My Dad and the Dragon: Growing Up with a parent who has cancer

by Montserrat Coughlin Kim, Rebekah S Cheresnick (Illustrator)

Overview

A cancer dragon snuck inside Cameron's dad, and Cameron will show you what that is like in day-to-day life.

Beautifully illustrated, My Dad and the Dragon shows what life is like when a father is diagnosed with cancer. It is written based on our family's experience when my husband was diagnosed with cancer, and we started calling it a cancer dragon with our children.

Perfect for children from 4-to 10 years old, this book will help parents, caregivers, and children talk about cancer and how it impacts the whole family.

100% of the profits of the sale of this book will be donated to social-service organizations that help support children with sick parents. Please check out www.whenadragoncomes.org to learn more.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781737507116
Publisher:	When a Dragon Comes
Publication date:	02/28/2022
Pages:	44
Sales rank:	884,380
Product dimensions:	11.00(w) x 8.50(h) x 0.11(d)
Age Range:	3 - 10 Years

About the Author

Montserrat Coughlin Kim has a BA from Smith College and an MSW from New York University. She wrote My Dad and the Dragon based on her family's experience of her husband being diagnosed with cancer while raising young children. She currently resides in Montclair, NJ with her family, their dog, rabbit, and chickens.

Rebekah S. Cheresnick is an artist and picture book illustrator with a BA in Fine Arts and Comparative Religion from the University of Vermont. My Dad and the Dragon is her debut picture book. Each page was illustrated in a different outdoor location as she traveled the US in a small, solar-powered camper. To view Rebekah's portfolio or contact her, go to www.rebekahcheresnick.com and on Instagram @outoftheartbox

Editorial Reviews

2022-03-04
Coughlin Kim and Cheresnick’s picture book gives a child’s-eye view of how a father’s cancer affects a loving family.

When Dad is diagnosed with cancer, Cameron calls it the “cancer dragon.” Cameron, sister Chloe, and Mom unite “to help Dad fight.” Although they aim to keep up with their normal activities, cancer affects their daily lives, and Cameron describes some of the changes in child-friendly language. During Dad’s treatments, for example, doctors “shine a special light, called radiation, on the special places…where the cancer dragon likes to hide.” Even so, the unpredictability can be nerve-wracking for the family. Cameron worries that Dad “might not come home” following an unplanned hospital visit but feels relieved after chatting with Mom and Chloe. Over time, Dad’s condition fluctuates. Sometimes he feels stronger and “life seems almost normal.” Other times, sickness leaves him irritable and unable to eat. Coughlin Kim deals with such realities with a blend of honesty and gentleness that should comfort young readers in similar situations. Children may also appreciate learning a few facts, such as that radiation “is boring but doesn’t really hurt.” In words and pictures, the author shows that the family can still have fun together: They can “play sports,” “put on shows,” “celebrate birthdays,” “eat dinner together,” and do other enjoyable activities. Ultimately, Cameron emphasizes the importance of affection and care, saying, “Every day is a good day to tell my Dad that I love him.” Cheresnick’s clear hand-painted illustrations support the text with engaging colors and textures, juxtaposing scenes involving Dad’s challenges with those of watercolor skies, grassy lawns, and gigantic hearts. Cameron sometimes battles the dragon wearing a superhero outfit, and an outline of a dragon appears around Dad when he feels ill. In a story inspired partly by the author’s husband, Mom is White; Dad is Asian, and the children have light skin and brown hair. The book ends with a brief, helpful page of resources for children and families facing cancer.

A thoughtful, vibrantly illustrated cancer story for young children.

Kirkus Reviews