Her Pink Hair

Jill Dana has written a helpful and enjoyable book for kids who know someone dealing with cancer. Her Pink Hair doesn't go into any of the unpleasant details, but it's told from the point of view of a young girl whose friend, Stephanie, is dealing with that disease.

Dana manages to make the book comforting in spite of the usually unpleasant topic. Stephanie looses her hair, as often happens with people undergoing cancer treatments, and when it starts to grow back her mother dyes it pink.

Although her friend's death is never specifically mentioned, the protagonist imagines Stephanie now has hair that's both pink and long.

The author also did the illustrations, which are photos of cute, charming figures made of clay.

This book will be a wonderful help to children who know someone dealing with cancer. The suggested age group is for kids from five to eight years old, but some younger children might find the book helpful if their parents think they're mature enough to cope with the subject.

The author will donate part of the proceeds of the book to a charity. She doesn't specify which one, but I wouldn't be surprised if it's one that helps cancer patients or research.