I Have a Question about Cancer: Clear Answers for All Kids, including Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder or other Special Needs

I Have a Question about... is a 2018 Winner of the Moonbeam Children's Book Award Silver Medal for Best Book Series - Non-Fiction

Cancer is a difficult topic for any parent, caregiver or educator to explain to a child. This book is designed to help kids, including children on the autism spectrum or with other additional needs, to understand what it means when someone in their life has cancer.

Using a question and answer format, it explores the life changes and feelings of uncertainty a child may experience if a loved one has cancer. Illustrated with SymbolStix, a symbol-based language for visual thinkers, this book explains a difficult topic to children who might otherwise struggle to understand it. The book also features a short picture story that repeats the complete story for children who process information best through visual cues. Additional guidance for parents and caregivers provides ideas to help children cope with this experience.

Arlen Grad Gaines is a clinical supervisor and licensed clinical social worker with an advanced certification in hospice and palliative social work, based in Maryland, USA.

Meredith Englander Polsky has been working in social work and special education for nearly 20 years and founded Matan, Inc. in 2000. She lives in Maryland, USA.