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Promises [Hardcover]

Elizabeth Winthrop (Author), Betsy Lewin (Illustrator)
4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)


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Book Description

5 and upK and up
At the opening of this moving and ultimately hopeful story, Sarah's mother is ill. During her treatment she seems to get sicker and sicker. She's often in the hospital, and at home she needs to rest. Sarah's world is turned upside down. After a long time, her mother starts feeling better. But Sarah still has one more difficult discovery to make: Her mom can't promise that she'll never get sick again. She can make other promises, though, and those special promises are enough for now. Warm, graceful watercolors add a light touch to this life-affirming picture book, perfect for any child whose family is touched by serious illness.


Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

A matter-of-fact tone and brisk pace keep Winthrop's (The Little Humpbacked Horse) story of a girl dealing with her mother's chemotherapy treatments from slipping into the maudlin or melodramatic. Related in the first person, the tale convincingly covers young Sarah's gamut of emotions, from simply missing her mother during her hospital stays to reminiscing about times when things were normal ("I remember when I didn't have to tiptoe around the house and I could make as much noise as I wanted") to anger at a schoolmate's comments about her mother's lack of hair. Lewin (Aunt Minnie McGranahan) echoes the strong emotional ties between Sarah and her parents with pen-and-ink close-ups of their interactions; she saves the few wider views of street scenes or hospital corridors to convey Sarah's feeling of inadequacy in protecting her mother (and herself) from the illness's effects. Several of the dialogues here could serve as models for parents struggling to explain terminal illness to a child. In the most moving example, as her mother's health improves, Sarah wants her to promise she won't be sick anymore. "I can't make that promise, Sarah," her mother tells her, but consoles her with other more immediate promisesAsuch as an ice cream date on the way home from the park. A responsible and poignant approach to a sensitive subject. Ages 5-8. (Apr.) FYI: A portion of this book's royalties will be donated to Cancer Care Inc.
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal

PreSchool-Grade 4-Sarah, a young girl whose parent is undergoing treatment for cancer, describes her day-to-day life, expressing a wide range of emotions. Her happiness that her mother is well enough to take a walk turns to fury as a classmate they meet asks why the woman doesn't have any hair. Sarah often feels angry, and longs for the time before the illness. She insists on visiting her mother at the hospital, and is then afraid to see her. Things take a turn for the better when Sarah presents her mother with her baseball cap so that she won't "look funny." As the woman's health slowly improves, Sarah tries to make her promise that she won't be sick anymore. Instead, Mom makes promises that can be kept, like stopping for ice cream and reading a favorite book, adding, "Tomorrow we can think of more." Winthrop handles a difficult situation with honesty, empathy, and small touches of humor. The first-person narration keeps the focus on Sarah, who relates events from a child's point of view. Lewin's watercolor-and-pen illustrations reflect the emotional nature of the text, while balancing the serious tone with warm colors and comfortable everyday scenes. The book ends on a hopeful note, which is nicely reflected in the smiling faces of mother and daughter.
Joy Fleishhacker, formerly at School Library Journal
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product Details

  • Reading level: Ages 5 and up
  • Hardcover: 32 pages
  • Publisher: Clarion Books; 1 edition (April 17, 2000)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 0395822726
  • ISBN-13: 978-0395822722
  • Product Dimensions: 10 x 8.2 x 0.5 inches
  • Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces
  • Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,671,815 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

ELIZABETH WINTHROP is the author of over fifty works of fiction for all ages.

Her most recent historical novel, COUNTING ON GRACE has been chosen as a Notable Book of the Year by the American Library Association, the National Council of Social Studies, the International Reading Association and the Children's Book Council among others. The novel has also been nominated for state book awards in Vermont, Virginia, Kentucky, Kansas, Missouri,Indiana, Hawaii and Arizona.

Elizabeth has published more than fifty books for readers of all ages. THE CASTLE IN THE ATTIC, nominated for twenty-three state book awards is currently under option to Walden Media.

Her popular picture books include DUMPY LA RUE, SHOES,DOG SHOW, SQUASHED IN THE MIDDLE and most recently, THE FIRST CHRISTMAS STOCKING and THE BIGGEST PARADE. Two of her recent books for older children are THE RED-HOT RATTOONS, a comic fantasy novel and DEAR MR. PRESIDENT, Letters from a Milltown Girl, a work of historical fiction set in western Massachusetts.

Elizabeth is also the author of two novels for adults, IN MY MOTHER'S HOUSE and ISLAND JUSTICE. She is currently at work on a memoir.

The daughter of the journalist, Stewart Alsop,she divides her time between New York City and the Berkshires.

 

Customer Reviews

3 Reviews
5 star:
 (2)
4 star:    (0)
3 star:
 (1)
2 star:    (0)
1 star:    (0)
 
 
 
 
 
Average Customer Review
4.3 out of 5 stars (3 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars A must read for the children of all cancer patients, April 25, 2000
By 
no (United States) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Promises (Hardcover)
Promises is a wonderfully inspiring story of a young girl who is learning to cope with her mother's illness. This story is so incredibly well written, the reader can share in the young girls anguish as well as her triumph. This story is not only helpful to the children of cancer patients, it also sends a strong message to children not to make fun of someone just because they look different. This story made me laugh, it made me cry, and it made me realize just how trivial lifes little problems really are.
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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars exactly on target for kids 3-9, March 7, 2001
By 
Maureen (Wauwatosa, WI USA) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Promises (Hardcover)
My 9-year old son brought this book home from school, saying he had found a book for people like me (going through breast cancer chemotherapy). I read it to my other kids (ages 7 and 3). They especially liked that Sarah got angry about her mother's illness. The book deals frankly with the ever-changing range of emotions that kids go through when their mom is sick. All three of my kids could identify with Sarah at one point or another in the book, and I could certainly identify with the mother! After reading it, both of my sons offered me THEIR baseball caps to add to my hat collection!
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0 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars Good, but not great, June 12, 2001
This review is from: Promises (Hardcover)
This book would be helpful to parents whose children are most disturbed by hair loss associated with cancer. In my opinion, it minimized other issues and was not as hopeful in tone as I would have liked.
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Inside This Book (learn more)
First Sentence:
My mother is sick. Read the first page
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