Book In Review

This children’s picture book is about a difficult subject; however, I think the author handles the subject very gracefully and in a way that doesn’t talk down to a child.   Jenevieve Fisher is the author of I’m A Kid Living With Cancer.   She introduces the main character who talks about what cancer is and how a person who has cancer gets tested and treated.  The explanations are honest, direct and simple.

In explaining these issues, in this way, she takes some of the fear of such procedures out of them; making it easy for an adult reading this story to their child to explain what may happen to them (if they are a pediatric cancer patient).  There isn’t an emotional script in the book about how a child should feel…this leaves the job of exploring the child’s emotional reactions to any given treatment or procedure open to discussion between the reader and the patient.  That is as it should be because it is hard to write the reality of treatments in a meaningful way without trivializing it or overwhelming a child with a pre-conceived idea of how it will feel.

Jenevieve Fisher herself was diagnosed with cancer at the age of 22.  She believes in helping to educate children honestly and has worked in radiology as an oncology therapist.  Her background of working in the medical field, as well as her own personal cancer diagnosis and treatment, has helped her to write and market a series of books designed to support and educate children who are going through a health crisis.  It is designed to empower a child to understand what is happening and how their treatment will impact them.

Fear is a powerful emotion and having some knowledge about what is happening inside their own bodies and in their surroundings during treatment can go a long way to help encourage a child who might otherwise feel completely powerless in their situation.

I’m a Kid Living With Cancer is beautifully illustrated throughout the book, as well as on the book cover.  The artist who illustrated the book is Casey Huie.  The pictures are bright, colorful and communicate hope and joy.  Casey was born with a dislocated hip and because of that she endured many hospital stays and surgeries.   She too understands how children with cancer feel when they are in and out of the hospital and doctors offices.  Together with Jenevieve the author, they have created this book to help children and their families have some kind of idea of what to expect.

You can find out more about this book and others in the series by clicking here.   This is an independent publishing company but the quality of this book is outstanding.  It is a book you will be proud to own and share with others.

Another thing I absolutely love about this book, is that the writer and illustrator dedicate a portion of the sale of each book to pediatric cancer research.  I like the statements that they make on their site about what they do and why they do it.  Not only that; but, they also work with a great non profit organization, by the name of Friends Like Us, that I have been volunteering for by sewing bags for the chemo bears that they give to children with cancer.  These are great people with heart for children with cancer and their families.  Please support their efforts by purchasing I’m A Kid Living With Cancer and by visiting both sites.  Who knows…you just might feel moved to donate time, awareness or money for their good works.