Subscribe ‘Portia’s Incredible Journey‘, by Emma Price, explores the journey of a young girl, from being first diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus, to becoming confident in managing her condition. What is Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus? Type 1 DM is an autoimmune disease (when a person’s own immune system attacks healthy cells by mistake). In …
Ep. 26: Diabetes and ‘Portia’s Incredible Journey’ Read More »
Subscribe What’s a girl to do when she doesn’t recognize her own mother anymore? Our main character in the middle grade novel ‘The Science of Breakable Things’ is Natalie. And Natalie is struggling with the way her mother has been acting recently – she doesn’t laugh anymore, she doesn’t eat with the family, she barely …
Ep. 24: Depression and ‘The Science of Breakable Things’ Read More »
Subscribe ‘Halfway Normal‘ by Barbara Dee is a middle grade novel exploring what it is like readjusting to the “real world” of middle school after cancer. The main character, Norah Levy, is a 12 year old girl returning to school after two years of time interrupted due to treatment for leukemia. What is Leukemia? Leukemia …
Subscribe ‘Wink‘ by Rob Harrell is a middle grade novel that explores the awkward and challenging experience of living through cancer. The Big ‘C’: What exactly is this thing called cancer? Our bodies are made up of billions of little cells. Cancer happens when abnormal or damaged cells keep growing when they shouldn’t (the little …
Subscribe Bea has a dilemma. How can she participate in Silly Hair Day if she doesn’t have hair? But…why doesn’t she have hair? ‘What’s Silly Hair Day with No Hair’ is a picture book for ages 4-8years, written by Norene Paulson. Bea, the main character, has alopecia. Alopecia means hair loss. There are many reasons …
Ep. 20: Alopecia and ‘What’s Silly Hair Day Without Hair?’ Read More »
Subscribe ‘Forget Me Not‘ is a middle grade novel by Ellie Terry. This follows the journey of a young girl – Calliope June – who has Tourette Syndrome, and her sometimes-friend Jinsong. What is Tourette Syndrome? Tourette Syndrome is a neurological disorder (meaning it involves the brain). People with Tourette syndrome have tics, which are repetitive …
Subscribe Marcus Vega Doesn’t Speak Spanish. And neither do I, so thankfully, this book is in English! It does contain some amazing adventures in Puerto Rico though! It all starts when a school bully pushes Marcus’s buttons and gets him suspended. The trigger? Making fun of Marcus’s little brother Charlie, who has Down Syndrome. Down …
Ep. 17: Down Syndrome and ‘Marcus Vega Doesn’t Speak Spanish’ Read More »
Everybody gets stuck sometimes! What matters is how you respond to it. In this episode, we talk about getting stuck when it comes to speaking – that is, stuttering or stammering. Subscribe Some Facts about Stuttering Stuttering (or stammering) is a disruption in the normal flow of speech. Children who stutter might repeat sounds (I …
Subscribe There’s a new baby brother in town! But …why does his smile look different? ‘Jack’s New Smile‘ – coauthored by Ruth Trivelpiece, Suzanne West, and Jennifer Rhodes – is an excellent picture book that is written for brothers and sisters of a new baby with cleft lip and palate. What is Cleft Lip and …
Subscribe What in the world are tonsils? Do you need them? Can you trade them in for ice cream? Answers to these burning questions and more in this episode! The book of the day is called Tattletale Tommy and the Touching Tonsils, by Dr Katina Currin. It is a short chapter book, and I would call it an early-ish reader. This …
Tonsillectomy, ‘Tattletale Tommy & the Touching Tonsils’ Read More »