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Chubby's Tale: The true story of a teddy bear who beat cancer
"One of the best Leukemia books of all time." – BookAuthority
Chubby is a teddy bear with a wool pullover and no pants. He felt ill, and he wanted to feel better. After an encouraging talk with his friend Superhero, he decided there was only one thing to do: go on an adventure through La La Land toy store.
The journey begins with Chubby taking off in a toy Volkswagen Beetle, to find Dr. Doll. Along the way he learns about leukemia, chemotherapy and stem cell transplantation, and is cured. Returning to his shelf, Chubby is given the best Christmas gift a teddy bear can have.
Carola Schmidt is the author of numerous children's books about cancer, and uses her experience as a Pediatric Oncology Pharmacist to write scientific books for Springer Nature. Find out more at kidscancerbooks.com
Chubby is a teddy bear with a wool pullover and no pants. He felt ill, and he wanted to feel better. After an encouraging talk with his friend Superhero, he decided there was only one thing to do: go on an adventure through La La Land toy store.
The journey begins with Chubby taking off in a toy Volkswagen Beetle, to find Dr. Doll. Along the way he learns about leukemia, chemotherapy and stem cell transplantation, and is cured. Returning to his shelf, Chubby is given the best Christmas gift a teddy bear can have.
Carola Schmidt is the author of numerous children's books about cancer, and uses her experience as a Pediatric Oncology Pharmacist to write scientific books for Springer Nature. Find out more at kidscancerbooks.com
- GenresPicture Books
45 pages, Paperback
Published October 14, 2021
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
August 22, 2023
Mawson's Guardian Mark is proud to talk today about a very brave bear.
It's a grand book for children who have leukemia to read. It's also very helpful for Grownups who want to know more about it. The explanations given to Chubby by Dr Doll are so clear and understandable. Grownups and children can enjoy the pictures and talk about Chubby's treatment together as they read.
Chubby has a good job sitting on a shelf in the La La Land Toy Store and waiting for someone to take him home. But he doesn't feel well. Guardian Angel in the Christmas Department knows what Chubby must do: he must see a Doctor.
Dr Doll gets right to work. Chubby learns about exams and blood tests and scientists and pharmacists and cancer cells. It's not good news! On the other hand, Dr Doll knows the right kind of treatment.
We follow Chubby's brave journey. The chemotherapy makes some of his hair fall out. Oh dear, who will take home from the shop a teddy with bald patches? How does it all work out? Well, that's all in this book which I recommend highly.
It's a grand book for children who have leukemia to read. It's also very helpful for Grownups who want to know more about it. The explanations given to Chubby by Dr Doll are so clear and understandable. Grownups and children can enjoy the pictures and talk about Chubby's treatment together as they read.
Chubby has a good job sitting on a shelf in the La La Land Toy Store and waiting for someone to take him home. But he doesn't feel well. Guardian Angel in the Christmas Department knows what Chubby must do: he must see a Doctor.
Dr Doll gets right to work. Chubby learns about exams and blood tests and scientists and pharmacists and cancer cells. It's not good news! On the other hand, Dr Doll knows the right kind of treatment.
We follow Chubby's brave journey. The chemotherapy makes some of his hair fall out. Oh dear, who will take home from the shop a teddy with bald patches? How does it all work out? Well, that's all in this book which I recommend highly.
October 16, 2021
Enchanting Christmas time toy store illustrations and the cutest teddy bear ever on a heartwarming adventure.
Just look at the teddy bear on the cover! That guy will have little trouble finding a home. First kid that sees him will be begging mom and dad to buy him.
This story is well done. The perfect mix of educational/creativity/entertainment, even if you don't use the book to comfort someone with cancer, you'll love the story, the characters and the value of learning something.
Just look at the teddy bear on the cover! That guy will have little trouble finding a home. First kid that sees him will be begging mom and dad to buy him.
This story is well done. The perfect mix of educational/creativity/entertainment, even if you don't use the book to comfort someone with cancer, you'll love the story, the characters and the value of learning something.
December 8, 2021
A beautifully written and illustrated book. This book sets the scene of a cuddly bear who is waiting on a toy shop shelf to be chosen by a child. He starts to feel unwell and seeks help, the other toys support him and he goes on a adventure to find the doctor doll. He gets his diagnosis of leukaemia in a way that the children reading will understand, it will help them feel at ease, tell them in simpler forms what they can expect and help them relate to this cuddly teddy bear. There are some great activities at the end to support this information. You can personalise the story at the end so it's your child that purchased Chubby making him come to life in front of their eyes. I think this book will help children to understand their illness and feel less scared.
