way of adventure Twelve...
In the blue /
Hourigan, Erin,
Paper Book
An emotional and tender award-winning picture book that accessibly explores depression within a family, through the use of color. I've always been my dad's little sunspot. But one day, his world was no longer bright and yellow--it was a deep, dark...
Let's talk about it : [graphic novel] the teen's guide to sex, relationships, an
Moen, Erika, 1983-
Paper Book
Is what I'm feeling normal? Is what my body is doing normal? Am I normal? How do I know what are the right choices to make? How do I know how to behave? How do I fix it when I make a mistake? Let's talk about it. Growing up is complicated. How do you...
Lion needs a shot /
Yum, Hyewon.
Paper Book
Little lion Luka is NOT worried about a visit to the doctor. He's NOT scared of getting a shot. And he's definitely NOT a little lion anymore. R-O-A-R! His younger sister, Lulu, might be nervous for her first checkup-but no need to worry, big brother is here to set a brave example....
Louder than hunger /
Schu, John,
Paper Book
An instant New York Times bestseller! "Every so often a book comes along that is so brave and necessary, it extends a lifeline when it's needed most. This is one of those books." --Katherine Applegate, author of the Newbery Medal-winning, The One and Only Ivan
Party problems.
Reid, C. L.
Paper Book
Emma is excited about Izzie's birthday party. But she's also nervous. Is her dress too fancy? Will she know anyone else at the party? Did she buy the right gift? Will Emma's worries ruin her chance to have fun? Find out how Emma handles her party problems in this early chapter book from the Emma...
Tig /
Smith, Heather,
Paper Book
A new, heartwarming middle-grade story from the critically acclaimed author Heather Smith featuring Tig, a young girl struggling to find peace within herself and in her new family. For fans of Rebecca Stead, Wendy Mass and Lynda Mullaly Hunt. After months of living without...
The valley and the flood.
Mahoney, Rebecca
Paper Book
"A tense and beautiful tale about the monsters we make and the memories that haunt us." -Kate Alice Marshall, author of I Am Still Alive and Rules for Vanishing Rose Colter is almost home, but she can't go back there yet. When her car breaks down in the Nevada...
We are all so good at smiling /
Mcbride, Amber
Paper Book
They Both Die at the End meets The Bell Jar in this haunting, beautiful young adult novel-in-verse about clinical depression and healing from trauma, from National Book Award Finalist Amber McBride. Whimsy is back in the hospital for treatment of...
What happened to you?
Catchpole, James
Paper Book
A ground-breaking picture book with a radical message about how a disabled person might want to be spoken to!
Wildoak.
Harrington, C. C.
Paper Book
When the fates of a snow leopard, a child, and an ancient forest collide, the unimaginable can happen. Perfect for fans of Pax and The One and Only Ivan. **Winner of the 2023 Schneider Family Book Award!** * "Nuanced and empowering." - Publisher's...
I will never not ever eat a tomato.
Child, Lauren
Paper Book
"Youngsters will never -- not ever -- pass up a second helping." -- Publishers Weekly Lola is a fussy eater. A very fussy eater. She won't eat her carrots (until her brother Charlie reveals that they're orange twiglets from Jupiter). She won't eat her mashed potatoes...
You're So Amazing!
Catchpole, James/ Catchpole, Lucy/ George, Karen (ILT)
Paper Book
In this authentic and humorous picture book, a child with a limb difference is tired of being told how amazing he is for doing normal things. Joe and his friend Simone are practicing their best playground tricks, but everyone keeps saying how amazing Joe is,...

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