Health

This collection contains picture books about health. Some encourage children to get plenty of exercise and to make healthy eating choices. Other books feature illnesses, disabilities and other conditions.

Allergies

Picture books about allergies, including hay fever and various types of food allergies

Bedwetting

Books about bedwetting (nocturnal enuresis) which seek to reassure and inform children that are affected by this.

Common Childhood Illnesses

Books featuring common childhood illnesses and conditions such as chicken pox, asthma and ear infections. Some great choices for children who at home in bed recovering from an illness.

Dentists & Dental Care

Books about visiting the dentist and dental care. Some titles promote good dental care including brushing teeth, others give information about some of the common procedures carried out in the dentist’s surgery.

Disabilities

A positive collection of picture books that are either about disability, or feature people with disabilities.

Doctors, Hospitals & Operations

Books about a visit to the doctor, a hospital stay or having an operation. These picture books aim to reassure children who are frightened by the prospect of medical procedures.

Healthy Eating & Exercise

Books to encourage children to eat healthily, develop good eating habits, try new foods, and take plenty of exercise.

Infectious Diseases

Children's picture books that help children learn what they need to know about infectious diseases like Coronavirus (Covid-19).

Wearing Glasses / Eye patch

Picture books about wearing glasses, and what to expect when you visit an optician.

Mighty Mara

Mighty Mara celebrates diversity and also explores themes about tenacity, self-confidence, and disability inclusion. The protagonist, a young disabled girl, encounters doubt and some bullying when she signs up to perform in her school talent show. Readers will see how she overcomes biases and ableism to embrace what makes her uniquely herself.

Medieval Mashup: Leigh’s Wheelie Adventures

In this charming picture book, a group of children (including Leigh, a wheelchair user) work together to support each other to make costumes for a school event. Leigh is struggling with feelings of self-consciousness and frustration, but he successfully overcomes this.

Henrietta’s Thistleberry Boots

A picture book that acknowledges that a change in routine can be challenging for many children, while at the same time demonstrating that with patience and support, it is possible to get through difficult times. A useful springboard for a conversation about uncomfortable changes, the story promotes patience, resilience and courage to face the unknown or new.

Squishy Sand

This engaging picture book features Leigh, a disabled child who uses a wheelchair. It highlights some of the everyday obstacles that wheelchair users have to cope with. A great choice for any child, reinforcing the importance of empathy, resilience, teamwork, kindness and creative thinking.

Now Wash Your Hands

A playful and humorous picture book which encourages young children to wash their hands. It simply explains what germs are and how they can give you a 'nasty bug'.

Coronavirus: A Book for Children about Covid-19

A comprehensive, child-friendly free e-book that is a great way to answer a child's questions or address their concerns on any aspect of the Coronavirus crisis.

The World Made a Rainbow

This reassuring book may help children who are struggling to adapt to social distancing, or who are finding it hard to be separated from friends or family due to the Coronavirus pandemic

My Special Eye

A vibrant, positive picture book narrated by Bruno, an active little boy who has a prosthetic eye. Any child could learn a good deal from this picture book about why people have prostheses, how the eye is cared for, and what it means for the wearer. 'My Special Eye' gives a much-needed voice to monocular children.

The Itchy-saurus

A funny story book that any child who suffers from eczema or itchy skin is likely to find comforting and reassuring.

Amazing

A joyful book that celebrates friendship, play and acceptance. The story features 'incidental' inclusion: the central character uses a wheelchair, which features prominently in the illustrations but is not mentioned in the text.

The Hospital Hoppities

This story gives a voice to children in long-term hospital care and normalises the hospital environment. It recognises how many selfless acts of kindness are performed in hospitals every day by staff, volunteers and the families of sick children. It also encourages children to be kind and helpful.

Through the Eyes of Me

A useful picture book to simply explain autism to children, it is a positive exploration of how a young girl with autism perceives the world.

The Unstoppable Maggie McGee

A warm, positive reflection of the imagination, friendship and trust of children in long-term hospital care.

What’s worrying you?

A great picture book to help children explore their worries. While it is normal to feel anxious now and then, when anxiety escalates and can't be controlled, sitting down with your child and reading this book together should help.

Isaac and His Amazing Asperger Superpowers!

Explains Asperger's syndrome in a simple, gentle and positive way to very young children.

We’re All Wonders

This story shows how one child copes with his own differences, and other people’s reactions to them. The reader will find comfort in Auggie’s imaginative tactics, and his positivity about being able to change the way others see him.

Mummy’s Lump

Providing a reassuring and realistic account which may dispel some of the fears young children have about cancer, the treatments which are given for it and how it affects family life.

