Recommended Heart-Related Reading
The Heart Institute team at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center recommends families and patients consider reading books and publications related to pediatric cardiac disorders and procedures.
Most of the recommended literature is available in the Family Resource Center ocated on the second floor of Location D at Cincinnati Children’s Burnet Campus.
Many of these books can be ordered from Kids With Heart, a national association for children's heart disorders.
Books for Parents
The Heart of a Child: What Families Need to Know about Heart Disorders in Children, by Catherine Neill, MD; Edward Clark, MD; and Carleen Clark, RN
Written in 1992 by a group of practitioners from Johns Hopkins University, this book helps families understand even the most complex heart defect. It also covers some of the less obvious aspects of congenital heart disease such as how to advocate for your child in school and what to expect as your child grows.
The Heart of a Mother, by Anna Jaworski
The Heart of a Mother is a group of essays and poems by women affected by congenital heart defects. The book is divided into three sections: Discovery, Support and Hope. The essays include topics such as In Utero Diagnosis, Special Problems and Solutions, Grandmothers' Stories, Mothers around the World and Mothers in the Hospital. The purpose of this book is to inspire and educate others about congenital heart defects.
Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome: A Handbook for Parents, by Anna Jaworski
Anna Jaworski is a mother of a child born with Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome (HLHS). Her book chronicles her experiences with her son while at the same time giving practical and useful information about Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome. Although the book focuses on Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome, some information can be applied to all congenital heart defects. Though no longer available for purchasing new in stores, this book is available via loan from the Heart Institute.
My Brother Needs an Operation, by Anna Jaworski
This is the story of how Joey's life was affected when his brother Alex had to go to the hospital. This book is written in an interactive manner. The child reader hears Joey's story and can be asked questions by the caregiver reading the story related to that child's situation. This book also contains parenting tips to educate and encourage parents who have one child in the hospital and another child at home.
A Parent's Guide to Congenital Heart Defects, by Gerri Freid Kramer and Shari Maurer
This guide covers a broad range of questions and concerns, giving parents the medical information and emotional support they need. In this book, more than 30 leading experts in pediatric cardiology and cardiothoraic surgery give detailed answers to help families understand their child's congenital heart defect. This guide contains information on diagnosis, treatment options, surgery, and growing up with heart disease.
A Parent's Guide to Pediatric Heart Surgery, edited by Dodie Weisbrod
This booklet lists topics to discuss with cardiologists and cardiothoracic surgeons before surgery. It also has diagrams of the heart and areas for parents to journal information about their child's care. This booklet is available to print from the Pediatric Heart Research Association free of charge.
Books for Children
The Division of Child Life and Recreational Therapy suggests several books that might help your child learn about their visit at the hospital, the doctor or some common procedures. There are also books to help young children and teens deal with grief.
Check with your local librarian for additional suggestions.
- A Visit to The Sesame Street Hospital by Deborah Hautzig
- Going to the Hospital by Fred Rogers
- Why Am I Going to the Hospital? by Claire Cilliotta and Carole Livingston
- Pooh Plays Doctor by K.W. Zoehfeld
- My Doctor, My Friend by P.K. Hallinan
- Going to the Doctor by A. Civardi and S. Cartwright
- Going to the Hospital by A. Civardi and S. Cartwright
- Barney and Baby Bop Go To The Doctor by M. Larsen, MEd
- The Busy World of Richard Scarry: A Big Operation by Richard Scarry
- One Bear In The Hospital by C. Bucknall
- Curious George Goes to the Hospital by H. Rey and M. Rey
- Chris Gets Ear Tubes by B. Pace
- Corduroy Goes to the Doctor by L. McCue
- When Molly Was in the Hospital: A Book for Brothers and Sisters of Hospitalized Children by D. Duncan
- The Hospital Book by J. Howe
- Blueberry Eyes by M.D. Beatty
- This is a Hospital, Not a Zoo by R. Karim
- Let's Talk About Going to the Hospital by M. Johnson
- Going to the Doctor by S. Strong
- Going to the Hospital by B. Clark
- Going to the Dentist by M. Borgardt
Contact the Heart Institute at Cincinnati Children's
For more information or to schedule an appointment, please contact the Heart Institute at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center.
