Books for Tough Times: Childhood Illness

Jenny Sue's eyes are not the same as other people's eyes. Her right eye looks in one direction, while her left eye sometimes wanders. Jenny Sue has a travelin', lazy eye. Although it makes her different, it also helps her see the world in a special way. Here is a charming story about one very inspiring little girl who overcomes her disability and offers inspiration to others.

Brianna gets the lead in the Thanksgiving school play-she'll be Hero the Hen! She almost forgets about the coughing and breathing trouble she's been having. Brianna loves practicing her leaping and flapping. But at the dress rehearsal, she has a bad coughing attack and feels a tightness in her chest. The teacher calls 911 and the paramedics take Brianna to the hospital. There, Dr. Anderson diagnoses Brianna with asthma. Brianna begins to learn about her disease and how to manage it. Things are soon under control, and she's back on stage for her debut!

Brave Peter, a young knight, stands on the lookout, protecting the castle. A ferocious dragon creeps out of the woods! Brave Peter charges after him - until wheeze, wheeze, sputter, sputter - it's time for My Lady, his mother, to bring the rescue inhaler. Soon a trip to the doctor follows, and Brave Peter learns how to manage his asthma and keep fit for fighting dragons. Kids with asthma - and their parents - will appreciate Janna Matthies's funny and informative story. Anthony Lewis's playful paintings add just the right touch.

When a child becomes aware of his pending death (children tend to know long before the rest of us even want to consider it), and is given the opportunity to draw his feelings, he will often draw a blue or purple balloon, released and unencumbered, on its way upward. Health-care professionals have discovered that this is true, regardless of a child's cultural or religious background and researchers believe that this is symbolic of the child's innate knowledge that a part of them will live forever. . . . In disarmingly simple and direct language, accompanied by evocative potato print illustrations, Raschka in conjunction with Children's Hospice International (CHI), creates a moving, sensitive book that is also a phenomenally useful tool to talk about death. The message of the book is clear: talking about dying is hard, dying is harder, but there are many people in your life who can help.

Is something bugging you? This book is guaranteed to make you laugh - and itch! From the opening picture of a happy, oversized louse appearing with his suitcases, you know these bugs are determined to stay, and Mom is about to go nuts! Nobody talks about them, but they are everywhere. (Some estimate 20 million children a year host them.) Oh the shame and humiliation of having bugs in your hair! But if you go to school, or have play dates, chances are good you might meet themsomeday. Maybe you already have! Lucky for you, the unwelcome bugs in this story are so funny you will be laughing aloud - even when Mom attacks them with battle-tested anti-lice weapons. Shannon peppers his hilarious scenes with fun, "nitpicking" facts about these "lousy" critters and pokes fun at common denial: "It's probably ash from that volcano in Pogo Pogo." Soon the party's over - Bye bye, Little Nasties!

Nurse Penny is a fun and funky school nurse who wears honeybee earrings and a butterfly smock and carries a ladybug purse. But there's one kind of bug she'd rather not have around. . .head lice! So she calls a special school assembly to talk about those pesky critters--what they look like, how to avoid them, and how to get rid of them. After all, lice can happen to anyone--even the school nurse!

Featuring six real x-rays printed on mylar, Jessica's X-Ray is a unique and fun look inside our bodies and the world of x-rays written by a professional x-ray technologist who has worked extensively with children. In the book, kids follow Jessica, who has broken her arm, as she tours the hospital seeing x-ray rooms and looking at actual x-ray, CAT-scan, MRI and ultrasound images. These real x-ray images are printed on mylar so readers can see firsthand what Jessica sees. An identification key at the end of the book also helps kids pick out bones and muscles on their own.

Read 'Illness' to learn about the feelings many people experience when a loved one is ill. This sensitive book explores the effects of various illnesses and provides reassurance to any reader who has a sick relative or friend.

! It's written by Fred Ehrlich, a doctor with more than 30 years; experience treating children and families. Amanda Haley's madcap illustrations accompany simple, fun verse that explains common childhood ailments like tummy-aches and flu, and warts and pimples. The series; You Can't See Your Bones with Binoculars was one of 10 primary books chosen by the 2004 IRA Teachers; Choices.

Authors Alvin and Virginia Silverstein and Laura Silverstein Nunn explore asthma in this new title in the HANDY HEALTH GUIDES series. Find out what asthma is, what triggers attacks, and how to treat and prevent asthma attacks.

Readers will learn about some of the most common health problems affecting people today, from the first symptoms to the final diagnosis. They will find out how these illnesses change people's lives, what research doctors are doing to improve treatments, and much more.  Statistics illustrate how common different illnesses are and how effectively they can be treated . Colorful photos show what life is like for people living with illnesses . Sidebars provide in-depth info about new treatments, common symptoms, and much more . Glossaries explain difficult terms in a way that makes them easy to understand .

What causes sickle cell disease? What is a sickle cell crisis? What health complications can the condition cause? This book examines sickle cell disease and how people are affected by it. Learn about the ways a person can keep sickle cell disease under control. Read about current treatments for the disease and new research into a cure. Get the facts about what it is like to live with sickle cell disease every day.

