4 Books for Childhood Cancer Awareness Month

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September’s Childhood Cancer Awareness Month is a time to shine the light on the realities of childhood cancer, emphasizing the importance of life-saving research, and join together to make a difference for children diagnosed. The situation is urgent – incidence rates are rising, and cancer remains the leading cause of death by disease for children.

Though this topic truly makes my heartache and my tummy roll, I know of many Cancer Warriors who aren’t even old enough to drive yet.

Here are some books that can help your Littles understand more about the challenges and victories associated with a cancer diagnosis.

The Little Green Monster: Cancer Magic! by Sharon Chappell

What happens when someone you love is diagnosed with cancer? In this inspiring story written by a breast cancer survivor, The Little Green Monster helps Marie and her family survive and thrive through her mother’s treatment.

Author Sharon Chappell says, “The idea of The Little Green Monster came to me the day I was both diagnosed with breast cancer and rescued a Senegal Parrot, who is a wizard at holding things with his three (instead of four) toes. He always makes us laugh with his antics and silly expressions. I realized that if he could make us feel good as I am going through surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation–and my family is experiencing this alongside me–surely a little green monster can do this for other families too.”

Imagination, love, and family are in the little green monster’s heart.

The Little Green Monster could be an imaginary friend. He could be a bird with extra joyous feathers! He is yours, mine, ours. We have left the question, “Who is the little green monster?” up to you to answer.

The book includes how to express feelings, cancer vocabulary, as well as family cancer resources and activities. The book explores the questions like: what can you expect while the loved one goes through treatment? While science does its work, what can love and everyday magic do to help? $5 donated to Susan G. Komen Orange County with the purchase of this book.

Connect with Sharon via the Little Green Monster Project website, Facebook, Instagram

My Hair Went on Vacation by Paula Quinn

This story is about Rosie, who lives in Chicago. Within three weeks she lost all of her hair and asked, “Where did it go?” Rosie loved to rock the bald, without even skipping a beat. She happily wore sunscreen -not even a hat!- in the summer heat. At bedtime, Rosie would tell her own stories with a smile on her face. She’d imagine her hair going on magical adventures all over the place. From a young age, Rosie loved herself and was not phased by her look, So her mother decided to share her spirit to teach others through this book. Come on this adventure with a confident bald girl, Who tells us Bald is beautiful! as she smiles with a twirl. We hope this book can inspire you to love others as they are, And to love yourself every day, whether your hair is near or far. {Children’s Fiction-Ages 3-7}

CANCER DAILY LIFE by Carola Schmidt

Cancer Daily Life is a bittersweet collection of single and double-frame strips that only readers who are highly involved with the C-world could relate to. It’s sometimes cute and sweet, sometimes acid, sometimes trivial, sometimes funny, just like daily life.

It’s ideal:

*For adolescents and adults age 12 to 100 years old or older
*As a gift for a friend who received a diagnosis of any type of cancer
*As a gift for a friend who will start or is undergoing chemotherapy or radiotherapy
*When you have a family member or friend aged 12+ coping with cancer, and you don’t know what to say
*When a friend or family member with cancer feels stressed and needs to know they are not alone in this

“She lets the readers know what a cancer journey means. Situations a healthy person would never think about but what for cancer patients mean the world. I was a childhood cancer patient 31 years ago and I still find myself in this book. While reading I could not hide my tears because finally my thoughts are shown by wonderful illustrations and told by wonderful texts…Thank you for this milestone of a cancer book.” – Christian Müller, Childhood Cancer Survivor, and Journalist in Pediatric Oncology

Will Jax Be Home for Thanksgiving? By Samarrah Fine Clayman

“Where is my loud, silly brother?” asks Lyla who is seven. Her three-year-old brother, Jax is in the hospital. He has a brain tumor. Lyla hopes he will be well enough to be home for Thanksgiving so the family can all be together. Any family that has a sick child will recognize the uncertainty and anxiety that Lyla expresses. With this story, Samarrah hopes that this story will help children and their parents in challenging times, affirming the importance of love and hope. All profits from the sale of the book support pediatric brain tumor research.

Do you like to review children’s books? If so, Multicultural Children’s Book Day needs YOU! MCBD is looking for people who would love a free diverse book in exchange for an honest review on social media during the month of January.

If you love diverse books for kids and have a social media platform to share a review on, they want to give you a FREE diversity book to review for their January 29, 2021, online celebration.

Book reviewers need at least one non-private social media account, plus the ability to leave a review on Amazon, to be able to qualify for a free book.

Acceptable social media platforms include Facebook (Pages only-no Profiles), and non-private Twitter, Pinterest, Instagram, or YouTube accounts.

Go HERE to learn more and to sign up.

***Support the diverse children’s literacy initiative Multicultural Children’s Book Day! Our 8th celebration will take place on January 29, 2021. Creators can donate books that will be reviewed and shared on social media. We also have sponsorships at a variety of price points.

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