My Circus Adventure (egg free)

An appealing and positive book which teaches children about food allergies, and provides children who have an allergy with strategies to keep them safe and well.

Lulu’s Lunch

May encourage a fussy eater to try a wider variety of foods 'just as Lulu does'.

Off to the Park!

This is not only a fantastic book to engage the imaginations of blind and partially sighted children, it is also a great choice for all children to explore how they use their senses. Adults could use this book to open a discussion about what it feels like to be blind or partially sighted.

My Picnic Adventure (wheat and gluten free)

An appealing and positive book which teaches children about food allergies, and provides children who have an allergy with strategies to keep them safe and well.

My Zoo Adventure (dairy free)

An appealing and positive book which teaches children about food allergies, and provides children who have an allergy with strategies to keep them safe and well.

Brush your teeth, Max and Millie

An ideal book to encourage a toddler to have a go at brushing their teeth independently.

Topsy and Tim: Go to the Doctor

Introducing young children to what happens on a typical visit to the doctor. Provides a positive description of taking medicine.

Lunchbox: The Story of Your Food

This fun and informative book about food and its production may stimulate a child's interest in good nutrition and food provenance. Knowing more about the process and effort that have gone into farming and producing the food may also discourage a child from wasting food.

The Happy Book

A great starting point for talking about both positive and negative feelings with very young children. This book may gently encourage co-operation and good behaviour.

My Seaside Adventure: Nut Free

An appealing and positive book which teaches children about food allergies, and provides children who have an allergy with strategies to keep them safe and well.

Looking after Louis

Explaining to young children how autism can affect behaviour and promoting tolerance and understanding of others.

Peas!

This book may encourage a child who is reluctant to eat vegetables to give them a try. It's also a good introduction to the 'green' issue of food miles, and may make children appreciate the effort and resources that go into getting food onto their plates.

Eliot Jones, Midnight Superhero

A great choice for a child who wears glasses (the featured hero is bespectacled). It's also a good way to discuss prejudice and stereotypes with children, and to encourage them to look beyond outward appearance.

Brody The Lion: The Shopping Flip

Teaching positive behaviour strategies to children experiencing big emotions, this fun picture book is particularly helpful for children with autism or sensory processing disorders.

Off to School in my Wheelie Chair

A light-hearted and engaging picture book that focusses on a young boy’s journey to school in his manual wheelchair. The story gives a very positive view of wheelchair use, emphasising that it can be fast and fun, while at the same time making the reader more aware of the challenges and obstacles that wheelchair users face each day. Promotes resilience, kindness and acceptance.

What Color Is Today?

A child may feel reassured after reading this book that it is normal to experience a huge array of emotions during the Coronavirus pandemic.

Stuck Inside

Acknowledges the challenges that children may face during the Coronavirus pandemic (missing hugs and activities, freedom to mix and play, etc.)

Virtual Hug for The World

Inspiring children to use imaginative play to make imposed restrictions such as lockdowns, sheltering in place or quarantine easier to cope with.

I Don’t Want to Wash My Hands!

A good choice of picture book to share with a child who is reluctant to wash their hands.

Peek A Boo Faces!

A simple, free e-book that is aimed at very young children who may find people wearing face masks worrying or frightening.

Many Ways To Share A Hug

A free e-book for children that explains some of the temporary changes to ordinary life due to Coronavirus. A great choice for children missing hugs and close contact.

A Kid’s Guide to Coronavirus

A free e-book packed full of information for children about Coronavirus, with additional notes to help parents.

Real Superheroes

A picture book that celebrates the 'real superheroes': the key workers that keep the world turning during difficult times. Encourages children to feel grateful and think of others.

While We Can’t Hug

To comfort and support young children who are missing being able to hug their friends and extended family because of social distancing

My Hero Is You

This free e-book contains lots of information for children to help them cope with anxieties surrounding Coronavirus.

Tiger Livy

The story acknowledges the struggles of children with serious chronic illnesses and suggests some simple child-friendly coping strategies. It inspires empathy, patience and resilience/grit in young readers.

When a Dragon Comes to Stay

This lovely picture book promotes positive behaviour, but also gently suggests that even the most good-mannered and co-operative amongst us may struggle to be 'good' sometimes. A great starting point for a conversation about manners, treating others well and sharing.

The Boy in the Big Blue Glasses

A picture book which acknowledges that getting used to wearing glasses can be a challenge for some children. The boy in the story ultimately grows to accept them.

Betsy Goes to the Doctor

A story about a little girl of pre-school age called Betsy who feels unwell and is taken to see the Doctor for the first time by her mummy. She is worried about letting the Doctor look at her sore ear, but is put at ease when the kind Doctor looks at her toy penguin first.