Princess Lily Series
Stories of Courage, Hope, and Magic for Children Facing Serious Illness
The Princess Lily series was created by author and Enchanted Hope Foundation founder Sarah Bankuti after her daughter was diagnosed with a brain tumor.
During that difficult time, Sarah searched for children’s books that reflected what her daughter was experiencing—but she couldn’t find stories where children facing serious illness could truly see themselves.
So she created one.
Through Princess Lily’s journey, children discover stories filled with courage, friendship, imagination, and hope. The series was created to help children feel understood, supported, and reminded that they are more than their diagnosis.
Every child deserves to see themselves in a story.
About Princess Lily
Princess Lily is a brave and compassionate character who experiences challenges that many children and families face during medical journeys.
Through magical adventures and meaningful friendships, Lily learns that:
- bravery can exist alongside fear,
- differences can be celebrated,
- difficult moments can still include joy,
- every child has strength inside them.
The Princess Lily series can help families begin conversations about illness, treatment, emotions, and change in a gentle and age-appropriate way.
This Book Supports Children With:
💜 Beginning a medical journey
💜 Understanding bravery and resilience
💜 Preparing for treatments and procedures
💜 Celebrating milestones during treatment
💜 Creating positive conversations around challenges
Helpful For:
- Children beginning chemotherapy
- Children receiving ongoing treatments
- Families introducing the idea of medical bravery
- Healthcare teams supporting children through treatment milestones
Themes
- Courage
- Resilience
- Hope
- Bravery
- Friendship
- Perseverance
Read Together When…
- Before a child’s first chemotherapy treatment
- Before a hospital stay
- While earning bravery beads
- During a treatment milestone
Princess Lily and the Hair Fairy
Princess Lily is feeling sad about losing her hair so her mom tells her a fantastical story about hair fairies. But it turns out this is not just a story. Hair fairies collect the hair of children who have lost it due to being sick.
……But why do hair fairies collect hair?
With all the magic of a Disney fairytale, journey with Lily as she meets her hair fairy and travels to fairy meadows to see why her hair is so important.
This Book Supports Children With
- Chemotherapy-induced hair loss
- Alopecia
- Medical hair loss
- Changes in appearance
- Self-confidence
- Body image during illness
Helpful For
- Children preparing to lose their hair
- Children experiencing hair loss
- Families discussing chemotherapy
- Pediatric oncology clinics
- Alopecia support groups
- Child Life Specialists
- Schools helping classmates understand hair loss
Themes
- Identity
- Self-love
- Courage
- Beauty beyond appearance
- Kindness
- Confidence
Read Together When…
- Before hair begins to fall out
- During chemotherapy
- Before shaving a child’s head
- After noticing changes in appearance
- When discussing appearance changes
Princess Lily meets Zoah the Warrior.
Princess Lily is sad that she has lost her hair. Since it is market day and Princess Lily wants to find a hat to hide her hairless head. Instead, she meets a new friend who helps her realize that she doesn’t need to hide from anything – that is, unless she wants to.
With all the magic of a Disney fairytale, join Lily as she learns what it means to be a warrior and just how strong and brave she really is.
This Book Supports Children With
- Serious illness
- Hospital friendships
- Feeling different
- Building resilience
- Emotional confidence
- Finding strength in others
Helpful For
- Children meeting others with medical conditions
- Families encouraging peer support
- Hospital playrooms
- Pediatric support groups
- Child Life programs
- Schools promoting inclusion
Themes
- Friendship
- Strength
- Inclusion
- Courage
- Teamwork
- Compassion
Read Together When…
- During treatment
- Before joining a support group
- When meeting other children in hospital
- When a child feels alone
Princess Lily defeats the Night Monsters
Princess Lily has bad dreams and does not want to go to sleep. While dreaming she meets Jackson, a brave knight who shows Lily monsters are nothing to be scared of; not when you know their big secret!
But what could that be?
“Monsters are afraid of the sound of laughter!” Jackson shares.
“They’re afraid of laughs? That’s so silly!” Lily giggles.
Laugh along with your children at the silly monster jokes and help your child see there is no reason to fear monsters with this imaginative story of how Princess Lily defeats the night monsters.
This Book Supports Children With
- Night-time anxiety
- Fear of hospitals
- Worry before treatment
- Separation anxiety
- Medical trauma
- Difficulty sleeping
Helpful For
- Bedtime routines during treatment
- Hospital overnight stays
- Families managing childhood anxiety
- Child psychologists
- Hospital social workers
- Children afraid of the dark
Themes
- Courage
- Emotional resilience
- Hope
- Comfort
- Imagination
- Security
Read Together When…
- Before bedtime
- During hospital stays
- After difficult treatment days
- When nighttime worries become overwhelming
Princess Lily and the Mermaid Lagoon
Princess Lily is ready for adventure and dives into the magical Mermaid Lagoon, where glowing seaweed lets her breathe underwater and shimmering wonders surround her.
There she meets Leo, a young merboy who feels invisible since his sister became ill. Together, Lily and Leo discover the power of sharing their feelings, listening to one another, and finding comfort in connection
Filled with sparkling underwater magic and heartfelt moments, Princess Lily and the Mermaid Lagoon is a tender, empowering story that helps children navigate sibling emotions, empathy, and the challenges that come with illness—while reminding them that every voice deserves to be heard.
This Book Supports Children With
- Childhood cancer
- Long-term medical treatment
- Hospital stays
- Recovery after treatment
- Emotional wellbeing
- Feelings of isolation
- Building resilience through imagination
Helpful For
- Children undergoing cancer treatment
- Children recovering from surgery or serious illness
- Families encouraging emotional wellbeing during treatment
- Child Life Specialists
- Pediatric oncology nurses
- Hospital libraries
- Children’s hospitals
- Caregivers looking for uplifting stories
- Schools supporting a child returning after illness
Themes
- Hope
- Friendship
- Courage
- Adventure
- Imagination
- Kindness
- Resilience
- Finding joy in difficult times
Read Together When…
- During long hospital stays
- While recovering at home
- Before a hospital appointment
- When a child needs a comforting escape through storytelling
- During quiet time after treatment
- When encouraging hope and positivity
Help Bring Princess Lily’s Story to More Children
Every child deserves to see themselves represented in the stories they read.
The Princess Lily Series was created to remind children with rare conditions, medical differences, and unique journeys that they are brave, valued, and never alone.
You can help bring these stories of courage, acceptance, and hope to more children and families by sharing the series, gifting books to a child who needs encouragement, or supporting Enchanted Hope Foundation’s mission.
💜 Gift a Book
Share the magic of Princess Lily with a child, family, school, or healthcare team.
💜 Donate a Book
Help provide meaningful resources to children navigating medical challenges.
💜 Share the Series
Help families discover stories where children with rare conditions can see themselves represented.
💜 Support Enchanted Hope Foundation
Your support helps create moments of hope, comfort, and joy for children facing serious health challenges.
Are You a Healthcare Professional or Community Partner?
The Princess Lily Series can be a meaningful resource for children and families navigating rare conditions and medical differences.
If you are a hospital, clinic, school, support organization, or community group interested in sharing these books, we would love to connect.