Our Favorite Books About Migraine… for Kids!
If we are going to create more readers, more writers, people who feel included and recognized, and people who understand that the world is far richer than just their experiences alone, kids need books that are as diverse and complex as the society we live in. Every year on March 2, this is what we celebrate for Read Across America Day!
Migraine is one of the most common neurologic conditions in children. It has been estimated that about 10% of children between six and 20 years old have migraine, and it is likely under-diagnosed because headaches are a common complaint and easy to dismiss.
However, despite its prevalence, migraine is misunderstood, especially with kids and teens. The negative impact of migraine disease cannot be underestimated. Its impact on a child’s quality of life has been comparable to that of pediatric cancer, heart disease, and rheumatic disease.
Learn more with the Association of Migraine Disorders.
Reading is one of the best ways to help spread awareness about migraine disease among youth. Whether a child has migraine and is feeling alone, or their friends or families don’t understand the impact this condition can have on their loved one physically, mentally, and emotionally, there are books out there to bridge the divide!
Take a look at some of our favorite books about migraine for kids below!
Super Zoe: The Migraine Hero
Lindsay B. Weitzel
Ages: 8 years old and up
Zoe is a spunky, awesome kid who happens to get migraines. Sometimes, really bad ones. When a “BUMMER” day happens, she has learned that if she does at least one thing that will put her in a better place tomorrow than she is today, it will turn into a “SUPER” day … a day that she knows she can create.
Super Zoe the Migraine Hero empowers kids with migraines. It lets them know they are not alone. Zoe reminds them they can be confident, happy, and successful – even when pain makes it challenging. The Zoe Mantra: Do at least one thing that will put me in a better place tomorrow than I am in today.
The Day My Best Friend and a Migraine Slept Over
Audrey Beth Stein
Ages: 6-9 years old
This colorful story follows two young girls on the occasion of a big sleepover-with roller-skating, glow-in-the-dark stickers, blanket forts, and a special adventure all on the agenda. The narrator is torn between trying to have fun with her friend and conceding to the increasing throbbing in her head.
But the eight-year-old has learned to manage. She pays attention to her body, and with a little help from Mom and Dad, the sleepover happens in spite of the migraine, with all the fun and joy you would expect. Along the way, readers learn about the ways a migraine comes on, what it feels like, how to cope, and how it runs its painful course. And that special adventure? Well, let’s not give everything away before you read the book!
Noah the Narwhal: A Tale of Downs and Ups
Judith Klausner
Ages: 5-8 years old
Noah the Narwhal has good days, when he is productive and social, and pain days, when he needs to rest. His friends and family can find it difficult to handle the unpredictability, but in the end they realize that having Noah in their lives is absolutely worth it!
For the people in our lives – young and old – whose brains work a little differently. Noah the Narwhal is here to remind us (and the people who love us) that being valued and loved are just as constant as any chronic condition.
Migraine and Mia
Kat Harrison
Ages: 4-8 years old
Mia lives with chronic migraine. Migraine often makes Mia’s body feel like a full-on pain parade with a marching band behind her eyeballs! Sometimes she even sees dots, stripes, and a whole kaleidoscope of colors. While migraine really is no fun at all, there are small ways friends and family can help when one strikes.
Written with humor and pizzazz, Migraine and Mia is the perfect way to educate children about this often-misunderstood health condition and what they can do to better support those who live with it.
Little Girls with Migraines
Penny Teague
Ages: 3 years old and up
Pain can be scary for any age but thankfully this little girl has her mommy to help her through the intense pain of a migraine. Migraines can be sudden, intense, and incredibly painful for adults but for children they can also be scary and hard to understand. This book was written by a mom of a little girl with frequent migraines, while also suffering from chronic migraines herself. All while trying to shed some light on the confusing, painful, and challenging world of migraine awareness.
Migraine Journals for Kids
Keeping a migraine journal is a great way to better understand migraine symptoms, triggers, and your daily experience. There are many options out there for kid-friendly migraine journals!. Here are a few examples…
Migraine Journal For Kids: Migraine/Headache Tracker and Journal for Children and Teenagers
My Headache Diary: Migraine and Headache Journal Tracker For Kids
Headache Diary: Migraine/Headache Tracker and Journal for Children and Teenagers
Please note: This post is not sponsored in any way by the authors or publishers listed. Keep reading and keep writing!