The Best Type 1 Diabetes Children’s Books by Age

Children’s books about type 1 diabetes (T1D) are valuable not only for children and families affected by a recent diagnosis but also for classmates and teachers seeking to understand the condition.

Learning about T1D and what it’s like to live with it is critical to spreading awareness, building more empathetic communities and creating a more inclusive world. If you’re looking for a new children’s book about T1D, this guide covers those worth adding to your bookshelf.

While the following age groups provide general guidelines and recommendations for parents, please note that reading levels vary, and some young readers may be at levels different from those indicated. For the most accurate recommendations, visit the authors’ online professional portfolios or the product pages for each book.

Best for ages 3-5: preschool + pre-k

“Shia Learns About Insulin” by Shaina Hatchell

“Shia Learns About Insulin” is part of a dynamic children’s book series by Shaina Hatchell, BSN, RN, CDCES, designed to spread information and raise awareness about T1D. In the first book, you and your family will learn all about T1D through Shia and her parents’ journey with her diagnosis.

In addition to sharing impactful insights into what it’s like to live with T1D as a child, the beautiful illustrations and rhyming scheme keep children engaged throughout. The back section of the book includes a review, space for notes and activity pages.

“T1D Superhero: Origins” by Emily N. Goff

If you think your kid is a superhero for managing T1D, you aren’t alone. That’s what inspired Emily N. Goff to create “T1D Superhero: Origins.” In her children’s book, readers meet Luka, who is “just a regular kid…but Luka is also a superhero.”

He’s not a superhero because he leaps over buildings, is famous or can fly, but because he deals with T1D every single day of his life. If you want your child with T1D to feel like a superhero for managing it, this is a unique take on T1D that helps young ones feel empowered rather than defeated by the condition.

“When I Go Low” by Ginger Vieira and Mike Lawson

“When I Go Low” is an excellent resource for children to learn how to identify and communicate how they feel during low blood sugars. Jax the Cat helps children learn how to talk about managing low blood sugar with their family and friends.

Jax the Cat likes to play soccer, eat sandwiches, and ride his bike with his friends—oh, and he also has T1D. One day, he goes on a walk to find other kids with type 1 diabetes and learns a few new things about low blood sugars. For Jax, one of the hardest parts of living with T1D is noticing how he feels when his blood sugar is low.

Your child and family will learn alongside Jax as he goes. The entire book rhymes to keep children engaged throughout Jax’s journey. It’s available in Spanish as well.

“Ain’t Gonna Hide My T1D” by Ginger Vieira and Mike Lawson

If your child has ever felt uncomfortable sharing about their T1D, “Ain’t Gonna Hide My T1D” is an empowering and uplifting read. In the book, you and your kiddo(s) will meet Sherry the Sheep, who loves to draw, play basketball and swim with her friends. She also lives with T1D, of course.

At first, Sherry is nervous about what her new friends at school might think when they see her taking insulin and wearing a continuous glucose monitor (CGM). In the book, Sherry learns how to teach her classmates about diabetes and decides she doesn’t need to hide it after all. This book is also available in Spanish.

“Super Sammy!” Book Series by Josh Hall

This children’s book is part of another fantastic series that paints children with T1D as the superheroes they are.

“Super Sammy. A Tale for Type 1 Superheroes” and “Super Sammy Goes to School” help children learn to cope with the emotional burden of living with T1D. 

It enables children and their families to answer questions like:

• What is diabetes?
• Why did I get it?
• Can I still be a normal kid?

This “funny, heartwarming and educational” series will help your family adapt to change and learn about the things that don’t have to change just because you’re dealing with a T1D diagnosis. 

“Diabetes Doesn’t Stop Maddie” by Sarah Glenn Marsh

Maddie is a young girl who was just diagnosed with T1D. In this children’s story, she learns how to go to school, play soccer and spend time with her friends while living with a chronic illness.

“Diabetes Doesn’t Stop Maddie” teaches children how to be confident and comfortable living with T1D.

It also helps people with and without direct connections to T1D to become more aware of what it’s like to live with it and all that it entails.

“Teddy Talks: A Pawsitive Story About Type 1 Diabetes” by Vanessa Messenger

“Teddy isn’t your average fur-iend…but neither is Emily. When she was first diagnosed with T1D, it all seemed overwhelming. But now, the pair never lets anything stand in the way of everyday adventures…and they can teach you how, too.”

Teddy teaches children with T1D and their families that a little “paws-itivity” goes a long way. 

This story, written by a mother of two, emphasizes how challenging it is to manage T1D and how difficult it can be to explain it to kids. It is educational and inspirational. Teddy makes T1D more approachable and includes a glossary of standard diabetes terms for children and their parents.

“I’m a Type One Kid (I’m a Super Kid)” by Tabitha J. Page

A T1D diagnosis can be scary and confusing, especially when you are a child. 

“I’m A Type One Kid (I’m a Super Kid),” by Tabitha J. Page, explains everything a child goes through after being diagnosed with T1D, from hospitals and medicine to needles and carbohydrates.

