A thoughtful, vibrantly illustrated cancer story for young children.
Coughlin Kim and Cheresnick’s picture book gives a child’s-eye view of how a father’s cancer affects a loving family.
When Dad is diagnosed with cancer, Cameron calls it the “cancer dragon.” Cameron, sister Chloe, and Mom unite “to help Dad fight.” Although they aim to keep up with their normal activities, cancer affects their daily lives, and Cameron describes some of the changes in child-friendly language. During Dad’s treatments, for example, doctors “shine a special light, called radiation, on the special places…where the cancer dragon likes to hide.” Even so, the unpredictability can be nerve-wracking for the family. Cameron worries that Dad “might not come home” following an unplanned hospital visit but feels relieved after chatting with Mom and Chloe. Over time, Dad’s condition fluctuates. Sometimes he feels stronger and “life seems almost normal.” Other times, sickness leaves him irritable and unable to eat. Coughlin Kim deals with such realities with a blend of honesty and gentleness that should comfort young readers in similar situations. Children may also appreciate learning a few facts, such as that radiation “is boring but doesn’t really hurt.” In words and pictures, the author shows that the family can still have fun together: They can “play sports,” “put on shows,” “celebrate birthdays,” “eat dinner together,” and do other enjoyable activities. Ultimately, Cameron emphasizes the importance of affection and care, saying, “Every day is a good day to tell my Dad that I love him.” Cheresnick’s clear hand-painted illustrations support the text with engaging colors and textures, juxtaposing scenes involving Dad’s challenges with those of watercolor skies, grassy lawns, and gigantic hearts. Cameron sometimes battles the dragon wearing a superhero outfit, and an outline of a dragon appears around Dad when he feels ill. In a story inspired partly by the author’s husband, Mom is White; Dad is Asian, and the children have light skin and brown hair. The book ends with a brief, helpful page of resources for children and families facing cancer.
A thoughtful, vibrantly illustrated cancer story for young children.Pub Date: Feb. 28, 2022
ISBN: 978-1-73750-711-6
Page Count: 44
Publisher: When a Dragon Comes
Review Posted Online: March 4, 2022
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
Readers can still rely on this series to bring laughs.
The Heffley family’s house undergoes a disastrous attempt at home improvement.
When Great Aunt Reba dies, she leaves some money to the family. Greg’s mom calls a family meeting to determine what to do with their share, proposing home improvements and then overruling the family’s cartoonish wish lists and instead pushing for an addition to the kitchen. Before bringing in the construction crew, the Heffleys attempt to do minor maintenance and repairs themselves—during which Greg fails at the work in various slapstick scenes. Once the professionals are brought in, the problems keep getting worse: angry neighbors, terrifying problems in walls, and—most serious—civil permitting issues that put the kibosh on what work’s been done. Left with only enough inheritance to patch and repair the exterior of the house—and with the school’s dismal standardized test scores as a final straw—Greg’s mom steers the family toward moving, opening up house-hunting and house-selling storylines (and devastating loyal Rowley, who doesn’t want to lose his best friend). While Greg’s positive about the move, he’s not completely uncaring about Rowley’s action. (And of course, Greg himself is not as unaffected as he wishes.) The gags include effectively placed callbacks to seemingly incidental events (the “stress lizard” brought in on testing day is particularly funny) and a lampoon of after-school-special–style problem books. Just when it seems that the Heffleys really will move, a new sequence of chaotic trouble and property destruction heralds a return to the status quo. Whew.
Readers can still rely on this series to bring laughs. (Graphic/fiction hybrid. 8-12)Pub Date: Nov. 5, 2019
ISBN: 978-1-4197-3903-3
Page Count: 224
Publisher: Amulet/Abrams
Review Posted Online: Nov. 18, 2019
SEEN & HEARD
New parents of daughters will eat these up and perhaps pass on the lessons learned.
All the reasons why a daughter needs a mother.
Each spread features an adorable cartoon animal parent-child pair on the recto opposite a rhyming verse: “I’ll always support you in giving your all / in every endeavor, the big and the small, / and be there to catch you in case you should fall. / I hope you believe this is true.” A virtually identical book, Why a Daughter Needs a Dad, publishes simultaneously. Both address standing up for yourself and your values, laughing to ease troubles, being thankful, valuing friendship, persevering and dreaming big, being truthful, thinking through decisions, and being open to differences, among other topics. Though the sentiments/life lessons here and in the companion title are heartfelt and important, there are much better ways to deliver them. These books are likely to go right over children’s heads and developmental levels (especially with the rather advanced vocabulary); their parents are the more likely audience, and for them, the books provide some coaching in what kids need to hear. The two books are largely interchangeable, especially since there are so few references to mom or dad, but one spread in each book reverts to stereotype: Dad balances the two-wheeler, and mom helps with clothing and hair styles. Since the books are separate, it aids in customization for many families.
New parents of daughters will eat these up and perhaps pass on the lessons learned. (Picture book. 4-8, adult)Pub Date: May 1, 2019
ISBN: 978-1-4926-6781-0
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Sourcebooks Jabberwocky
Review Posted Online: March 16, 2019
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 1, 2019
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