Schools are like amusement parks for germs, so it’s no wonder my kids get sick all the time. When my oldest daughter caught the latest illness going around, I gave her a dose of medicine, wrapped her in a blanket, and pulled out our \u201csick day\u201d books.<\/p>\n
A\u00a0good book can help keep your mind off your discomfort and make you feel almost normal (at least for a little while). These are the books we read when someone in our family is feeling under the weather.<\/p>\n
no no 9780763624088 Don\u2019t You Feel Well, Sam?<\/i> by Amy Hest, illustrated by Anita Jeram <\/p>\n
Children and parents alike will relate to this gently humorous story about a bear who gets sick and refuses to take his medicine. Pair this book with its companion, Kiss Good Night, for extra snuggle time with your child.
\n(Ages 2 – 5)<\/i><\/p>\n
9780670012329 Llama Llama Home with Mama <\/i> by Anna Dewdney <\/p>\n
Who can resist the charming, easy rhymes of Anna Dewdney? This is a must-read for any kid (and their parents) on a sick day. Kids can relate to Llama Llama as he and his mama deal with illness.
\n(Ages 2 – 5)<\/i><\/p>\n
9780593484067 Dr. Fauci: A Little Golden Book Biography<\/i> by Suzanne Slade, illustrated by Fanny Liem <\/p>\n
Introduce your child to America\u2019s most famous doctor with this Little Golden Book<\/i> biography. Toddlers and preschoolers will enjoy learning about Dr. Fauci\u2019s life and how he helped America during the pandemic.
\n(Ages 2 – 5)<\/i><\/p>\n
9780593752968 Bluey: The Doctor <\/i> by Penguin Young Readers Licenses <\/p>\n
Everyone\u2019s favorite blue heeler goes to the doctor in this sweet and funny picture book. Honey and Bluey sit in the doctor\u2019s waiting room, ready for their appointment. But as the room fills with other injured animals, Honey worries she will never see the doctor. An engaging storyline and familiar characters will make this book your go-to sick day read.
\n(Ages 3 – 5)<\/i><\/p>\n
9780141372426 Get Well Soon, Spot <\/i> by Eric Hill <\/p>\n
Sometimes seeing a familiar face can help us feel better. In this installment of the Spot<\/i> series<\/a>, everyone\u2019s favorite puppy is under the weather. But when Mom and his friends come to help, Spot sees that being sick has its advantages. A sweet and easy read for the pre-K set. 9780593305560 Make Teddy Better<\/i> by Danielle McLean, illustrated by Jordan Wray <\/p>\n This interactive board book is a sweet story about helping someone else feel better and an excellent sick day activity. The plastic storage pouch includes felt pieces shaped like bandages, medicine, a thermometer, a cuddly toy, and more. Kids will love using the felt pieces to comfort Teddy while he recovers from an illness. 9781536238815 Doctor Fairy Tale<\/i> by Catherine Jacob, illustrated by Hoang Giang <\/p>\n Kids will love guessing which fairy tale the characters in this charming picture book come from. Dr. Fairy Tale drives her little red car through the pages, stopping to help every fairy tale creature in need. When Dr. Fairy Tale falls ill herself, the people and creatures she helped gladly return the favor. 9780763665395 The Sniffles for Bear<\/i> by Bonnie Becker, illustrated by Kady MacDonald Denton <\/p>\n Bear is a difficult patient. He’s overly dramatic about his illness, even going so far as to write a will while Mouse patiently cares for him. This is a cute and funny story about the different ways people deal with illness. 9781101932384 That’s Me Loving You<\/i> by Amy Krouse Rosenthal, illustrated by Teagan White <\/p>\n This is a wonderful book to snuggle up with when your child is feeling sick and in need of extra cuddles. Full of love and beautiful artwork, it’s a comforting book for when you need it most. 9780553513370 Penguin Problems<\/i> by Jory John, illustrated by Lane Smith <\/p>\n Penguin is full of complaints until a wise walrus stops by and shows him how to focus on the good in life. This book is laugh-out-loud funny and perfect for those days when focusing on the positive proves difficult. 9781645952497 Even Yetis Get Colds<\/i> by Carlilanne Tipsey <\/p>\n Yeti gets a cold every year, and it makes him grumpy. This year, Yeti\u2019s best friend prepares for the impending cold, but it turns out that what Yeti needs most is a friend. This adorable picture book will capture your heart!<\/p>\n 9780763665296 Home<\/i> by Carson Ellis <\/p>\n Kids usually spend sick days at home, resting. This gorgeous picture book celebrates the simple comforts of home, whether it\u2019s an apartment, a boat, or a castle. Kids will love seeing the many types of homes found throughout the world. 9781662640360 Haiku Kaiju Ah-Choo!<\/i> by George McClements <\/p>\n When a giant kaiju stomps into the city, everyone worries he is there to destroy it. But a clever boy realizes the kaiju is sick and needs his help. Written in haikus and jam-packed with monster tropes and humor, this comics-style picture book will keep young readers engaged through every page. It makes an excellent sick day read! 9780593531754 Roar-Choo!<\/i> by Charlotte Cheng, illustrated by Dan Santat <\/p>\n The fierce and powerful dragon in this story can\u2019t stop sneezing, while his friend the phoenix patiently tries to help. But Dragon is too stubborn to relax and let himself get better. Cheng has written a fun and relatable book about taking the time to slow down and to nourish oneself and one another while Santat’s vibrant illustrations light up the characters with little nods to Chinese culture. 9780593226995 Blippo and Beep: I Feel Funny<\/i> by Sarah Weeks, illustrated by Joey Ellis <\/p>\n Kids learning to read independently will find much to love about this early reader story about a robot who catches a bug. His best friend tries to cheer him up in increasingly funny ways. This giggle-worthy story will appeal to fans of Elephant and Piggy. 9781623544249 Sick Day Jitters <\/i> by Julie Danneberg, illustrated by Judy Love <\/p>\n When Mrs. Hartwell gets ill and misses a day of school, her class worries about who will substitute. As different teachers fill in for her, the students update Mrs. Hartwell through a series of messages. Young readers will relate to this heartfelt story about spending a day without their beloved teacher. 9780593308820 Mermicorns #4: Sniffles and Surprises <\/i> by Sudipta Bardhan-Quallen, illustrated by Vivien Wu <\/p>\n Lily is feeling under the weather and stuck in bed with a cold. She\u2019s missing an exciting lesson at the Magic Academy and<\/i> a fun afternoon at the clubhouse with her best friend Sirena. It seems like the day is a total bust \u2014 until Sirena and their mischievous kitten pals come up with a magical surprise! Can they turn Lily\u2019s gloomy day into something truly special? <\/p>\n Editor’s Note: This article was originally published in 2017 and updated in 2025.<\/small><\/i><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" A good book can help keep your mind off your discomfort. These kids’ books are great to have at-the-ready for sick days.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":10,"featured_media":8362,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[116,217,377],"coauthors":[23],"class_list":["post-8360","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized","tag-parenting","tag-illness","tag-feelings","ages_stages-pre-k","ages_stages-growing-reader"],"yoast_head":"\n
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