CAREGIVING & FAMILY SUPPORT
Books and Resources
to Help Children
Understand Caregiving
When someone in a family needs care, children experience the changes, too. Books help children understand caregiving, changing family roles, and the many feelings that come with helping and being helped.
Explore thoughtfully selected stories and resources that encourage understanding, connection, and open conversations about caregiving within families.
FEATURED RESOURCE
Helping Children Understand Caregiving and Changing Family Roles
Caregiving changes everyday life for the whole family, including children. Books offer a natural way to begin conversations about why someone needs help, how family roles may change, and the feelings children experience along the way.
Explore stories that help children understand what it means to care for someone they love and recognize that they need care and support, too.
Read the Resource →
BOOKS TO EXPLORE
Stories About Young Caregivers
Some children and teens help care for a parent, sibling, grandparent, or other family member who needs support. These stories reflect the responsibilities, relationships, worries, and everyday experiences of young caregivers while reminding children that their own needs, friendships, interests, and childhood matter, too.
Onjali Q. Raúf
YOUNG CAREGIVERS • FAMILY • SUPPORT
Maren Ellis
YOUNG CAREGIVERS · FAMILY CARE · CHILDHOOD
Sarah Ann Juckes
YOUNG CAREGIVERS • MENTAL HEALTH • ASKING FOR HELP
Jo Aldridge
YOUNG CAREGIVERS · FAMILY RESPONSIBILITIES · SUPPORT
FIND SUPPORT
Support for Young Caregivers and Their Families
Young caregivers often balance helping someone they love with school, friendships, activities, and their own needs. These organizations offer information, programs, and resources to help children and teens understand their caregiving role, connect with support, and know they do not have to manage everything on their own.
American Association of Caregiving Youth
AACY supports children and teens who provide significant care for family members living with chronic illness, injury, disability, mental health conditions, or age-related frailty. Its resources include support for caregiving youth and families, education, skill building, and connections to additional services.
Family Caregiver Alliance: Support for Young Caregivers
This resource helps young caregivers recognize that they are not alone and offers practical guidance for finding information, community, and support while managing caregiving alongside the other parts of their lives.
Hidden Helpers — Elizabeth Dole Foundation
Hidden Helpers focuses specifically on children and young people in military and veteran families who help care for a wounded, ill, or injured service member or veteran. Its resources address children’s experiences at home, in school, and in the community and include materials developed specifically for caregiving youth and the adults who support them.
FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY
Resources for Family Caregivers
Children experience caregiving within a larger family story. Nana’s Books Foundation also provides public libraries with selected books and resources for family caregivers, including materials related to Alzheimer’s disease, dementia, caregiving strategies, and caregiver support.
These resources help extend support beyond the child, giving families access to information and guidance as they navigate caregiving together.
Explore Books & Resources About Alzheimer’s & Dementia →
Help Put Meaningful Books Into More Children’s Hands
Nana’s Books Foundation provides thoughtfully selected books to eligible Title I schools and public libraries, helping children access stories that build understanding, connection, and compassion.
Explore All Books & Resources →