October 23, 2021
Chubby the teddy bear sits on his shelf in the La La Land Toy Store, anxiously awaiting the arrival of the child who will take him to his forever home. When Chubby begins to feel unwell, his friend Superhero suggests that Chubby see the doctor to make sure he is fully healthy before Christmas arrives. Chubby takes Superhero’s advice, and the doctor soon discovers that Chubby is suffering from Leukemia. Luckily, the other toys know just what to do, and under their tender care, Chubby bravely does what he must to make his body healthy once again. This unique picture book is an homage to the classic story of Corduroy with the added complication of childhood Leukemia. While the narrative begins much like a traditional picture book, it later incorporates scientifically accurate yet accessible details about what happens to children who develop this type of cancer. Large blocks of text appear on many pages, using child-friendly terminology to explain Chubby’s experiences in an approachable way. Though the overall presentation of the book makes the text hard to read at times, the message is nonetheless important for families in Chubby’s situation. Digitally rendered illustrations appear beside the text and, though they lack depth, serve to anchor the complex science behind a cancer diagnosis to a friendly reality. Families navigating Leukemia together will appreciate having a teddy bear named Chubby to guide them through this challenging time in a supportive and optimistic manner.
October 20, 2021
Book Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Chubby’s Tale: The True Story of a Teddy Bear that Beat Cancer
Carol's Schmidt
Children’s Leukemia
45 Pages
Chubby’s Tale is a picture book that helps children understand what cancer is & how it is treated.
Chubby is a teddy bear that helps children understand what will happen when treating their leukemia. He goes through the process as it is explained in language children can understand.
The illustrations are beautiful; the colors are stunning.
The author is a pediatric oncology pharmacist, so she knows what she’s talking about.
Using a teddy bear is a fab idea as many children have one of their own.
The book includes activities to print out after reading the story.
The only thing I am a bit iffy about is that Teddy is told he will be cured. I don’t know much on this topic, but I wouldn’t think all kids going through this process would be cured.
Read more reviews at latishaslowkeylife.com.
Chubby’s Tale: The True Story of a Teddy Bear that Beat Cancer
Carol's Schmidt
Children’s Leukemia
45 Pages
Chubby’s Tale is a picture book that helps children understand what cancer is & how it is treated.
Chubby is a teddy bear that helps children understand what will happen when treating their leukemia. He goes through the process as it is explained in language children can understand.
The illustrations are beautiful; the colors are stunning.
The author is a pediatric oncology pharmacist, so she knows what she’s talking about.
Using a teddy bear is a fab idea as many children have one of their own.
The book includes activities to print out after reading the story.
The only thing I am a bit iffy about is that Teddy is told he will be cured. I don’t know much on this topic, but I wouldn’t think all kids going through this process would be cured.
Read more reviews at latishaslowkeylife.com.
December 2, 2019
Chubby's Tale is a wonderful story that will help families speak to children about cancer, and engage in conversation while enjoying beautiful illustrations. I'm a prostate cancer survivor and found myself cheering for Chubby and caring for his health.
December 5, 2021
This book has a very attractive cover with Christmassy colours that would appeal to all. The illustrations on the cover and inside by Vinicius Melo are adorable and beautiful.
Chubby the teddy bear lives in a toy store and his dream is to be chosen by a child who would take him home with them. One day he feels ill and the Superhero toy tells him to find a doctor. Chubby finds the Christmas department and there he meets Guardian Angel who tells him that he will find a doctor in the doll department. On the way, he sees some toy vehicles and chooses a yellow Beetle for himself. He goes to another department to get some toy money to buy the car. Once he has the car he drives to the doll department and finds a doctor.
In this part of the book, a lot of medical terminology is introduced. At first, I worried that the words used would be too difficult for a young reader or a child being read to. But then I realised that this was the whole point of the book; introduce the medical vocabulary and medical processes to children with cancer so that they would understand it all better. Chubby has to have tests and is then told that he has cancer and has to receive chemotherapy and then stem cell transplantation. This is all explained very well and there are some simple diagrams as well. The effects of chemotherapy on his hair are explained too.
Chubby gets better and is chosen on Christmas Eve morning by a child, ( a child can write their own name here), who thinks Chubby's hairstyle is cool.
There are some great activities at the back of the book which are an added bonus.
This is the perfect book for children with cancer and their parents.
Chubby the teddy bear lives in a toy store and his dream is to be chosen by a child who would take him home with them. One day he feels ill and the Superhero toy tells him to find a doctor. Chubby finds the Christmas department and there he meets Guardian Angel who tells him that he will find a doctor in the doll department. On the way, he sees some toy vehicles and chooses a yellow Beetle for himself. He goes to another department to get some toy money to buy the car. Once he has the car he drives to the doll department and finds a doctor.
In this part of the book, a lot of medical terminology is introduced. At first, I worried that the words used would be too difficult for a young reader or a child being read to. But then I realised that this was the whole point of the book; introduce the medical vocabulary and medical processes to children with cancer so that they would understand it all better. Chubby has to have tests and is then told that he has cancer and has to receive chemotherapy and then stem cell transplantation. This is all explained very well and there are some simple diagrams as well. The effects of chemotherapy on his hair are explained too.
