Gluten-Free Elementary School Resource Guide

It is essential at the start of every school year to provide your childs' school with a gluten-free resource guide.  Whether your child is newly diagnosed or his/her diagnosis has been part of their school journey, administrators, cafeteria staff, school nurses, librarians and classroom teachers change often. Listed below are my favorite teacher sites, children's books and resources.  The links are live and are also provided for you to forward or share with your child's teacher.  Have a great school year! 

For Classroom Teachers

• Shar-Kids - http://www.123milly.com/us  this website offers games for kids about CD, food pyramid games, a food quiz & info on a gf school
• Cilie Yack's Sous Club for Kids! - http://cilie-yack.org/just-for-teachers/136-classroom-food-allergy-safety-lessons.html  this website provides teacher downloads, online games, and printable worksheets      
• Celiac Disease Foundation - http://www.celiac.org
• Gluten Intolerance Group - http://www.gluten.net/default.aspx
• Children/Celiac Sprue Association - http://www.csaceliacs.info/children.jsp  this website offers info for teachers and online games for kids

Books for the Classroom and/or School Library

• Adam's Gluten Free Surprise by Debbie Simpson
• Eating Gluten Free with Emily by Bonnie Kruszka
• Amy Goes Gluten Free:  A Young Person's Guide to C.D. by Hilarie Staton
• The Gluten Free Kid:  A CD Survival Guide by Melissa London
• No More Cupcakes Tummy Aches by Jax Peters Lowell
• Barrett's Unusual Ice Cream Party by Michelle King

For the School Nurse
Children/Celiac Sprue Association - http://www.csaceliacs.info/nurse.jsp
Helping Children Love Living Gluten-Free!

Alternative School Celebrations  

Celebrating Without Food!

Eating Gluten Free with Emily

Although I have been able to check out a variety of books pertaining to Celiac Disease through the inter-library loan program, our local library didn't carry a single childrens' book pertaining to CD.  So, I submitted a short list (4 books) to the childrens' librarian and asked if she might be able to purchase them.  Suzanne happily obliged.
He deserves to be able to go to both his local and school library and find books that he can identify with.  It's so important for children to know that they aren't alone and there are other kids out there - just like them!
The first to arrive was Eating Gluten Free with Emily by Bonnie J. Kruszka, a picture book for kids ages 3-7.  My son will be 7 in August so I was looking forward to sharing this book with him and hearing his critique.  Of course, I previewed the book before sharing it with him.  Emily's story mirrored our own journey and brought a tear to my eye.  I think almost every young child with CD will easily be able to identify with Emily.  The language of the text is age appropriate and easy for young children to understand.  The full color illustrations complement the story beautifully.  After reading, Eating Gluten Free with Emily to my son, I asked for his critique.  He looked at me with a huge grin on his face and declared, "I liked it a lot!".
Every young child with CD should have a copy of this book.  Every elementary school classroom with a child with CD should have a copy as well as this book so that they can feel empowered and can identify with other kids just like them.  The addition of this book to a classroom can serve as a wonderful tool to help peers and classmates understand why their friend doesn't always eat like they do.