In celebration of National Children’s Book Week, May 7-13, we want to share a list of children’s books dealing with celiac disease and gluten intolerance. We know it can be really hard for kids to make the transition to a gluten-free diet. Questions abound and often it hard to come up with an easy answer. What is gluten? Why can’t I eat cookies and pizza like everyone else? What will my friends think? We think the following books are helpful resources for kids diagnosed with celiac disease or gluten-intolerance.
Eating Gluten-Free with Emily: A Story for Children with Celiac Disease
Written by the mother of a child with celiac disease, who also has the disease herself, this book offers a reassuring look at celiac disease in language that a child can easily understand. This fictional story is based on the real-life experiences many newly diagnosed children face. Five-year-old Emily and her parents wonder why she’s not feeling well. Her belly is swollen, and she feels moody and sick. A trip to the doctor raises some concerns and further tests show that Emily has celiac disease. Emily talks about what food she can and cannot eat, how her Mom buys special gluten-free food, and the need to stay on a gluten-free diet at restaurants, birthday parties, friends’ houses, school, and camp. With its light-hearted, colourful illustrations, the book helps children to see that having celiac disease is not so scary after all. Emily acknowledges that having celiac disease is sometimes tough, but talking about her feelings with her mom always makes her feel better. She knows that celiac disease is only part of who she is — she also likes to jump rope, paint, tell jokes, and pick flowers! This book’s positive message will be a huge boost to children with celiac disease, especially those who have been recently diagnosed. Ages 3 to 7 years.
Amy Goes Gluten-Free: A Young Person’s Guide to Celiac Disease.
The Division of Gastroenterology nd Nutrition at Children’s Hospital Boston designed “Amy Goes Gluten-Free”to help children navigate the diagnosis of celiac disease. Packed with pages of colorful pictures, nutrition information and activities. “Amy Goes Gluten-Free” is a fun and useful tool for new and veteran celiac patients alike!
Adam’s Gluten Free Surprise
In Adam’s Gluten Free Surprise, we watch Adam as he goes through the first six months of a new school year just after being diagnosed with celiac. Adam faces each special treat day in his classroom with a positive attitude, knowing he can choose from his own box of gluten free treats that his mom supplies. At the same time, his teacher, Mrs. Brown, is learning how to accommodate his needs by reading labels and avoiding cross contamination. Finally, in the end, the entire class learns a bit about celiac and how they can surprise Adam with a class party that is completely gluten free. It is about the acceptance that is required by the child with a special diet and of the understanding required by those who are important parts of his or her life. We live in a world where the word “diet” is synonymous with “cheat a little”. It’s difficult for many to understand that this is a diet that requires 100% adherence. And with this comes an emotional need to be understood, for whoever the person requiring this strict diet may be, whether one or one hundred years of age.
Gluten-Free Friends: An Activity Book for Kids
Noted expert, Nancy Falini, MA, RD, LDN, draws upon her vast experience in counseling gluten-free patients to create a delightful activity/coloring book that helps parents and caretakers educate children ages 4-11 about what it means to live on a gluten-free diet. Delightful illustrations help communicate basic concepts….such as how gluten damages a child’s small intestine in simple, easy-to-understand terms….that clarify the idea without confusing the child. After each chapter, multi-sensory learning activities assist parents and caretakers in guiding the child through the book. For example, one activity asks kids to draw the path of food as it goes through their bodies. Clever, happy-face stickers are provided for kids to label their own gluten-free food. Kids want to fit in and Falini knows that a special diet often sets kids apart from their peers at a time when they desperately want to be a part of the gang. That’s why parents and caretakers love the easy-to-follow instructions that help kids explore their thoughts and feelings along the way. A portion of the profits from this book are donated to research on celiac disease.
Mommy, What Is Celiac Disease?: A look at the sunny side of being a gluten-free kid
When it comes to Celiac disease, questions abound… What is Celiac disease? . . . . What is gluten? . . . Which foods are gluten-free?. . . Is it contagious? . . . Do I need to take medicine for it? Katie Chalmers, author of the unique, new children’s book, titled, Mommy, What is Celiac Disease? creatively answers these and many more questions, using positive dialogue and captivating illustrations. This book is endorsed by the top experts in the fields of Celiac disease research and awareness, including Dr. Fasano, Dr. Green, Dr. Guandalini, Alice Bast, Elaine Monarch and more. This book leaves readers feeling reassured, confident…and even lucky to have been diagnosed with Celiac disease, because they are now on the path to better health. A combination of colorful illustrations and photography. This book leaves children feeling empowered and optimistic about their healthy future.
No More Cupcakes & Tummy Aches
Izzie wasn’t very tall for seven. Not even for six. Or five. Even if she stood on her tippy, tippy toes, her pony tail, just reached the top of Daddy’s chair.” So begins the tale of the little girl who believes that by eating lots of cupcakes, she will get tall, maybe even tall enough to be a ballerina. Too many cupcakes cause a tummy ache and the trouble starts. Living gluten-free isn’t a piece of cake until Izzie learns that being special is really what makes you tall. Beautifully illustrated and with a foreword by Alessio Fasano, M.D., Director of the Center for Celiac Research, Lowell’s charming and emotionally honest tale, complete with resources and a real-life happy ending in the form of a gluten- and lactose-free cupcake recipe from Whole Foods Market Gluten-Free Bakehouse chef Lee Tobin, will live in the hearts of parents and children for generations to come. ”
Grateful for Gluten-Free (Volume 1)
GRATEFUL FOR GLUTEN-FREE is a delightful story about a young girl named Gabby who has celiac disease. Gabby cannot eat foods with wheat or gluten, so she loves when her Mom makes her favorite gluten-free food—PANCAKES! Gabby’s journey helps her discover how grateful she is to live gluten-free, not only because it’s delicious, but because it’s fun too!
The descriptions for the books listed above were taken from amazon.com and can ordered online here
http://www.amazon.com/Favorite-Childrens-Books-Celiac-Disease/lm/R1JL5TXINT16FS
