Categories
Explaining severe food allergies to kids is a challenge; explaining to their peers is even harder. Whether you're a parent just trying to get a handle on your child's severe food allergies, or a teen learning to self-advocate, there are a ton of books out there for you.
Here's a round-up of great books about severe allergies and anaphylaxis for kids of all ages (and parents) that can be purchased or borrowed from your local library:
Allie the Allergic Elephant by Nicole Smith
Allie teaches children and adults about allergic reactions, and helps people understand the severity of food allergies. This book discusses how peanuts can be hidden in foods, and how kids can say, “No, thank you” to foods offered to them by children and adults.
The BugaBees: Friends With Food Allergies by Amy Recob
A cute rhyming tale, and beautifully illustrated, this book is about eight little friends with different food allergies. It teaches young kids how to deal with their allergies at home, at school, and out and about.
The BugyBops: Friends for All Time by Amy Recob
I love that this book brings friends into the mix! It teaches kids how they can keep their allergic friends safe through things like hand-washing and reading labels. It covers severe food allergies to things like peanuts, shellfish, milk, eggs, soy and wheat, and even discusses cross-contamination, signs of allergic reactions, use of EpiPen and more! The website for this series is also entertaining.
Chad the Allergic Chipmunk by Nicole Smith
Chad teaches readers about tree nut allergies. The book discusses nut allergies in a very understandable, accessible way.
Cody the Allergic Cow by Nicole Smith
Cody helps kids understand milk allergies and how to recognize an allergic reaction. It’s a great addition to a classroom library.
Mommy, Is This Safe to Eat? A Guide for Preschoolers Allergic to Peanuts and Tree Nuts by Christina Black
Ricky is a three-year-old boy with a severe food allergy. This book shows kids how to stay safe when at the playground or birthday parties, and teaches them to always ask before they eat anything. It also has helpful tips for parents when searching for babysitters or preschools, and when eating at restaurants.
Starting School with a Food Allergy by Christina Black
This is a handy book for kids heading to elementary school. It primarily focuses on peanut allergies, but the gist of the information is the same for any severe food allergy.
The No Biggie Bunch by Heather Mehra, Kerry McManama, and Michael Kline
This is a series of books that aims to help kids deal with their severe food allergies with “poise and panache.” They provide creative ways for kids to navigate life with food allergies.
No Lobster, Please! A Story of a Child with a Severe Seafood Allergy by Robyn Rogers
Adorably illustrated by a class of grade one kids, this book addresses severe seafood allergies, and the use of EpiPen.
One of the Gang: Nurturing the Souls of Children with Food Allergies by Gina Clowes
Clowes is one of the only authors to address the emotional impact of severe food allergies on kids. This book discusses how integral food is to our society’s celebrations, and how exclusion can impact kids. It’s a great way to teach other kids and adults how to be more inclusive.
The Peanut Butter Jam by Elizabeth Sussman Nassau
This is the story of Sam, a little boy who has a severe allergy to peanuts. He’s in a jam when his classmates use peanut butter for a project, and readers learn about anaphylactic reactions.
The Peanut Pickle by Jessica Jacbos
This book helps kids learn to explain their severe allergies to others, and how to deal with potentially awkward situations that may arise. It also has a guide for parents to help their kids deal with their severe allergies.
The Princess and the Peanut Allergy by Wendy McClure
This is the story of a little girl who is invited to a friend’s birthday party but can’t go anywhere near the cake because of her severe nut allergy. It’s a good story about how friends can help kids with severe allergies.
Peanut Butter, Milk, and Other Deadly Threats: What You Should Know About Food Allergies by Sherri Mabry Gordon
This books goes into further detail about what severe food allergies are, how testing is done, and how the body reacts during an allergic reaction. It offers tips to older kids for living safely.
Allergic Girl: Adventures in Living Well with Food Allergies by Sloane Miller
A great resource for teens, this guide helps them self-advocate and manage severe food allergies in everyday adult life. Miller covers everything from dining out to dating.
Caring for Your Child With Severe Food Allergies: Emotional Support and Practical Advice from a Parent Who’s Been There by Lisa Cipriano Collins
Food allergies can be life-threatening, and parents are often completely overwhelmed when their child is diagnosed. This book, by another parent of an allergic child, covers all kinds of situations, experiences, and feelings parents may have when dealing with severe allergies. It covers everything from identifying allergies to developing community awareness. Very handy!
Feeding Eden: The Trials and Triumphs of a Food Allergy Family by Susan Weissman
Weissman has a written poignant memoir of her son’s potentially deadly food allergies and has captured everything a parent of an allergic child feels. From diagnosis through management, her story will definitely hit home with allergy parents.
Food Allergies for Dummies by Robert Wood, M.D. and Joe Kraynak
A handy resource from an allergist with a peanut allergy.
How Food Allergies Affect the Family: How to Cope, Stay Safe and Enjoy Life! by Nicole Smith
This inexpensive download is a great intro to severe food allergies for parents. It’s such a daunting diagnosis that can have a huge impact on families, but severe food allergies are totally manageable, and Smith discusses finding the new “normal.”
Hope you find the books as informative and helpful as we have!
This is proudly sponsored by EpiPen®.
EpiPen.ca
The opinions expressed in this post are the opinions of the individual author and may not reflect the opinions of Pfizer Canada, the Canadian distributor of EpiPen. Pfizer Canada reviews all material to ensure medical accuracy of statements.
EpiPen® and EpiPen® Jr (epinephrine) Auto-Injectors are indicated for the emergency treatment of anaphylactic reactions in patients who are determined to be at increased risk for anaphylaxis, including individuals with a history of anaphylactic reactions. Selection of the appropriate dosage strength is determined according to patient body weight.
EpiPen® and EpiPen® Jr Auto-Injectors are designed as emergency supportive therapy only. They are not a replacement for subsequent medical or hospital care. After administration, patients should seek medical attention immediately or go to the emergency room. For the next 48 hours, patients must stay within close proximity to a healthcare facility or where they can call 911. To ensure this product is right for you, always read and follow the label. Please consult the Consumer Information leaflet in your product package for complete dosage and administration instructions.
© 2013 Pfizer Canada Inc., Kirkland, Quebec H9J 2M5 • Toll free: 1-877-EPIPEN1 (1-877-374-7361)
EpiPen®, EpiPen® Jr are registered trademarks of Mylan Inc. licensed exclusively to its wholly-owned affiliate, Mylan Specialty, L.P.; sub-licensee, Pfizer Canada Inc., Kirkland, Quebec H9J 2M5