Chubby gets better and is chosen on Christmas Eve morning by a child, ( a child can write their own name here), who thinks Chubby's hairstyle is cool.
There are some great activities at the back of the book which are an added bonus.
This is the perfect book for children with cancer and their parents.
October 28, 2021
What a lovely children's book! I couldn't get over how wonderfully the author dealt with this extremely sensitive subject. It's written with compassion and love. It's vital for those suffering with cancer as it provides a sense of understanding and most importantly, hope! But this book is great for all children as they too need to understand and be aware of this disease. I loved all the characters, illustrations, and the activities in the back of the book. Highly recommend for children of all ages!
October 28, 2021
What a lovely children's book! I couldn't get over how wonderfully the author dealt with this extremely sensitive subject. It's written with compassion and love. It's vital for those suffering with cancer as it provides a sense of understanding and most importantly, hope! But this book is great for all children as they too need to understand and be aware of this disease. I loved all the characters, illustrations, and the activities in the back of the book. Highly recommend for children of all ages!
November 11, 2021
Chubby's Tale is a sweet book about a bear who is diagnosed with cancer. With informative tidbits and a creative way to explain treatment, Chubby's Tale is perfect for families and children, alike.
November 17, 2021
Heartwarming! Chubby the teddy bear lives in the toy store. A few days before Christmas he begins to not feel well and gets help from his fellow toy colleagues. This storybook explores childhood leukemia and includes activities (paper toy) at the end of book. Nice illustrations. 💕🧸🩺
January 16, 2022
A sensitive subject but written in a child friendly and optimistic way. A teddy bear waits for a child to choose him for his forever home , learns that he has leukaemia , what this is , what he needs to do to get better and the affects it will have on his body. The story is written in a sensitive and simple way, that will help any child who has this or knows someone who has this too. Every child needs to have hope - especially in this situation, and this story provides this in a beautiful way.
The illustrations are both cute and informative , to engage young readers and explain some of the information further. There are lots of opportunities for discussion with children around feelings , worries about any changes and acceptance from others too - which is beautifully portrayed at the end of the story, A recommended read!
The illustrations are both cute and informative , to engage young readers and explain some of the information further. There are lots of opportunities for discussion with children around feelings , worries about any changes and acceptance from others too - which is beautifully portrayed at the end of the story, A recommended read!
April 7, 2022
I read the book with my daughters and it was a journey in a few pages: it helped them connect with the experience of other kids and to understand aspects of my work that I never managed to discuss with them. The book is a wonderfully soft way of introducing difficult concepts to kids. I can only imagine how helpful it is for parents of kids who need to receive chemotherapy treatment for the first time, and for the kids themselves to understand what is happening to them. The book is full of hope and teaches us that the good moments are always with us, if we are surrounded by people who love us and care for us.
November 14, 2023
On reading Chubby's Tale this grownup learned things about leukemia treatment he didn't know. It's a grand book for children who have this sickness (and their bears). It's also very helpful for the Grownups who want to know more about it because the explanations given to Chubby by Dr Doll are so clear and understandable. Grownups and children can talk about it together as they read.
We follow Chubby's brave journey. The chemotherapy makes some of his hair fall out. Oh dear, who will take home from the shop a teddy with bald patches? How does it all work out? Well, that's all in this book which I recommend highly.
We follow Chubby's brave journey. The chemotherapy makes some of his hair fall out. Oh dear, who will take home from the shop a teddy with bald patches? How does it all work out? Well, that's all in this book which I recommend highly.
October 29, 2025
The cover had me, and the story sealed the deal. I've read a plethora of Christmas books, but from one perspective; that, of good health. Carola Schmidt weaves a magical Christmas story of a Teddy Bear's toy store journey after finding he has cancer. He feels ill, goes on a search for treatment and payment in the various departments, and finally finds his cure. I especially loved the discovery of his donor. A true story book ending we wish for the gentle souls who contract the disease at such a young age. The graphics are delightful, and the message endearing.
March 8, 2022
So I really enjoyed the book, what a way to introduce a serious Disease and what it does to the body in such a beautiful way. The art work was beautiful and each character had such a caring way of showing interest and concerns. Chubby was truly not alone as one could feel when dealing with such a trial. It was also cute 🥰 how the top of his head became hairless. My daughter also enjoyed the coloring and activities at the end. Thanks for letting us read this wonderful book!
February 17, 2022
Chubby's Tale follows a teddy bear through his leukemia diagnosis and treatment. I recommend reading this book and the others written by author and pediatric oncology pharmacist Carolla Schmidt. Her books are informative and wrapped in love, and they're great for kids and their parents facing a scary diagnosis.
