Inspiration

Chris Crushes Cancer by Michele Wulff
Ingram Spark/Amazon, 2023, 40 pages
ISBN 979-8-3507-1502-6

Chris idolizes superheroes and their adventures. His favorite hero, the Crimson Crusader, displays the superpowers of strength, courage and determination. When Chris is diagnosed with leukemia, he uses his imagination to emerge as a new superhero, the Cancer Crusher. He applies his strength, courage, and determination to complete his treatment successfully and crush cancer!

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Paisley’s Pay it Forward Adventure by Gail D. Nussbaum
Bookbaby, 2023, 33 Pages, Hardcover
ISBN: 9798218076085

Paisley is a teddy bear excited to find a new home full of adventure and is surprised to end up in a hospital. Though not where Paisley expected to land, Paisley finds purpose through helping Ahna, a young girl battling cancer (Leukemia). Paisley soon finds his journey doesn’t end with Ahna- instead he finds himself traveling from child to child. Paisley learns what it means to pay it forward and the power of small acts of kindness - the story is one of love and giving back to those who need it most.

All proceeds from the book go directly to pediatric charities, including Ronald McDonald House, Brent’s Place, and Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation.

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You Are So Much More: An Inspiration for Children Healing From Illness or Injury by Serena Tejpar
Publisher: Loving Healing Press
June 1, 2022, Paperback/Hardcover (44 Pages) and Kindle
ISBN: 978-1615996322
Ages 5 to 7
 
Research has shown that building resilience in the face of adversity or challenges helps children and young people develop effective coping strategies and improve long-term outcomes across a spectrum of illnesses. You Are So Much More reminds children who have gone through or are going through an illness or injury, that they are indeed so much more. Trauma survivor and medical student Serena Tejpar shares a story of inspiration, reflection, and encouragement that can be read over and over again.

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Draw Paint Tell by Caren Sacks
Morgan James Kids, 2021, 40 pages
ISBN 9781631954993

Draw Paint Tell is a children’s book about art making for storytelling, fun, and relaxation. Draw Paint Tell showcases children’s art making at various stages of development, including scribbles, circles, people, animals, and the things they like to do, as well as drawing about one’s feelings. It encourages all children to make art and share their pictures with the people in their lives. The book does not directly address the cancer experience, but offers tools for communication and coping through art that families facing cancer may find helpful.
 
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The Invisible String by Patrice Karst
Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, 2018, 40 Pages, Hardcover/Paperback/Audiobook
ISBN: 978-0316486231
Available in English, Spanish, and multiple other languages

Parents, educators, therapists, and social workers alike have declared The Invisible String the perfect tool for coping with all kinds of separation anxiety, loss, and grief.  In this relatable and reassuring contemporary classic, a mother tells her two children that they're all connected by an invisible string. "That's impossible!" the children insist, but still they want to know more: "What kind of string?" The answer is the simple truth that binds us all: An Invisible String made of love. Even though you can't see it with your eyes, you can feel it deep in your heart, and know that you are always connected to the ones you love. Does everybody have an Invisible String? How far does it reach? Does it ever go away? This heartwarming picture book for all ages explores questions about the intangible yet unbreakable connections between us, and opens up deeper conversations about love.

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Maximo and the Big C: A tale of courage and compassion, A lesson in how to Fight the Fear by Viji Venkatesh
Publisher: The MAX Foundation, 2013
Age Range: grammar school and up 
ISBN-10: 0989079805
ISBN-13: 978-0989079808

Maximo and the Big C is a story for all ages. Beautifully illustrated and poetically written, the book tells the story of Maximo, a little sparrow who is weaker and smaller than other young sparrows, and unable to fly. As much as he tries to overcome his challenge, Maximo is thinking about giving up, when one day he finds himself as the only creature in the forest about to witness the big Cat's attack of another small and weak sparrow. Finding the strength he did not know he had, Maximo sweeps down and rescues the weak bird. This experience helps Maximo realize that he had the strength to overcome his challenge all along. Maximo and the Big C is a work of love created by a group of cancer survivors and caregivers who have overcome their own challenges by dedicating their lives to serving people living with cancer in their communities, in partnership with The MAX Foundation. The MAX Foundation is an organization dedicated to improving access to treatment and support and providing a voice to people living with cancer worldwide. The moral of the story is that we all have the strength inside of ourselves to overcome a cancer diagnosis; and that it is by giving ourselves to others that we defeat the Big C.

The Jester Has Lost His Jingle By David Saltzman
Jester Company, 1995, 64 pages
ISBN: 0964456303
Ages: 6 to 9

This is an illustrated tale, told in rhyme, about a jester who awakens one morning to find laughter missing in his kingdom. He and his helpmate, Pharley, set off on a quest to find it. They ultimately discover that not only can laughter redeem a weary world, it can also provide the best tonic for anyone facing seemingly insurmountable obstacles, including childhood hospitalization and illness.