The Hope Tree: Kids Talk About Breast Cancer - Hardcover

Numeroff, Laura; Harpham, Wendy Schlessel; McPhail, David M.

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 068984526X ISBN 13: 9780689845260

Publisher: Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing, 2001

Synopsis

Taken from personal stories of children whose mothers have breast cancer, a touching collection shares their experiences, offers practical ways to deal with this illness, and is accompanied by adorable and reassuring illustrations.

About this title

About the Author

Laura Numeroff
Best-selling children's author Laura Numeroff developed The Hope Tree to help children better understand and cope with breast cancer -- how it affects not only their mother, but the entire family as well. Laura has received international recognition for such books as If You Give a Mouse a Cookie and If You Give a Pig a Pancake.

Reviews

K-Gr 4-A comforting picture book written to help children cope with a mother's breast cancer. The authors have created 10 "testimonials" by animal characters in an imaginary support group, allowing each of them to talk about issues they are facing. The "narrators," all between the ages of 5 and 12, describe how the family reacted to the diagnosis, meeting the doctors and nurses, trying to look for good things among the bad, and dealing with scary emotions, and they offer hints for helping Mom feel better. In the final spread, "Jessie, age 9 1/2," expresses her feelings and creates a hope tree, each leaf representing one wish for the future. The writing styles change with the age of the animal. McPhail's full-page illustrations of the animal children in typical human situations are appealing, and his colors are soft and reassuring. Young children of women with breast cancer, often stifled by the chaos and fear experienced by the family, would greatly benefit from the discussions this book should stimulate and the comfort it provides.

Mary R. Hofmann, Rivera Middle School, Merced, CA

Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

Cuddly animal characters lay it on the line in the opening note of The Hope Tree: Kids Talk About Breast Cancer by Laura Numeroff and Dr. Wendy Harpham, illus. by David McPhail: "Once a week we play games and talk about movies, our families, sports, school, books, and, oh yeah, our moms' cancer." Drawing on actual accounts, the authors create a fictional support group, which addresses 10 topics familiar to families dealing with the disease. Originally published in 1999 with limited distribution, this paper-over-board edition will benefit the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation. A comforting and compassionate volume.

Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

Edition details

• Publisher: Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing
• Publication date: 2001
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 068984526X
• ISBN 13: 9780689845260
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 32