October 28, 2021
IT'S TOUCHING WHEN SOMEONE ACCEPTS YOU FOR YOU. NOT KNOWING THE AILMENT THAT CHUBBY HAD, THE LITTLE BOY THOUGHT THAT IT WAS STYLISH FOR CHUBBY TO HAVE A HAIRCUT AS HE DID, WITH MISSING HAIR.THIS IS AN EXCELLENT BOOK TO READ AND IT'S EDUCATIONAL!!
October 27, 2021
How do you tell a child that they are sick?
How do you tell them about such a complex disease like leukemia, which we ourselves don’t understand?
With empathy, love and lots and lots of show and tell. Chubby’s Tale by Carola Schmidt has this and much, much more and makes a most horrendous and complicated task a little easier to understand.
Vibrantly illustrated by Vinicius Melo the book with its Christmas feel instantly calms and inspires a sense of warmth and comfort in the reader.
The book traces the journey of Chubby, the cutest teddy bear ever; from his falling sick, to diagnosis, treatment options and then cure.
Chubby is all set to find a new home and is excitedly waiting for Christmas with all the other dolls at the toy store. He suddenly feels sick and at the suggestion of his friends goes to see the doctor doll. Making his journey to the doctor fun (can it ever be fun) is the shiny yellow beetle that he buys from the toy vehicles department. Tooting away merrily in his shiny car Chubby finds his way to the career dolls section where he finds the Doctor doll.
She examines and conducts tests on Chubby and then diagnosis him with leukemia. Patiently taking him through the nature of the disease she explains how the disease is caused and also how it can be treated with chemotherapy and stem cell transplantation. The simple and effective illustration of the patient chart of Chubby in the book makes the entire process so easy to understand for both children and parents alike. The doctor also takes chubby through the side effects of the disease like losing hair while gently reassuring him of its growing back again.
Chubby’s treatment is started with his friend Bearnard the bear donating some bone marrow. All his friends from the store come and play and look after him while he is undergoing treatment.
And just like a Christmas miracle Chubby is cured in time for Christmas.
In time for finding a beautiful home filled with love and joy.
Carola’s experience as a pediatric oncology pharmacist, make her empathetic to children undergoing this dreaded disease. Her words instantly calm and reassure a child, letting them know that it is in no way their fault that they are sick. She takes the reader through the entire process in a calm and comprehensive manner, trying to dispel all the doubts they have. Readers are left with a feeling of love, and a reassurance that they are not alone in this.
So glad I got this readers copy, it was truly a treasure to read .Books like these need to be shared far and wide so that they can reach the kids they need to reach. Hope you liked my fair and honest review.
Happy Reading :)
How do you tell them about such a complex disease like leukemia, which we ourselves don’t understand?
With empathy, love and lots and lots of show and tell. Chubby’s Tale by Carola Schmidt has this and much, much more and makes a most horrendous and complicated task a little easier to understand.
Vibrantly illustrated by Vinicius Melo the book with its Christmas feel instantly calms and inspires a sense of warmth and comfort in the reader.
The book traces the journey of Chubby, the cutest teddy bear ever; from his falling sick, to diagnosis, treatment options and then cure.
Chubby is all set to find a new home and is excitedly waiting for Christmas with all the other dolls at the toy store. He suddenly feels sick and at the suggestion of his friends goes to see the doctor doll. Making his journey to the doctor fun (can it ever be fun) is the shiny yellow beetle that he buys from the toy vehicles department. Tooting away merrily in his shiny car Chubby finds his way to the career dolls section where he finds the Doctor doll.
She examines and conducts tests on Chubby and then diagnosis him with leukemia. Patiently taking him through the nature of the disease she explains how the disease is caused and also how it can be treated with chemotherapy and stem cell transplantation. The simple and effective illustration of the patient chart of Chubby in the book makes the entire process so easy to understand for both children and parents alike. The doctor also takes chubby through the side effects of the disease like losing hair while gently reassuring him of its growing back again.
Chubby’s treatment is started with his friend Bearnard the bear donating some bone marrow. All his friends from the store come and play and look after him while he is undergoing treatment.
And just like a Christmas miracle Chubby is cured in time for Christmas.
In time for finding a beautiful home filled with love and joy.
Carola’s experience as a pediatric oncology pharmacist, make her empathetic to children undergoing this dreaded disease. Her words instantly calm and reassure a child, letting them know that it is in no way their fault that they are sick. She takes the reader through the entire process in a calm and comprehensive manner, trying to dispel all the doubts they have. Readers are left with a feeling of love, and a reassurance that they are not alone in this.
So glad I got this readers copy, it was truly a treasure to read .Books like these need to be shared far and wide so that they can reach the kids they need to reach. Hope you liked my fair and honest review.
Happy Reading :)
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews