Cancer is confusing, and It’s hard to find the right words to help a child understand such a difficult disease. While we can’t tell you exactly what to say, we hope these books give you a good starting point for open and honest communication. The list includes insightful and educational stories to help your entire family find comfort and inspiration when it’s most needed.

Roswell Park’s Teresa Kishel, Senior Radiation Therapist, went out of her way to provide comfort to patients by offering them a soft, colorful shawl.

The old book doesn’t look like much. Its red fabric cover is faded. The edges of the pages have yellowed, and there are no photos or illustrations inside — just page after page bearing the signatures of eminent people, including world-renowned scientists who changed the course of history.