Overview

Butterfly Kisses and Wishes on Wings, an award-winning children's book, is a powerful listen-to/read-aloud story for children with a family member or friend who has been diagnosed with cancer. The book's rich, intuitive writing and beautiful, reflective illustrations facilitate a child's understanding, offer hope, and encourage communication about this most difficult topic. Additionally, children come to realize the ability they have within themselves to be an active and integral part of their loved one's cancer journey. Two cousins collaborate to make this book very real. Ellen McVicker gives voice to children and parents who may not have all the words that need to be said about cancer and its treatment, while Nanci Hersh, having walked through the cancer journey with her own children, touchingly conveys experiences of children through her exquisite artwork. The book is a first-person narrative from a child's experience of being told by his mother that she has cancer. It should be noted that a specific type of cancer is NOT mentioned in the book. The child gives his interpretation of his mother's explanations for the disease and the treatments she is likely to receive. Preschool and school-aged children would benefit from the book. However, its use for young adolescents should not be disregarded. Butterfly Kisses and Wishes on Wings - a gift for any reader grasping to understand what it means when someone they love has cancer.

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Reviews

What Our Readers Have to Say ... ""The most beautiful book for parents to read to their children... A resource about how to talk to a child about a parent's cancer diagnosis... The best book on this subject that I've seen yet."" Maria Housden Author of Hannah's Gift: Lessons from a Life Fully Lived ""My own mother died from breast cancer when I was 8 years old. My sister, Lisa, was only five. To this day, I can so vividly remember the confusion I felt, trying to understand why our world was suddenly turned upside down and why no one wanted to talk about it. . . . How I wish we had Butterfly Kisses and Wishes on Wings - what a gift it would have been! . . . This book is precious and full of wonderful messages that are so important and will make such a difference in so many little hearts."" Maggie O'Brien Middletown, NJ ""I believe you have captured the innermost feelings of young children. The clarity of reassurance of the child's safety and his/her remaining an integral part of the nuclear family (under the duress of illness) and being able to contribute to the parents well being resonates in the prose. Simplicity of explanation is necessary in answering difficult questions that children pose to adults, and you have been successful in doing this with your book. Shirley MacPherson, PH.D. Clinical Therapist/Psychologist Los Angeles, CA ""I read Butterfly Kisses and Wishes on Wings with my 6-year-old daughter. She loved the book. Her comment was 'How did the book know what I was thinking? ' Your book handled the subject matter with dignity and grace."" Dr. Sherrie Somers and daughter Chanah Denver, CO ""Your book really does address extremely well an area that many people forget about during a cancer diagnosis - the impact on the children. They are often the forgotten ones in the crisis. Making children a part of that time is so important- for everyone. I remember I used to use what I called ""love therapy."" I would hug my boys so tightly that I was convinced it was making me better, because I couldn't possibly imagine not being there for them. Well, it worked."" Lorry Gaidus Breast Cancer Survivor (12 years) Upper Saddle River, NJ ""Did you know that some of the best medicine for some diseases is love and lots of help? I learned that and other things from Mrs. McVicker's book, Butterfly Kisses and Wishes on Wings. If anyone wants to read something about cancer, Mrs. McVicker's book is the right way to go."" Virginia Nystrom 3rd grader Aurora, CO

Author Information

Throughout her professional life, Ellen McVicker has always worked in some capacity with children, parents, educators, and people who were dedicated to the mental health profession. As a master teacher in the field of special education for twenty years and a kindergarten teacher for four; as well as, the Director of Education for both Charter Hospital of Denver and the Colorado Children's Museum, and Marketing Director for the Centre for Behavioral Health at Denver's Porter Memorial Hospital, Ellen would always find ways to fulfill her true life's passion ... lending a voice to any child or parent who does not have the words to say what is needed on their own.Today, Ellen McVicker lives in Aurora, Colorado with her husband, Tracey. She remains committed to her book, Butterfly Kisses and Wishes on Wings and sharing its many messages with children, families, healthcare professionals, and cancer organizations. For more information about Butterfly Kisses and Wishes on Wings, and additional resources on talking to kids about cancer, please log on to www.butterflykissesbook.com. You can reach Ellen by phone at 303-589-2099. Drawing threads from daily life, Nanci Hersh is a deep-rooted chronicler of the significant and the mundane, marking time and holding space to allow for reflection, authentic, and sometimes difficult conversations. Following a diagnosis of breast cancer in 2002, many gifts came Nanci's way. Among them were a blank sketchbook from friends and this story from her cousin Ellen. This was the beginning of a beautiful collaboration, which led Nanci to create the illustrations that have become Butterfly Kisses and Wishes on Wings.Nanci is also a curator, illustrator, educator, arts advocate, and former Executive Director of the Delaware Institute for the Arts in Education. Nanci lives in beautiful Chester County, Pennsylvania. You can reach Nanci and see more of her art at www.nancihersh.com.

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