Here is an amazing list of books based on vitiligo that are now available! From children's to adults.
Books for Children
ILLUSTRATED BY Jennifer Ferguson
I've Got Spots began with a poem written on June 25th, 2018: World Vitiligo Day.
Author Danielle Wheeler began writing about her experience with vitiligo, a condition which causes skin to lose its pigment. As she wrote her story, she began to realize that maybe what people with vitiligo need isn't medicine or makeup... maybe they need something that celebrates the uniqueness of their condition in a world obsessed with cosmetic perfection. Maybe we all need to feel proud of our bodies and to feel included.
Danielle was inspired to share her poem in the form of a children's book, because kids had shown a special interest in her "spots"... and because the psychological impact of the condition often lands hardest on those who develop vitiligo at a young age.
Hopefully Danielle's story will empower those who have vitiligo, inform those who don't, and help everyone feel a little more comfortable in their own skin. After all, we all have something that makes us unique. We all have our own “spots” and it’s time to embrace them.
Available to purchase HERE.
By Phyllis A Russell-Gilmer
Loss of skin color, depigmentation of the skin, white blotches, milky spots.... These phrases all describe a skin condition called "vitiligo." Learn more about vitiligo and its effects from a child's perspective.
Sadness to happiness!
Those with vitiligo have experiences and emotions ranging from ostracism, embarrassment and hurt to rebuilding their self-esteem and inner beauty.
The colorful illustrations and rhyming verse in this book make it a fun and enjoyable read for "children" of all ages
Available on AMAZON. Click here.
By Kim Kirkland
A book written by Author Kim Kirkland addressing the affects of the disease vitiligo. It informs children on how to view and understand what is happening to themselves as well as how to deal with the disease. This book is very informative to not only children stricken with vitiligo but children who also associate with children with the disease. It provides information to these children to help them understand and learn that there is nothing to fear from those with the disease.
Available on AMAZON. Click here.
By Lori Mitchell
In this celebration of diversity, a young girl sees the beauty in everyone’s similarities and differences as she encounters people from all walks of life. April is excited about visiting Grammie, but she has a whole week before she can go. The week goes by quickly, however, as April runs errands with her mother. On each of these trips, April encounters someone who is different—someone who is either older, speaks another language, uses sign language, or reads braille. As April learns about their differences she also notices the things she shares with each of them. Full-color acrylics highlight people and a few objects against black-and-white backgrounds and landscapes, inviting the reader to look closely for both similarities and differences in each scene. April’s exploration of a world of difference is sure to inspire every reader to appreciate the distinctive qualities in themselves and everyone around them.
Available on AMAZON. Click here.
Nakeyia Jones
Nia is excited and ready for a brand new school year. Over the summer, she found out she had a rare skin condition, but she does not let that stop her joy of becoming a second grader. She loves to create songs that rhyme in her head to help her deal with anything she is facing or must get done. On the first day of school, there is show-and-tell. She wants to bring something new, fun, and exciting but has a hard time making a choice. What should Nia bring? Read and enjoy the adventure on Nia’s first day.
Available on AMAZON. Click here.
Purchase the coloring/activity version here.
AIDEN'S SPOTS
by Justin & Tierza Hall
Aiden's
Spots follows Aiden on his 1st day of school as he begins
Kindergarten. Aiden has Vitiligo, and is unsure what to expect or even
how to explain it if called upon. The release was embraced with open
arms and quickly sold out.
Available at: https://spottedskin.com/ols/categories/childrens-books
THE ADVENTURES OF COOKIE
By Natassia k Cordrey
Cookie was so excited about the summer finally arriving. Like any other child, she was so happy to be free of schoolwork and was excited to spend time with her friends. Until one day, she woke up and her life changed forever. Her appearance changed, and other kids were so cruel about it.
Would Cookie gain the confidence she needed to stand up to bullies, or would she give in? Only one way to find out--start reading!
Available on AMAZON
By James McLeod Jr.
This James McLeod's first children's book. In it he shares his story of growing up with vitiligo, dealing with bullying and insecurity, and how he overcame both to become his own superhero! This is a perfect book for children dealing with bullying or self-doubt, or for any child, to teach lessons in kindness and bravery.
Available on AMAZON. Click here.
By Sara Madden
Lucy has vitiligo. She finds beauty in the patterns on her skin. She also finds beauty in the patterns she notices out in nature. Follow Lucy as she goes on a walk through nature, admiring everything she sees.
Available on AMAZON. Click here.
By Priyanka Francis
Priyanka Francis, a teenager from California, describes her experiences living with vitiligo, an autoimmune disease that causes white patches of depigmented skin to appear. She delves into the psychological and physical effects vitiligo has had on her life, creating an informative, heart-warming story that shows her progression from feeling helpless about her condition to her impactful vitiligo advocacy. Additionally, she details how her vitiligo diagnosis during her formative years has had a profound effect on her character and how it has shaped her world views. This book is her debut novel and is well-suited for adolescents.
Available on Amazon. Click here
Books for teens
HOW TO DISAPPEAR COMPLETELY
By Ali Standish
While her beloved grandmother was alive, Emma’s world was filled with enchantment. But now Gram is gone, and all that’s left of her are the fairy tales she and Emma took turns writing in a secret journal.
To make things worse, strange pale spots are appearing on Emma’s skin. Soon she is diagnosed with vitiligo—a condition that makes patches of her skin lose their color— and the magic in her world is suddenly replaced with school bullies and doctor appointments.
Then, when Emma begins one last story in the journal, something very strange happens: someone writes back to her, just like Gram used to. Who’s writing to Emma? And just what is her story going to be now that everything is so different?
Award-winning author Ali Standish explores the ways life transforms us, and how we learn to let go of what we must, while still holding fast to who we are.
By Lisa Brown
Some people leave you forever changed. And maybe some wounds are just too big to heal. But Jane is coming to realise that confronting her past is the only hope she has of saving herself.
Jane has a skin condition, vitiligo, which makes her look a little different. But at least she’s become pretty skilled in the art of camouflage.
On the surface of things, Jane leads a good life. She’s a health professional with an active social life, who meets lots of handsome, successful men… they just tend to be all the wrong ones.
Perhaps it’s also because no one she meets will ever quite compare to who she once had.
Jane finds her mind frequently travels back to her younger years, back to when she lived in the coastal tree-lined town of Denmark in a timber cottage on stilts with her artistic mother, Colleen, who was beautiful, vibrant, larger than life – and deeply troubled.
She remembers the broken glass, mysterious cuts, and their isolation.
The storm cloud days.
But most vivid in Jane’s recollections is that kind and goofy, crinkle-beamed boy who made her feel warm inside, who somehow made it all better. Try as she might, he’ll always have a piece of her heart.
Available on AMAZON. Click here.
Books for adults
by Lee Thomas
In his thought-provoking memoir, Turning White, Emmy Award-winning TV broadcaster Lee Thomas shares the physical and mental battle he is waging with vitiligo — a skin disorder that is literally turning him white.
At age 25, Thomas had a dream job in a dream city — a feature/entertainment reporter for the ABC network’s flagship TV station in New York. Then he discovered a few white spots on his scalp, the small beginnings of a disease that has spread to half his face — a fact he covers with makeup when on camera.
As someone in the very public eye, vitiligo has transformed not only Thomas’ color, but his life. “Even people who have known me for years avoid eye contact when they see my face without makeup for the first time,” he writes.
Available on AMAZON, click here.
A NO-NONSENSE GUIDE TO VITILIGO
by Yan Valle
What does everyone need to know about vitiligo? Renowned author’s answer to this most difficult of questions uniquely combines the hard-won knowledge of traditional medicine with the stunning revelations of cutting-edge scientific research.
Available on AMAZON. Click here.
The Use of Vitamin Therapy for the Treatment of Vitiligo
by Audrey VanStockum
In-depth review of vitamins key to vitiligo provides invaluable insights and guidance on effective ways to treat this skin pigmentation disorder. Vitiligo is a common, acquired skin disorder of pigmentation that can significantly impact quality of life. Experts believe oxidative stress plays a central role in the development of vitiligo and causes melanocyte damage. Research shows underlying mechanisms of vitiligo differ from person to person. People with this skin disorder are often deficient in vitamins that have an evidence-based connection to vitiligo, including vitamins B12, pantothenic acid (B5), C, D, E, folic acid, copper, and zinc.
Available on AMAZON. Click here.
I Absolutely, Positively Love My Spots
by Lid’ya C. Rivera (Author), Niña Mata (Illustrator)
PRESALE Release Day delivery Tuesday, June 6
A young girl with vitiligo celebrates her skin in this joyful picture book by debut author Lid’ya C. Rivera and illustrated by #1 New York Times bestselling illustrator Niña Mata!
This lyrical celebration of self-esteem, perseverance, and loving the skin you're in will inspire all children to appreciate their spots or what makes them different. Perfect for pairing with I Am Enough by Grace Byers, Remarkably You by Pat Zietlow Miller, and I Am Every Good Thingby Derrick Barnes.