Allergies are a heavy topic to teach kids about, but it’s too important to ignore. Each food allergy children’s book has been a hit in our house, and I have a feeling they will be in yours too!

Eppie the Elephant (Who Was Allergic to Peanuts)

Eppie the Elephant (Who Was Allergic to Peanuts) by Livingstone Crouse (Author) and Steve Brown (Illustrator) tells a story about an elephant who needs to navigate her peanut allergy at school for the first time. Not gonna lie, I got teary-eyed reading it the first time. It has a very important message about friendship and feeling included while staying protected from allergens. If you’ve never read a food allergy children’s book, I highly recommend starting with this one!

The BugaBees: Friends With Food Allergies

The BugaBees: Friends With Food Allergies by Amy Recob tells a story about 8 friends who each have one of the top 8 most common food allergies (this was published before Sesame was added, creating the Top 9). We stumbled upon this one at our allergist’s office, and it’s the first book we encountered specifically about food allergies. It teaches kids that even if you have an allergy, you can still have lots of fun without that food. Each top allergen gets its own dedicated pair of pages, and after the story there is more educational content about each one as well.

The BugyBops: Friends for All Time

The BugyBops: Friends for All Time by Amy Recob is about the Bugabees’ friends who support them even though they don’t have allergies themselves. Some friendly bugs called the BugyBops help the BugaBees remember their medicine wherever they go, and they make sure any foods with allergens in them are clearly labeled and avoided when necessary. It’s a great book to show kids who have friends or siblings with allergies.

My Perfect Cupcake

My Perfect Cupcake by Rebecca Greene (Author) and Rebecca Sinclair (Illustrator) is about a boy named Dylan who discovers he has a tree nut allergy and can no longer go to his favorite bakery. It talks about cross contact, skin allergy tests, and carrying medicine around with you to keep you safe. It also teaches kids that by taking the time to learn about someone else’s allergies and making the effort to find alternatives, everyone can enjoy a delicious treat without feeling left out.

I Can’t Have That, I Have Allergies

I Can’t Have That, I Have Allergies by Katie Kinsella (Author) and Vicky Kuhn (Illustrator) tells a story of a hedgehog who feels left out because all of his friends are headed to a party, but he doesn’t feel safe because of the food that will be there. The hedgehog describes what can happen if he comes in contact with something he’s allergic to in memorable and easy-to-understand ways. It has a great message about showing you care and taking the time to accommodate people who feel left out because of their allergies.

Zippy: A Story About Oral Immunotherapy (OIT) for Food Allergies

Zippy: A Story About Oral Immunotherapy (OIT) for Food Allergies by Sakina Shikari Bajowala (author), Suzy Brauer (author), and Noemie Gionet Landry (illustrator) is about a racecar who is allergic to racing fuel. He goes through a program to gradually introduce his body to the fuel and eventually be able to use it without having an allergic reaction. It’s a great metaphor for oral immunotherapy (OIT) and how it can be very rewarding when you are determined and put in hard work.

Food Allergy Conqueror: Ollie’s OIT Story

Food Allergy Conqueror: Ollie’s OIT Story by George Brown MD and Jennifer Browne is a story about a boy’s journey through OIT with a peanut allergy. He went from being severely allergic to being able to eat a peanut butter cup with his dad after completing OIT. This one has a lot more words per page and feels more directed toward older kids. It paints a realistic but digestible picture of how difficult but rewarding OIT can be for conquering an allergy.

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Also check out our general parenting book recommendations! We’ll do our best to keep this up-to-date as we encounter more quality options.