This book shows children that (with their parents’ help), they can be healthy and “run, jump, and play” again.

“Ava Ann Makes Art: The Story of a Rabbit with Diabetes” by Rachel Leland

Are you ready to meet a rabbit with T1D? In this children’s book, readers meet a charming storybook character, Ava Ann, as she learns about what it means to live with T1D. This children’s story helps kids with T1D “just be kids.”

“When her teacher gives the class an assignment to make an art piece about their life, Ava Ann digs deep and creates a unique project that combines aspects of her life before and after her diabetes diagnosis.”

“Daisy the Diabetic Unicorn” coloring book by Type One Toddler and Type One Teen

This children’s coloring book lets kids express themselves through art.

Children with T1D will love Daisy, the diabetic unicorn, and her journey through “the jungle, farm and forest to find a new friend like her.”

“Daisy the Diabetic Unicorn” is a lovely activity book for children of all ages.

“Emilia and Her Sugar Dragon” by Sara Finzel

This charming story personifies T1D through Emilia’s dragon. A refreshing take on what it’s like to live with T1D, the story shows Emilia stopping to care for her dragon each time it is “sleepy or low” or “fierce and high.” 

It helps children without diabetes better understand what their peers with T1D go through in a captivating way, as they develop a fondness for the sugar dragon. While it clarifies the challenges of T1D, the characterization of the condition also helps show that it’s manageable and not as scary as it may seem.

“My Body Beeps” by Katherine Lockwood

This book familiarizes children with T1D technology, such as insulin pumps and continuous glucose monitors (CGMs), through familiar childhood games. It sheds light on some common struggles children with T1D may face when trying to participate in “normal” everyday activities. 

This children’s book highlights the constant attention T1D requires and emphasizes that you can never truly turn it off. The moral of this story is that a child with T1D’s “body beeps” to keep them safe and healthy.

Best for ages 5-7: kindergarten to 2nd grade

“The Adventures of Captain Lantus” by Gary and Max Rapson

If your child loves comic books, “The Adventures of Captain Lantus” is a great children’s book for them. In this story, 7-year-old Max is diagnosed with T1D. Actually, everyone in “Beta town” (where Max lives) has T1D. As the author explains, “that’s what makes Beta town so cool.” 

“One day, while guarding the insulin cube against the dastardly King Carb’s plan to steal it, Max gains superpowers from a top-secret insulin pump,” which turns him into Beta town’s superhero, Captain Lantus.

“Rosie Becomes a Warrior” by Julia Flaherty

“Rosie Becomes a Warrior” empowers children and their families through times of difficulty.

A T1D diagnosis is challenging, but this book helps reassure families that they will get through it and find a new rhythm. It also mentions the warning signs of T1D, which are essential for people to know, regardless of whether they currently know someone with type 1 diabetes.

“Rosie Becomes a Warrior” follows Rosie as she navigates her T1D diagnosis alongside her parents. Rosie is a second-grader with bright green eyes and beautiful red hair who loves to draw, eat ice cream and spend time with her best friends. In this children’s book, Rosie learns from doctors, finds comfort in Penny the Zebra, and discovers the bright side of T1D.

Children can learn from Rosie and develop key empowerment skills that will carry them throughout their lives. It’s also available in Spanish.

“Year One with Type One: A True Story of a Boy with Type 1 Diabetes” by Mike Suarez

A T1D diagnosis can be overwhelming when you’re an adult—when you’re a child, it can be especially jarring. In “Year One with Type One: A True Story of a Boy with Type 1 Diabetes,” you get a glimpse into the symptoms, diagnosis and everyday routine of a child living with type 1 diabetes. In this case, his name is Andrew.

A fun rhyming scheme throughout this book makes it accessible to children and their family members, friends and classmates. This children’s book has hundreds of five-star reviews on Amazon.

“The Adventures of Rhodes and Alana: School Bus Secrets” by Rhodes and Alana Ritenour

Making good friendships while living with T1D is so important. Strong T1D friendships help children feel connected and understood.

In this book, you and your kiddo(s) will meet Rhodes and Alana, spirited and confident 8-year-olds. After missing the school bus, the two children embark on an exciting journey. This allows Rhodes to tell Alana all about what it’s like to live with T1D, and their friendship blooms.

Written by the co-founders of TheDiabetesSupportGroup.org, Rhodes and Alana Ritenour, this book is helpful for parents, children, educators and clinicians alike.

“I’m Still Me, Can’t You See? Diabetes Won’t Stop Me” by Valerie Hergenreter

If you’ve ever wondered what goes through a child’s mind after being diagnosed with diabetes, this book sheds light.

“I’m Still Me, Can’t You See? Diabetes Won’t Stop Me” is a rhythmic story that answers the question: “How do children perceive their families’ reactions after being diagnosed with diabetes?”

This story is designed to empower and inspire, giving hope for a healthy future for your child with diabetes.

