CHD books for your heart warrior and heart family
After the shock wears off, and you gain acceptance of your child’s CHD diagnosis, you might want to learn anything and everything you can about congenital heart disease and defects.
Check out these CHD books for your heart warrior and family to help everyone gain a better understanding of Congenital Heart Disease and Defects. CHD not only affects the heart warrior, but also the parents, and the whole family. CHD books can be a great tool to help everyone learn.
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Why these books matter
CHD books can help your heart warrior and any heart siblings, grandparents, and other family gain an awareness and understanding of CHDs, heart surgery, and more at an age-appropriate level. Use the books to help normalize CHD life for your heart warrior.
Does your child have an upcoming cardiologist appointment or heart surgery? Use some of these CHD books for your heart warrior and heart family to help prepare everyone for what will happen. Is your child getting older and noticing their zipper scar? Use some of these Congenital Heart Disease books for kids for your heart warrior to help them understand their bravery, minimize shame, and feel pride.
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CHD books about the heart, surgery, and CHD life for your heart warrior and heart family
The following books are specific to Congenital Heart Disease or cardiology. These books address understanding how the heart works, congenital heart defects, heart surgery, scars, living with CHD, and more.
- Cardiology for Babies, written by a doctor, offers a perfect introduction to the wonders of the human body. This interactive board book teaches little ones about the heart, one of the body’s most vital organs, and the role it plays in maintaining life.
- Zip-Line whimsically explains the answer to the question “How did that line get there?”. It aims to set a model for kids with CHD to be comfortable with themselves, their heart scar, and the surgery that they were too young to remember. Also available in Spanish.
- Cardiology for Kids, written by physicians, is a charming, easy-to-understand introduction to the organ that pumps blood throughout your body: the heart! With its beautiful illustrations and simple explanations, this book teaches children (and adults alike!) about the anatomy, physiology, and diseases of the cardiovascular system.
- Super Scar tells the story of a young boy who has a scar from open-heart surgery for his congenital heart defect. Although he may face difficult situations, his super scar gives him the confidence he needs to remember how brave and special he really is.
- The abilities in me: Congenital heart defect is dedicated to young children born with a congenital heart defect, also known as CHD. Explore the day in the life of a little girl with CHD through bright, colourful illustrations and text. Perfect for teachers, parents and children alike, this book will bring awareness of the condition and teach children how to be supportive and be kind.
- Exclamation Point is a charming story about a child explaining how he received the exclamation point-shaped scar in the middle of his chest when the doctors fixed his heart through surgery for his Congenital Heart Defect (CHD).
- A Heart Warrior’s Beauty Marks shows young readers everything Lillian and other heart warriors (children who have had heart surgery) must courageously endure to survive and explains how they received these beauty marks. The catchy rhyme and simple language, along with the colorful illustrations, should appeal to the young audience for which the book is intended. Readers will easily connect with the heroine and cheer her on to the end of her beautiful story of survival.
- Extra Special Heart highlights all of the beauty and strengths the child has, even though he may have a heart with physical imperfections. Teaches children about inclusion, and harvests pride amongst children with CHD, that may feel frustrated or sad about having an “imperfect heart.”
- My Scar is Beautiful is a book perfect for anyone with a scar, no matter their age, or how it came to be. Filled with positive affirmations and colorful illustrations, readers will feel empowered and encouraged to wear their scar with pride and confidence.
- Charlie the Courageous Meet Charlie! A courageous young girl who has had her fair share of battles in this world. After being born blue, Charlie needed a special surgery on her heart. Charlie was given super powers that only she knew, and wore her mighty heart scar on her chest proudly. She with her sisters and friends, teach children to love and embrace each other’s differences.
- Eamonn the Mighty is meant to empower children whose cardiac surgeries left them with a “zipper” chest scar. Eamonn and his village are in jeopardy as the ruthless beast known as the Cold Hearted Dragon (CHD) threatens to destroy everything in his path, including their town! Even though he is scared, Eamonn is ready to take on the dragon, but he can’t do it alone. With the help of his brave tribesmen and tribeswomen, they undertake this dangerous quest.
- Henry Has Heart Surgery follows a young imaginative boy on his journey through a major medical procedure. Starting from the moment his parents explain he is having surgery, all the way through the ensuing hospital stay and ultimately the trip back home, this story allows your child to understand the process he or she may be going through soon. Your child will be introduced to different members of the hospital staff and types of medical equipment in an easy to understand and empowering way. By using his imagination and the power to choose, Henry overcomes fears and anxieties about his operation. A percentage of the profits from each book sold will be donated to a CHD research organization.
- The Boy Born Blue: A Story of a CHD Superhero is a story about a boy named Decklan, who was born with a critical congenital heart defect. He underwent open heart surgery at five weeks old. As he was fighting battles in the hospital, he transformed into a real-life superhero. Decklan remained brave and full of pure happiness through it all. He is an inspiration to many and teaches his loved ones to have the courage and strength to fight against anything they may face. This book was written to provide hope for all the CHD superheroes there are in the world and to spread awareness to those who are unaware.
- Secret Little Superheroes: A story and colouring book This short story and colouring book is aimed at young children about to undergo open heart surgery for a congenital heart defect. The story uses reassuring, child-friendly language to explain that the child’s heart needs mending and what can be expected during the hospital stay. Hopes to boost children’s confidence and celebrate their unbelievable strength and bravery.
CHD relevant books related to emotions, resilience and acceptance for your heart warrior and heart family
The following books are not specific to CHDs or the heart, though they’re relevant. These books address general feelings, emotions, and situations related to things heart warriors and heart families often encounter because of CHD.
Use the following books to help manage anxiety, differences, and fears; and encourage bravery, pride, acceptance, empathy, and more.
- Be Brave Little One celebrates the courage and bravery in every child. Perfect for cheering someone on, this story affirms how bravery can show up in all different ways! When times are tough, this is the perfect preemie or NICU baby book for families seeking an encouraging and heartfelt message of bravery.
- Brayden the Brave Goes to the Hospital is based on a true story of a little boy who needs to go to the hospital, and he is a little scared. But with the love and support of family and friends, Brayden knows he is not alone. This book is written in the hope of bringing comfort and support to children with medical issues and their families.
- The Invisible String is the perfect tool for coping with all kinds of separation anxiety, loss, and grief. This heartwarming picture book for all ages explores questions about the intangible yet unbreakable connections between us, and opens up deeper conversations about love. The Invisible String offers a very simple approach to overcoming loneliness, separation, or loss with an imaginative twist that children easily understand and embrace, and delivers a particularly compelling message in today’s uncertain times.
- Brave Ninja: A Children’s Book About Courage (Ninja Life Hacks) Sometimes, it helps to BE brave even when we aren’t FEELING brave. In this comedic story about developing courage, Brave Ninja finds a way to calm fears and become the best ninja they can possibly be!
- The Whatifs Cora is constantly worrying about everything. Because of this, the Whatifs love her. They sneak up to her and give her all kinds of doubts: big or small, silly or frightening, likely or impossible. As she prepares for an upcoming piano recital, the Whatifs cling on tighter and drag her down, making her anxious about messing up during the concert. Will she be able to change her worry-filled thoughts into hopeful ones?
- We’re Different, We’re the Same Elmo and his Sesame Street friends help teach toddlers and the adults in their lives that everyone is the same on the inside, and it’s our differences that make this wonderful world, which is home to us all, an interesting—and special—place. This enduring, colorful, and charmingly illustrated book offers an easy, enjoyable way to learn about differences—and what truly matters.
- Anxious Ninja: A Children’s Book About Managing Anxiety and Difficult Emotions (Ninja Life Hacks) Anxious Ninja experiences difficult emotions until a friend shares some tips on how to handle anxiety. Life is hard! And it’s even harder for children who are just trying to figure things out.
- Confident Ninja: A Children’s Book About Developing Self-Confidence and Self-Esteem (Ninja Life Hacks) Confident Ninja learns that failing is part of the process and discovers the Confidence Code. Find out what happens in this comedic book about overcoming low self-esteem and poor self-confidence. Life is tough. But so are you!
- We’re All Wonders shows readers what it’s like to live in Auggie’s world—a world in which he feels like any other kid, but he’s not always seen that way. We’re All Wonders may be Auggie’s story, but it taps into every child’s longing to belong, and to be seen for who they truly are. It’s the perfect way for families and educators to talk about empathy and kindness with young children.
- It’s OK to be Different Every Child is Unique! Whether they are big or small, short or tall, like to swim, dance, sing or bike. Perhaps they have a special need or disability, or have a different ethnic background. Maybe they wear glasses, talk differently or require a wheelchair to get around. The truth is that all children are different and their individuality should be celebrated, not shunned. And this inspiring and brightly illustrated rhyming picture book does just that. By highlighting the ways kids are different from one another it helps children to accept themselves and others as the beautifully unique individuals that they are. It’s OK to be Different encourages kids to be kind and befriend those who are different from themselves, showing young children that they don’t have to look alike or enjoy doing the same activities to be kind to one another.
- Kindness is my Superpower: A children’s Book About Empathy, Kindness and Compassion Kids learn best by example. With the perfect examples, this book offers, your child will have more understanding for others, accept diversity, thrive in a multicultural and inclusive environment, and show more empathy. Throughout the story, little superhero Lucas will learn what kindness means and understand what it is like to be kind, sensitive, caring, and generous.
Do you know another book that would be great to add to this list? If so, please add it below in comments! I’d love to check it out and have the reference here for others looking.
