Imagine a Rainbow: A Child’s Guide for Soothing Pain
Brenda S. Miles, Ph.D.
Nicole Wong, Illustrator
Magination Press, Nonfiction, 2006
Suitable for Ages : 4-8
Themes: Chronic pain in children and adolescence, Arthritis, Burns, Cancer, Lupus, Sickle Cell
Opening: “You are a child. It doesn’t seem fair, That sometimes your body can hurt everywhere. There’s a way to feel better, something children can do. The ideas in your mind can help you get through. Imagine a rainbow with red, green and blue, Bright ribbons of color that wrap around you.”
Synopsis: Children who suffer with chronic pain are encouraged to use their imaginations and deep breathing as tools for easing their pain. Written in soothing rhyme, the author uses the images of a warm rain, a wind blowing softly, cuddling with a puppy, a clouds in a sky, rainbows, and a field filled with daisies and grass.
“Imagine the ocean with sparkling waves. That lift up your body and whisper BE BRAVE.”
“Think of funny ideas like hippos in skirts. Send your laughter to places inside you that hurt.
“Imagine the sun shining warm on your face. Let it glow on your body wherever you ache.”
Why I like this book: I am overjoyed to find a picture book written so simply for children who live with chronic pain, like sickle cell, arthritis, burns, cancer, and lupus. Brenda Miles’ book empowers children by encouraging them to use imagery/visualization and deep breathing to help them when their bodies are hurting. This is a very encouraging book to share with kids who are learning to cope with chronic pain. Wong’s illustrations are whimsical ink and watercolors that inspire, uplift, calm, warm and sooth the child. They are exquisite.
Resources: Brenda Miles, Ph.D, is a pediatric neuropsychologist. She has written backpages for parents to help them understand the concepts of imagery, deep breathing, and coping with chronic pain and medical procedures. Her goal is to help teach parents how to guide their children through visualization, relaxation exercises and manage their own pain. Children are very creative and may have their own special images they can draw upon. They may use these techniques anywhere and anytime.
Every Friday, authors and KidLit bloggers post a favorite picture book. To see a complete listing of all the Perfect Picture Books with resources, please visit author Susanna Leonard Hill’s Perfect Picture Books.
Children's Books Heal 
Looks like a beautiful way to deal with this issue. And, may offer tips for the “reader” of the picture book too. This one sounds like a gem.
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This book is a gem and I am so happy to share it. I’ve searched for picture books that may help kids with chronic illnesses. This book is beautifully written.
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How wonderful that a book like this exists!
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Yes Darelene, I was thrilled to find it!
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This sounds beautiful, Pat. I bet it’s equally good for children who survive natural disasters.
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You know, I hadn’t thought about using it with kids that have survived trauma and even a death of a loved one. Kids can make up their own imagery that works for them.
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Wow! So glad this exists. Getting a copy for the pediatrician’s office. Thanks.
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Thank you Nancy. That is a great place to put a book like this. Imagination Press prints some excellent books for children.
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This is a beautiful idea for comfort and healing – thanks again for scouting out a must-have for our children!
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Barbara, I have searched for picture books that would help kids with chronic illness. Some of the top searches on my website include lupus, sickle cell, and childhood arthritis and cancer. This book can help with any illness. It is written with such simplicity and beauty.
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Wow! This is a great one! Would be good for kids not only with physical pains, but emotional pains and anger management. Super! Thanks for sharing this one. You find some outstanding books!
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Yes Rhythm, you are right. It would help with emotional pain.
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So soothing. An important book for the many kids (and their parents) who struggle with chronic pain.
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Yes, it definitely is a parent-child book. And, it’s simply beautiful imagery.
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Thanks for sharing this. Would this book be shelved in the parent section of the children’s department?
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Miranda, I don’t know. My library didn’t have the picture book, but I plan to donate it. It is a beautiful PR with warm illustrations. But, like most books, it is a parent-child book. I’ll have to find out. I was thrilled with this find because some of the top searches on my blog are for childhood lupus, sickle cell, cancer and arthritis.