“Taking Diabetes to School” by Kim Gosselin

“Taking Diabetes to School” is an especially great children’s book for parents, children and their teachers, illustrating what it’s like to live with T1D while navigating grade school. Readers experience the day-to-day life of a child with a chronic illness.

This book includes 10 tips for teachers and a quiz for kids to help ensure everyone is absorbing the material and thriving with T1D.

“Shia Learns About Diabetes Care” by Shaina Hatchell

“Shia Learns About Diabetes Care” is the second book in the “Shia Learns About Insulin” series.

In this book, readers dive deeper into day-to-day management. Shia makes a new friend, Carlos, and learns about the value of having “diabuddies” while recognizing the importance of diabetes care.

This book emphasizes the importance of building strong friendships while living with T1D and offers readers tips for daily management.

 “Peter’s Special Concoction” by Angela Cleveland

“Peter’s Special Concoction” is a unique children’s book that offers children and adults tips and strategies for dealing with the challenges of a T1D diagnosis, accompanied by beautiful illustrations that complement an informative tale.

“Peter thought about his special skills and developed several strategies he can use to cope with the injections and other challenges he will face. These are strategies anyone can use, child or adult, who is in a similar situation and needs to find an effective way to cope.”

“Hello Miss Lavender” by Jaycee Donovan

This children’s story helps children with T1D and their peers see that T1D doesn’t define a person and that everyone manages it differently. This can help kiddos with T1D get unstuck when they’re challenged by identity issues that sometimes arise with T1D, such as feeling that their personalities are the same as their condition. “Hello, Miss Lavender” invites curiosity, individuality and creativity in young readers.

“Shia Learns About Type 2 Diabetes” by Shaina Hatchell

In the third book in the “Shia Learns” series, Shia, a child living with T1D, learns about type 2 diabetes (T2D) from her babysitter and friend, Kimmie.

Hatchell fabulously integrates and overlaps stories of T1D and T2D, making children’s books in the diabetes genre more inclusive. Hatchell stresses the importance of bridging the gap between the types to create a more inclusive diabetes space.

This book teaches children and their loved ones how T1D and T2D are similar and different.

“Rosie the Type 1 Diabetes Warrior Goes to Diabetes Summer Camp” by Julia Flaherty

Diabetes Books for Kids“Rosie the Type 1 Diabetes Warrior Goes to Diabetes Summer Camp” is the second book in the “Rosie Becomes a Warrior” series. This book includes a fun camp song that parents can teach their children, an activity section for children in the back of the book, and key diabetes terminology definitions for parents strategically placed throughout the story.

In this book, children and their parents learn:

• How to overcome common fears about sending your child to a diabetes summer camp.
• The benefits of attending a diabetes summer camp.
• The importance of connecting with people who understand you.

Best for ages 7-9: 2nd to 4th grade

“The Ups and Downs of Audrey May” by Missy Mareau Garcia

This book has been called “a must-read for anyone dealing with the diagnosis of T1D” by pediatricians. Other Amazon customers have said that this is a book children can “connect with” and is “not a baby book.”

Another young reviewer (Gracie, age 9) said that she likes the story because “there is a character like me. She (Audrey May) is brave and responsible about diabetes. She learns to take care of herself at school and home, and her friends learn about diabetes, too.”

Recommended for children ages 7 to 9, “The Ups and Downs of Audrey May” is a moving, uplifting and accessible story for children with T1D and their families.

“Super Sonic Sugar” by Ruth W. Shaw

“Super Sonic Sugar” follows the story of Violet, Charlie, and their dog, Abby.

On the first day of third grade, Violet and her brother struggle to feel accepted in a new town, home, and school. Not only is everything new to them, but they also both live with T1D. Sadly, Charlie and Violet experience bullying.

“Suddenly, while waiting for the school bus, Violet falls and is faced with her past bullies, only to find help from an unexpected source.”

This book is an excellent resource for any child facing adversity because they are perceived as “different.”

Best for ages 10+: upper elementary + beyond

“Dear Luca” by Jordan Keltner

While not technically a book about T1D, parents and children managing the condition can still learn something from “Dear Luca,” which emphasizes “raising kind humans.” Purchases of this book support a young father whose son, Luca, is living with T1D. Fans of “Love is Blind” may recognize Keltner’s name. Keltner is also a member of the Beyond Type Run 2026 marathon team.

“It Belongs to the World” by Lisa Katzenberger

Lisa Katzenberger brings the incredible true story of Dr. Frederick Banting to life in “It Belongs to the World.” Banting discovered insulin, transforming millions of lives. This children’s book guides readers through Banting’s discovery and his decision to sell his insulin patent for just one dollar, emphasizing, “Insulin does not belong to me. It belongs to the world.” “It Belongs to the World” also features illustrations by a popular artist in the T1D community, known as Miss Diabetes on Instagram. 

Want to help raise awareness of the signs of diabetes in your community, like these authors have done through their storytelling? Do it your way! Join Beyond Type 1’s #SeeTheSigns ambassador program.