Capital Candlelighters Resource Library Book List
These are some of the current books that children with cancer and those who love them may find especially helpful. They are written for the average reader, not for medical professionals. We try to keep at least one copy of each of these books in circulation at all times on the shelf in the F4 Family Lounge (look above the TV). Please let us know if you are looking for a copy of a book and don't find it there. If you would like us to consider adding a book to the library, please send an e-mail to info@capcan.org or call us at 608-231-8006. Please note: if you purchase a book through a link on our website, Capital Candlelighters will receive a small percentage of the price you pay at Amazon.com.
An asterisk * by the title indicates a book available to patients' families for free from Capital Candlelighters: Capital Candlelighters' Online Bookstore
For adults and teens:
Nancy Keene, Childhood Leukemia: A Guide For Families, Friends & Caregivers
Honna Janes-Hodder and Nancy Keene, Childhood Cancer: A Parent's Guide to Solid Tumor Cancers
Tania Shiminski-Maher, Patsy McGuire Cullen, Maria Sansalone and Henry S. Friedman, Childhood Brain and Spinal Cord Tumors
Leigh A. Woznick and Carol D. Goodheart, Living With Childhood Cancer:A Practical Guide to Help Families Cope
R. Grant Steen (Editor) and Joseph Jr., MD Mirro (Editor), Childhood Cancer: A Handbook from St. Jude's Children's Hospital
Elena V. Dorfman, The C- Word: Teenagers and their Families Living with Cancer
*Nancy Keene, editor, Educating the Child with Cancer, A Guide for Parents and Teachers
Nancy Keene, Wendy Hobbie and Kathy Ruccione, Childhood Cancer Survivors: A Practical Guide to Your Future
Scott N. MacLellan, Amanda's Gift For Kids:
*The Amazing Hannah: Look at Everything I Can Do! by Amy Klett and Dave Klett. This 28 page picture book is written for the preschool (1 to 5 years) child who has been diagnosed with cancer. Through real-life photos, children will be able to identify with Hannah's hospital stay, special friends, tests, treatment and germ care. Available in Spanish as La Fantastica Hannah: Miren Todo lo que Puedo Hacer!
*Chemo, Craziness & Comfort, My Book About Childhood Cancer by Nancy Keene and Trevor Romain. A 200 page resource that provides practical advice for children diagnosed with cancer between 6 and 12 years of age. Warm and funny illustrations and easy-to-read text help the child (and parents) make sense of cancer and its treatment.
*Oliver's Story: For ‘Sibs’ of Kids with Cancer, is a 40 page illustrated book targeted for the 3 to 8 year old sibling of children diagnosed with cancer. Illustrated by Mike Dodd and written through the eyes of his six-year-old son Oliver, this resource focuses on the many questions that siblings have when their brother or sister is diagnosed with cancer, and offers constructive ways on how they can provide support.
*Ross Romenesko, I Had A Tumor, It Wasn't a Rumor an illustrated book about the experiences of an 8 year old with cancer. Written by a survivor who was treated at the UW Children's Hospital.
Trudy Krisher, Kathy's Hats
Charles Schultz, Why, Charlie Brown, Why? "The members of the Peanuts gang have varying reactions when they learn that their friend Janice has leukemia and they follow her treatment and ultimate recovery." There is an excellent video of this story, currently out of print, that you can borrow from Capital Candlelighters. It can be shared with siblings, classmates and friends to help them understand the experiences of a child with cancer.
Books on serious childhood illness and books for bereaved kids and adults: These books can be borrowed through the Candlelighters' office; call 231-8006:
Hilden, Tobin and Lindsey, Shelter From the Storm: Caring for a Child with a Life-Threatening Condition
Fred Epstein, M.D. If I Get To Five: What Children Can Teach Us About Courage and Character (excerpt from Publishers Weekly) "Epstein, a pediatric neurosurgeon at New York City's Beth Israel Hospital, has written an inspiring book recounting the struggles of not only his patients, but himself as well. After a long career treating patients for brain injuries and cancer, Epstein recently had a near-fatal bicycle accident that turned the tables on him. Suddenly, the expert surgeon found himself on the receiving end of a scalpel. While the book touches upon his own challenges during the slow recovery and rehabilitation process, Epstein draws more upon the examples of his young patients to successfully banish fear from his life.
Warren Hanson, The Next Place
Pat Schweibert and Chuck DeKlyen, Tear Soup
Trevor Romain, What on Earth Do You Do When Someone Dies?
Laurie Krasny Brown and Marc Brown, When Dinosaurs Die
