My son-in-law was diagnosed with non-Hodgkins lymphoma at the age of 38. One of the hardest parts of the experience was talking about it to his children. The kids were pre-schoolers, but they were old enough to wonder why Dad was suddenly bald and why all the grown-ups around them were whispering and looking sad.

Now Tenley Circle Press, a boutique publisher of smart, beautiful children’s books, is offering a book that can help. “My Body Needs Help” is written in verse and illustrated by Annette Abrams, a teacher, poet, artist, and cancer survivor. It’s the story of a brave young patient and her team of “helper heroes.”

This book can be an excellent tool for helping a child understand and talk about the realities of cancer treatment, whether it’s happening to them or to an adult they love. It’s also an aid to adults to help move from negative emotions to positive appreciation of their helpers and to comfort the children they love.

My grandchildren are now lovely young adults, and their Dad is thriving. But still, I wish we’d had a book like this when we all needed it. To order your copy, click here: http://www.tenleycirclepress.com/current_books/

Carolyn Parr