CANCER HATES KISSES

Name: CANCER HATES KISSES
Author: Jessica Reid Sliwerski
ISBN: 978-0-7352-2781-1

by Jessica Reid Sliwerski ; illustrated by Mika Song ‧ RELEASE DATE: Sept. 19, 2017

Closing with notes from a cancer specialist and the author, a cancer survivor, this book with its positive message is a...

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This is a much-needed title about a disease that affects too many families.

In this multiracial family, it’s Mama, a white woman, who’s battling cancer. The children narrate in short, descriptive statements. The very first comment captures their admiration for their mother and their optimism about the outcome: “Mama is a cancer-fighting superhero.” They maintain this tone throughout, keeping young readers’ fears at bay. In addition, watercolor-and-ink drawings that range from vignettes to full spreads are painted in soft, comforting pastel colors. Mama bravely goes to the doctor for tests, keeps up her daily routine, even undergoes surgery in a hospital with a diverse staff. In a touching scene in the hospital, the children kiss Mama’s “warrior wounds,” as “Cancer hates kisses,” with their father, an Asian man, and grandmother also in loving attendance. Mama’s cheerleaders are honest when they acknowledge that the treatments, especially chemo, exhaust their mother, make her lose her hair, and make her cry sometimes. Then the family does combat together, with dance parties and jokes. The book provides just the right amount of information about what to expect and balances that with an outline of how the family can offer support and love—because what cancer hates most is love.

Closing with notes from a cancer specialist and the author, a cancer survivor, this book with its positive message is a must-have for all collections serving families. (Picture book. 5-8)

Pub Date: Sept. 19, 2017

ISBN: 978-0-7352-2781-1

Page Count: 40

Publisher: Dial Books

Review Posted Online: July 3, 2017

Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 15, 2017

Categories:

CHILDREN'S SOCIAL THEMES | CHILDREN'S FAMILY | CHILDREN'S HEALTH & DAILY LIVING

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MY FOOTBALL FAMILY

by Andy Holloway ; illustrated by Honee Jang ‧ RELEASE DATE: Aug. 30, 2022

A heartfelt forward pass from one generation to the next (and the next).

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A pigskin-themed paean to family and family traditions.

As images depict a football-shaped newborn growing up, marrying, and helping to produce another—the second actually dressed in a football onesie, which is adorable—sports podcaster Holloway notes rookie season fumbles and triumphs, team huddles on the sofa to watch the big games, the passage of quarters and seasons, and major life events (like the wedding: “One day you may get drafted / To a franchise of your own”). All the while, Holloway promises to cheer from the sidelines in victory or defeat, to be there when needed, and to give each “wonderful expansion / of our football family” both a welcome and proper coaching. The family in Jang’s shiny, reasonably realistic illustrations includes three children. The verse’s language is nonspecific enough to apply to offspring of any gender as well as adoptees. In school settings and on playing fields of several sorts, the child, at various ages, light-skinned like their parents, joins a diverse group of peers, including one wearing a hijab and another who uses a hearing aid, while the child’s own family includes a dark-skinned sibling and, by the end, a child with, like their spouse, Asian features. (This book was reviewed digitally.)

A heartfelt forward pass from one generation to the next (and the next). (Picture book. 6-8)

Pub Date: Aug. 30, 2022

ISBN: 978-1-250-84715-7

Page Count: 32

Publisher: Roaring Brook Press

Review Posted Online: May 10, 2022

Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 1, 2022

Categories:

CHILDREN'S FAMILY | CHILDREN'S ENTERTAINMENT & SPORTS

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THE MARVELOUS NOW

From the Magical Yet series , Vol. 3

by Angela DiTerlizzi ; illustrated by Lorena Alvarez Gómez ‧ RELEASE DATE: July 29, 2025

Now’s the time to pick up this primer on mindfulness.

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An ode to destressing—and living in the moment.

Everyone gets exhausted and anxious—it’s inevitable. We all have lots going on and loads to do; sometimes we feel rushed or overwhelmed. But don’t fret, this calming book, expressed in jaunty verses, assures readers. We can soothe frazzled nerves by focusing on the present. How? By admitting the Marvelous Now into our lives. As a light-skinned, dark-haired child looks on, a wide-eyed, smiley blue sprite with twirly, ribbonlike appendages and plum-colored spots on its face and head appears. Under its tutelage, the once-harried kiddo begins unwinding, for “Now knows exactly what it will take / to give your brain and your body a break.” DiTerlizzi lists some suggestions to help wind down, which every child (and even adult) should heed: finding one’s “happy place,” taking a walk, being aware of the sights, sounds, and smells all around, making art, counting backward, and more. Some ideas are a little easier than others to put into practice; readers will need guidance before trying out yoga or tai chi, for instance. Still, kids will be reassured to know that they can employ simple, practical tools whenever they need to feel less worried. Alvarez Gómez’s cheerful, colorful digital illustrations burst with energy, setting an appropriately empowering tone. Background characters are diverse.

Now’s the time to pick up this primer on mindfulness. (Picture book. 5-8)