Sammy's Mommy Has Cancer (Paperback)

by Sherry Kohlenberg (Author), Lauri Crow (Illustrator)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
When Sherry Kohlenberg was diagnosed with cancer, she wrote this book to help her son understand what was happening to her. Written in spare, simple language, this is a comforting guide for children aged about three to seven. The American Medical Writers' Association voted it "Best Book of 1994".

From the Publisher
This book won the "Best Book of 1994" award from the American Medical Writers Association. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 4-8
  
• Paperback: 32 pages
• Publisher: Magination Press; 1 edition (November 1993)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 094535455X
• ISBN-13: 978-0945354550
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 7.5 x 0.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #415,739 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A gentle story for the youngest children., August 19, 2001

By	Craig and Ann Barta (Apex, NC USA) - See all my reviews

This is the book I want for my best friend, a young mother with breast cancer. Kohlenberg wrote the book for her 18-month- old son, and the book is appropriate as a bedtime story for toddler/pre-school ages, or as an early reader for elementary ages. It clearly and hopefully takes Mommy, Daddy, and Sammy through Mommy's cancer diagnosis, chemotherapy including hair loss, surgery, and finally a day when Mommy's doctors declare her free from cancer, for now. As useful as the text, are the glossary explaining at a child's level terms such as cancer, cells, and radiation, and the names and addresses of several cancer foundations for more information. In a lovely personal introduction for the adult, Kohlberg includes tips for sharing the news with a teacher, and simple activities a child can use to show Mommy love and share special moments with her before, during, and after her treatment. Other books and a couple of videos are referenced for further reading. I love the straight-forward and hopeful style of Sammy but it would be appropriate to choose another book if a child needed specific preparation to deal with loss of a loved one, or if cancer treatment was declined.

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Tender Story for Even Your Youngest to Understand., December 29, 2007

By	Amy E. Santos "High-Maintenance" (State of Perfection) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

When I was diagnosed with malignant cancerous tumors, my outlook wasn't great. My biggest fear was that God was going to take me away from my beautiful boy, a gift he had only given me just about five years earlier. I needed a way to tell my son, without scaring, without hurting, with a gentle hand of love that he's always known. I read this story to him twice in a row.

He sat very quiet and asked me if I was going to leave him and live in heaven, I told him no, that mommy would fight and fight to be here with him and well, twelve years later, I am. Partly because of the courage I gained and the attitude I gained after reading this book to the most important gift I ever received. My son...and to this day, he remembers me sick and my hair falling out and he says he's proud that I am a survivor. HE'S PROUD OF ME...imagine that. I'm just as proud of him if not more.

If you're looking for a gentle book, an informative book, a book they'll understand about a disease that even sometimes we don't, this is the book. I believe in it so much that I donated two copies to my son's school library in his name for children and parents alike going through the same situation. I didn't know where to turn. Maybe that helped them know and maybe my review will help you too. Thank you from "survivor" in a lavendar bow...

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful for kids, November 17, 2002

By	Michele L. Hewitt (Morgantown, West Virginia United States) - See all my reviews

I was recently diagnosed with breast cancer and was trying to find an easy way to explain what was going on to my 2 and 5 year old sons. This book was a great help. It explained the entire process in easy to understand language and opened the doors for great discussions from my 5 year old. I would highly recommend it!