<p>This article examines four Swedish picturebooks addressing parental cancer, targeting readers aged three to six and published between 2014 and 2022. These picturebooks are collectively classified as ”picturebooks for use,” a term derived from the Swedish concept <i>brukslitteratur</i>, which refers to works specifically designed for therapeutic or educational purposes. Drawing on Lisa Diedrich’s concept of “doing illness,” the article investigates how cancer is portrayed in these picturebooks. It focuses on the messages they convey, the dialogues they may encourage between children and adults, and the topics they may inadvertently overlook. The analysis is structured into three sections. The first explores how the communication of the cancer diagnosis is depicted. The second delves into how these picturebooks engage with common illness motifs, such as the “journey” and the “battle,” paying particular attention to the representation of cancer treatment effects and the role of play in helping young children cope with their mothers’ illness. The final section examines the books’ conclusions, analysing how they align with cultural expectations for happy and triumphant endings, a recurring feature of illness narratives in general.</p>