Grandma Kathy Has Cancer [Paperback]

Colleen Buckley (Author), Kim Sponaugle (Illustrator)

Book Description

Age Level: 4 and up | Grade Level: P and up

Cancer is a very frightening and mysterious disease from which children are often sheltered because parents are uncertain as to how to deal with it. This book draws upon real life episodes between a grandmother and her granddaughter to help children better understand what happens when family members are afflicted with cancer. The message it conveys is one of hope, love, and caring. Colleen Buckley resides in New Jersey with her husband. She has two married children and two grandchildren; she has been a nurse for over 25 years. Cancer is no stranger to Colleen, who has lost her father, her grandmother, and two of her sister-in-laws to this disease. Her husband, mother, and another sister-in-law are cancer survivors. Colleen's inspiration for this book has been her sister, Kathy's, ongoing fight with ovarian cancer. Colleen is currently working on a second children's book about cancer. Kim Sponaugle has illustrated "The Adventures of Beatrice" books and the "Anna Banana" and "Corey's Story" series for young readers. She resides in Salem County, NJ with her husband Jerry, son Josh and feisty little westie, Casey.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 4 and up
  
• Paperback: 24 pages
• Publisher: Dog Ear Publishing, LLC; 1 edition (September 26, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1598584227
• ISBN-13: 978-1598584226
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 8.1 x 0.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #414,094 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars 5 star review, December 23, 2007

By 

Virginia S. Grenier "Children's Author & Stor... (Ivins, Utah USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Grandma Kathy Has Cancer (Paperback)

This story is about a little girl and her close relationship with her grandmother, Kathy, who has cancer. When Grandma Kathy is sick, the little girl sits on Granny's bed and sings. Granny is bald because the medicine made her hair fall out, so when she goes out, she wears a wig or a hat. But when she's home, the little girl loves to rub Granny's head because Granny says, "It tickles!" Then she tickles her granddaughter back. When Granny is feeling good, the little girl and Granny go to the movies, and Granny even manages to sew her granddaughter's award-winning Halloween costume. They go shopping for groceries together, and Granny wears a mask over her face to prevent getting germs. But, she makes weird noises inside the mask to make her granddaughter giggle. Granny was well enough to attend Grandparents Day at school, too. When Granny has to go to the hospital, the little girl loans Granny Kathy her best teddy bear. When Granny has her down times, her granddaughter cuddles with her when Granny gets too cold, and eats chicken soup with her when Granny's tummy gets upset from all of her cancer medicine.

Is this book a "downer" for kids? Absolutely not! Peppered with the heart-warming illustrations by one of our long-time illustrators, Kim Sponaugle, author Colleen Buckley wrote this darling story to show children the reality of cancer and to take away the mystery and fear surrounding this disease. She lovingly shows examples taken from the real life drama of her own beloved sister, Kathy, and the special closeness and love shared by Kathy and her eldest granddaughter, Tatem, as Kathy battled with Stage 1V ovarian cancer. Sadly, Kathy lost her courageous battle on September 19, 2007.

This book is a "must" for anyone looking for a way to show children how to deal with cancer when it affects somebody dear to them. The message here is clearly one of love, hope, and caring; as well as cherishing every moment of one's life. The experience can be shared during both the good and bad times of the cancer victim as they struggle through their disease. Colleen strives to show children that even though their loved one is going through drastic appearance and lifestyle changes from their cancer, they are still the same beloved person they've always been.

Bravo, Colleen, for a job well done despite your overwhelming loss. Between your magic words and Kim's whimsical illustrations, the essence of your sister's spirit is alive and well within the confines of your book, and she will spill into the hearts of all that read about her. She was a very special person indeed.

BY:Gayle Jacobson-Huset
Assistant Editor - Stories for Children Magazine

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Grandma Kathy has cancer, November 6, 2007

By 

C. Turnier (Philadelphia, PA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Grandma Kathy Has Cancer (Paperback)

This book covers a difficult subject from a child's perspective, in a child's voice. I was amazed at the author's ability to capture the inquisive child so well! I've given copies to friends to help them manage a child's need to know about the physical changes grandma is going through during cancer treatments. The bright, colorful illustrations tell the story beautifully.

Cancer is a scary thing for children who see changes and don't understand them. This book is a wonderful way to help them understand from another child's perspective.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars What a blessing, August 15, 2010

By 

Shannon S Cornett - See all my reviews

This review is from: Grandma Kathy Has Cancer (Paperback)

I bought and very recently gave this book to my almost 4 yr old son to help him cope with my mom's cancer. I was a little concerned that he wouldn't relate to it because it is written from the perspective of a little girl who likes to pretend to be a ballerina, but I never would have guessed how much he'd love this book. He wants to read it all the time and each page has opened up discussions about how he does similar or different things with his Grandma. It is a very upbeat and realistic book. It talks about difficult things that come with cancer (like fatigue and baldness from chemo) that a young child notices and is sometimes affected by, without being negative. It does not deal with death at all and that's okay. This book is about life, loving your grandmother who happens to have cancer, and making special all the times that you spend together. I cannot recommend this book enough! It has been a blessing in our lives.