Do you ever come across a book only to think, I wish I had found this when …

That’s how I felt when I happened to discover A Kids Book About Chronic Illness by Gigi Robinson.

Ms. Robinson’s book is definitely one I would have read with my son when he was a little guy. A book that may have helped him understand his Mommy’s invisible illness and the boo-boos inside my leg. 

The book is written for children, and features a relatively large font, easy-to-understand vocabulary, and definitions for a few words (including “symptom” and  “advocate” that may be new or unfamiliar to young readers). And, as stated on the author’s website: “This book teaches kids how to speak up, build confidence, and embrace their journey with chronic illness.”

The book has a positive tone, is written in an easy-to-understand format, and manages to take a complex, could-be-scary-and-overwhelming topic like chronic illness and make it relatable by including the author’s own experiences with chronic illness. 

“You have the power to choose how you respond to the things you go through.”

“Your chronic illness is a part of you, and it’s one you may always have.
“But it’s not the only thing about you.”

And with all that, the book doesn’t shy away from the truth: 

“Living with a chronic illness means how you feel can change day by day, both physically and emotionally.” 

“I had no control over what my body did, and I felt mad and frustrated (and I still do).”

I love this message which shows up near the end of the book:

“But I’ve learned… Something invisible can become more visible the more you talk about it.”

The book description says the target age is 5-9, but I’m a big believer that books don’t need to have age limits. For my spoonie friends, I highly recommend sharing this book with young ones in your life. For my teacher friends, this book should be a part of every classroom, and school, library because even if you don’t have a student living with chronic illness, chances are you do have a student who knows someone/lives with someone/is related to someone who does have a chronic illness.

Please note: I am including a link to buy the book that I’m highlighting this week. If you use my link, I do make a small commission on your purchase at no additional cost to you. I am working with Bookshop.org which also sends a portion of the profit to support local, independent bookstores.