Once upon a time . . . It’s how all heroes begin their story, and you’re a hero, too! Your mama has cancer, and it’s a scary journey, but you can help your mama just by being you—special, wonderful, YOU. Your mama loves you just the way you are. You are your mama’s knight.
Mama’s Knight: A Cancer Story of Love is an emotional toolbox that can help kids and parents communicate about what it means for Mama to have cancer. The book is filled with tools and activities designed to make coping with illness easier on both parent and child, and can be personalized for each child.
My Mama and I both loved reading this book. I know that other kids will also love reading it too. First the illustrations or drawings looked so artistic and beautiful. It is full of fun activities that families can enjoy creating memories and have fun. There are helpful links for you and your kids to check and follow. My Mama and I both loved everything about the book. It is wide-opening when cancer happened to one of your families or relatives. It is very emotional and my Mama cried reading the book especially on the last page.
My Mama told me that she wishes she read this book before and brought to the Philippines with us when we had our vacation. My Aunt J had a breast cancer. I know that it will help my cousins understand when my Aunt J is dealing with cancer before. I know that it will be easy for my cousins to understand and very helpful when I read and shared this book to them. Definitely, we will bring this book with on our next vacation to the Philippines.
My Mama said there is no cure about cancer yet but there is prevention. My Mama said one is by going to the doctor regularly for a check-up. I know that my Mama is afraid to go to her mammogram but she said she will face her fear and brave for us to stay healthy. I know cancer is deadly but reading this book will help you and your kids create memories that will last a lifetime.
My Mama thinks that this is the best book we both read on how to deal with cancer. We both recommend it to every kids especially if there Mama or relatives is dealing with the same health problems.
Buy the Book: Author's Website
Author's Bio:
Aurora Whittet started out as a wild red-haired girl in Minnesota dreaming up stories for her friends to read. Today, she has completed Bloodmark, Bloodrealms, and Bloodmoon of the Bloodmark Saga trilogy and started her journey into children’s books with Mama’s Knight in honor of her own mother who lost her battle with cancer. She’s a national award-winning graphic designer and birth doula in her day jobs. Aurora lives with her family in Minnesota.
What made you write a book about Cancer?
I lost my mom in 2013 to uterine cancer and losing her as an adult was hard enough. I still can’t fathom a world without her in it and it has been three years. Then my friend Tyson was diagnosed with Brain Cancer and she had two little boys at home. She told me there were tons of books for certain cancers, but none for hers. So I took my grief and I wrote a customizable children’s book that can help any mom, with any cancer explain the journey to her children, so Mama’s Knight was born!
What is your next project?
I am currently writing the daddy version of Mama’s Knight, because daddies get cancer too. As well as I am writing a new young adult novel that will publish in 2017. It is fun doing a children’s picture book and a novel at the same time.
In today’s tech savvy world, most writers use a computer or laptop. Have you ever written parts of your book on paper?
I wrote this entire book on paper many, many times before it made it to the computer. I had sketches of each spread of the book so I could truly map out the story. Once I felt happy with it I scanned the sketches and typed the words so I could share it with my editor. This book truly came to life on paper.
What’s the funniest thing that ever happened to you?
My son is four, and he thinks he is quite clever. One day we were at the store picking up a prescription, when he loudly and boldly announces to her and frankly everyone within a mile, “mama farted.” Which please note, I didn’t. So I say, “I farted?” He smiles and responds “Yep in that aisle.” He points to an aisle we never even went down. Now there is no way to get out of this. The pharmacist is already laughing, even if I tell the truth that I didn’t fart, it just looks like I’m lying. So I laughed and said “Oh I see, and what do we say when we fart?” He smiled and says, “excuse me.” Children are so embarrassing, but cute.
If you could go back in time, where would you go?
I would go back to the moment my mom was first diagnosed with cancer, to that seafoam green hospital room, and I would say, “mom lets go on vacation.” And I would have put our trip on my credit card and took her somewhere fun before the illness and the medicine made her too weak to travel.