Discusses food borne illnesses and their effects on people and society.

Nine-year-old Lenny Brewster is captivated by the world - the mysteries of machines, the magic of snow, the pure joy of a perfect ride down a slippery slide. He knows a lot, but not how to share it with others. Of course, it doesn't help having an absent father, a preoccupied mother, and a teacher and peers who don't like him. Lenny spends much of his time in the principal's office or alone, absorbed in his ideas. Then he meets Van, a kindred spirit, and Muriel, the canny school therapist.Their simple acceptance of Lenny helps him find his place at last. Written with incisive prose, smart humor, and profound wisdom, Lenny's Space is not only about recognizing the possibilities life affords us and the challenge of coming to grips with its sometimes difficult realities, but also about the triumphant, undying power of true friendship.

The kids call her Bluish because leukemia is making her pale. But one girl, Dreenie, finds Bluish fascinating and encourages her friend, Tuli, to reach beyond her fear. One-by-one, the girls begin to construct the steely, unbreakable bonds of friendship in this humourous and hopeful novel.

Statistics show that up to 40 percent of children in the United States suffer from allergies and at least 10 percent suffer from asthma. That translates into almost five million American children affected by both allergies and asthma. And as Dr. Allen J. Dozor, head of one of the largest pediatric pulmonary practices in the United States, has seen among his patients, some of the most upsetting effects of allergies and asthma are the psychological wounds inflicted on a child's self-image. There is the constant protectiveness from caregivers, confusing limits and rules, headaches, obesity, shortness of breath, and sleep deprivation. In some cases these side effects, such as stress and obesity, cycle back to make the original condition worse. Dr. Dozor's plan, developed over the last twenty years, is designed to empower both parents and children. His warmhearted but reality-based approach includes How to give the right amount of medication for best effects and no side effects Empowering your children to manage their own condition so that they can feel safe and secure Prevention and management in school Handling emergencies And much more!

In this timely and informative book, two pediatric allergy specialists reveal simple steps that parents can take to stop attacks and improve their child's health.

Children can and do survive cancer; the last decade has seen many major advancements in treatment. Written honestly, yet in a reassuring tone, by a reference librarian whose child has survived cancer, Children with Cancer draws together a wealth of up-to-date information essential for anyone who wishes to help a child or family through this ordeal--including relatives, friends, teachers, and clergymen, as well as doctors, nurses, and other health care professionals. The information ranges from sophisticated, hard-to-find medical facts to practical tips on how to handle side effects, and much more. Describing in detail the whole range of childhood cancers, Bracken explores how they affect the child, the treatments available, how to cope with the changes this diagnosis will bring to the entire family, and where to go for both medical and emotional help. It also includes an appendix of common medical tests, a glossary of terms, and comprehensive lists of organizations, clinics, and cancer centers, complete with names and addresses.

"Childhood Cancer," the most complete parent guide available, features detailed and precise medical information about solid tumor childhood cancers, including neuroblastoma, Wilms tumor, liver tumors, soft tissue sarcomas, and bone sarcomas. In addition, it offers day-to-day practical advice on how to cope with procedures, hospitalization, family and friends, school, social and financial issues, communication, feelings, and, if therapy is not successful, the difficult issues of death and bereavement. Woven among the medical details and the practical advice are the voices of parents and children who have lived with cancer and its treatments. As many parents have already found, advice from "veteran" parents can be a lifeline. Obtaining a basic understanding of topics such as medical terminology, how drugs work, common side effects of chemotherapy, and how to work more effectively with medical personnel can only improve the quality of life for the whole family suffering along with their child. Having parents describe their own emotional ups and downs, how they coped, and how they molded their family life around hospitalizations can be a tremendous comfort. Just knowing that there are other kids on chemotherapy who refuse to eat anything but tacos or who have frequent rages can make one feel less alone. Parents who read this book will encounter medical facts simply explained, advice to ease their daily lives, and tools to be strong advocates for their child.

Childhood Brain & Spinal Cord Tumors, the most complete parent guide available, includes detailed and precise medical information about both benign and malignant brain and spinal cord tumors that strike children and adolescents. In addition, it offers day-to-day practical advice on how to cope with procedures, hospitalization, family and friends, school, social and financial issues, communication, feelings, and, if therapy is not successful, the difficult issues of death and bereavement.Woven among the medical details and the practical advice are the voices of parents and children who have lived with cancer and its treatments. As many parents have already found, advice from "veteran" parents can be a lifeline.Obtaining a basic understanding of topics such as medical terminology, how drugs work, common side effects of chemotherapy, and how to work more effectively with medical personnel can only improve the quality of life for the whole family suffering along with their child. Having parents describe their own emotional ups and downs, how they coped, and how they molded their family life around hospitalizations can be a tremendous comfort. Just knowing that there are other kids on chemotherapy who refuse to eat anything but tacos or who have frequent rages can make one feel less alone.Parents who read this book will encounter medical facts simply explained, advice to ease their daily life, and tools to be a strong advocate for their child. Includes extensive resources and a pull-out medical record-keeper.