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Without using the words child and children in the opening, I imagine this could be a good book for anyone of any age who suffers chronic pain. Thanks for sharing this.
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Although written for children, anyone with chronic pain could benefit. Although there is a lot out there for adults in the way of visualization tapes and books.
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Oh! How moving. Learning meditation practices and creative visualisation to help us control pain is so essential. Poor little mites that they should have to.
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I know, I feel the same way. But, I am thrilled to find this gem for parents who may not have thought about visualization techniques! I always taught my daughter meditation and visualization techniques as a child, just to help her calm herself.
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This isn’t just for kids, right? Glad I don’t need it, but I really want to see how this was done. Thanks, Patricia.
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It is targeted towards kids with chronic pain, but really could be useful to anyone.
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Thanks!
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A unique book for a needy population of children. . .thanks for sharing this one, Patricia!
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It is a much-needed book for this population of children. I was so happy to find it. Thank you for commenting.
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How excited I am as the author of Imagine a Rainbow: A Child’s Guide for Soothing Pain to see the positive review. Thank you, Patricia, and to all those who have made such encouraging comments! The book was inspired by children with sickle cell disease, but is dedicated to all children who try to bring rainbows to their pain. A picture book on sickle cell disease, called Tickle Cell, Sickle Cell, illustrated by the talented Cathryn Schmidt, is coming soon!
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Dr. Miles,
It was a pleasure to review your book. It was beautifully written and presented. You have no idea how I’ve been searching for books for children dealing with chronic pain. And, I’m thrilled you have written a book on Sickle Cell. Will look forward to reviewing it. I have many people visiting my site looking for books on sickle cell. My review also appeared on twitter, FB and Linkedin.
Warmly,
Patricia
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What a wonderful book. I like the opening a lot. 🙂 It is great to have a book on this subject. I don’t think I have ever seen one before!
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Thank you Erik. I’ve been searching for a book like this. I just love the entire book because it is beautiful and has wonderful visualizations set in rhyme to help kids find relief from pain. The author indicated in her comment below, that it was written for children with sickle cell. But, it can be used in many ways, like trying to calm yourself.
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Pat…we can always count on you to find these amazing books! I absolutely love the sweet rhymes that help ‘wrap a rainbow around the ache’. Just reading the few lines you provided gave me a warm and comforted feeling.:) Great review, Pat…and how lovely that the author came over to comment!
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Thank you so much for your lovely comments. The rhyme is so beautiful and soothing, as are the illustrations. This was a great find for me because I see what people search for on my blogs. I’m glad the author indicated she’s doing something with Sickle cell — another popular search.
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This book must be a great comfort to many. Thank-you for spreading the word about it.
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Thank you Joanne. I’m glad you liked the book.
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What a wonderful and much-needed book. Like others have suggested, I think it could be used for emotional pain, and perhaps anxiety as well.
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Yes, I was happy to find this book. I agree, although written for kids with sickle cell, it can be used for chronic pain and emotional pain, including anxiety. The rhyme and illustrations are lovely and soothing
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What a beautiful, and soothing book. The rhyme is delicate as are the illustrations. What wonderful fine and I am so happy the author enjoyed your review. Thank you for sharing, Pat.
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I’m so pleased you liked my choice. The book is presented with great sensitivity. I love the use of rhyme and and illustrations are gorgeous! Thanks for stopping.
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Oh, I just LOVE the idea of this book, Pat! I’m thrilled to be adding it to our list, because we don’t have anything like it and I’m sure there are (unfortunately) tons of kids who can benefit from it. But it also sounds like good advice that we can all learn from. Thank you so much for sharing this one!
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This was a great find and I am so excited to add it to our PPBF list. I’ve been searching for a long time for a PB that wasn’t medical. This one is beautiful. So many children are in need of books like this to help they take charge of their pain.
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