September 2015 is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month
Daniel and His Starry Night Blanket: A Story of Illness and Sibling Love
Sally Loughridge, Author and Illustrator
Maine Authors Publishing, Fiction, Aug. 1, 2015
Suitable for Ages: 5-8, Parents
Themes: Children with a seriously ill sibling, Cancer, Exploring feelings, Jealousy
Opening: “Just before Daniel was born, his grandmother made him a soft blanket that danced with brilliant stars. His mother wrapped him in the blanket when they brought him home from the hospital. It was just right, with room to grow. His father called it Daniel’s Starry Night Blanket.”
Synopsis: Daniel and His Starry Night Blanket is a story about a boy whose older sister, Kate, is diagnosed with cancer. He is sad and worried that Kate is so sick and not interested in playing with him anymore. His parents include him in the hospital visits for Kate’s chemotherapy, but he soon tires of going. Daniel is upset that his parents cook Kate’s favorite foods. When Kate receives cards and gifts, Daniel is angry that he doesn’t receive anything. His Dad takes Daniel to a ball game and spends “special” time with him. Daniel begins to find quiet projects that he and Kate can do together. Daniel wants to do something special for Kate and comes up with a secret plan and asks his grandmother to help.
Why I like this book:
Sally Loughridge has written a compassionate and sensitive story for families who are dealing with a child diagnosed with cancer and the challenges for siblings. Daniel is representative of all siblings dealing with confusing feelings of sadness, anger, fear and jealousy. For children like Daniel, it can be a roller coaster ride.
Daniel has the support of his parents and grandmother to help guide his journey through the highs and lows of a Kate’s cancer treatments. With their support Daniel is able to participate more fully in Kate’s care. It is significant when Daniel wants to share his special blanket with his sister forever– a signal of his own progress, growth and maturity. He asks his grandmother to help with his secret plan for Kate. I won’t spoil the secret. The soft watercolor illustrations are expressive, emotive and compliment the story. I highly recommend this book for families who have a seriously ill child.
Resources: The book can be used in many ways to support young children during a siblings illness. It is a valuable resource for parents, therapists and counselors working with children and families. Loughridge includes two pages of suggestions and activities about ways to use Daniel and His Starry Night Blanket. Visit Sally Loughridge at her website.
Awards: Daniel and His Starry Night Blanket has received the 2016 Best Book Awards Finalist (Children’s Picture Books Soft Cover Fiction), Gold Medal Winner in the 2016 Literary Classics International Book Awards for the Picture Book/Preschool Category. It was also a finalist in the 2016 Next Generation Indie Book Awards in two Categories, Children’s Books 0 to 5 and Children’s Books 6 and Up. The book was awarded the 2015 Gold Medal in the Lifestyle Emotions and Feelings Category of the Gelett Burgess Book Awards program and an Honorable Mention in the Children’s Books Category of the 2015 New England Book Festival.
Every Friday, authors and KidLit bloggers post a favorite picture book. To see a complete listing of all the Perfect Picture Books (PPB) with resources, please visit author Susanna Leonard Hill’s Perfect Picture Books.
Sounds like an important resources book Pat. And I enjoyed visiting the author’s website to see her beautiful Maine paintings!
I’m sure the author will enjoy your comments. This is an important story for siblings.
Cathy, Thanks for visiting my website. I do love to paint, and find that so much can be communicated through visual images. My first book, “Rad Art: A Journey Through Radiation Treatment,” shares the 33 daily paintings I made during radiation for breast cancer and speaks to the restorative power of art.
Cathy, Sally Loughridge left you a message on my website regarding her cancer resource book for siblings.
I didn’t know Maine Authors Publishing. So much talent abides in that state. This sounds a gem for families or communities where there are siblings of seriously sick brothers and sisters. Love the cover.
I wasn’t familiar either. It is an excellent story for siblings with sick brothers and sisters.
Lovely!
Yes, it is an important book for families.
Sounds like a sweet book. One of our IN-SCBWI members also wrote one called The Cancer Garden (I’m having a memory lapse and can’t remember her last name; her first name is Janna). You might like that one, too. 🙂
This is a lovely family book. It is especially written for healthy siblings. The author wrote it after dealing with cancer herself. Yes, I reviewed The Cancer Garden a few years ago. One of my favorites!
Oh, wonderful! Glad you liked that one, too. These books are so helpful for kids to cope with tough life situations that they have no control over.
Pat, What a wonderful book! I can only imagine how hard it is for a healthy sibling to have to deal with such a situation. Thanks for reviewing this book.
Yes, they take the back seat and have to deal with their own myriad of jealous, sad and scary feelings.
I just created a cancer book list for kids. May I add this post and book to my list? I will credit and link back to you, of course!
Yes you can. This is a good book to share. But I’ve also reviewed other books on cancer (PB, MG and YA.) Other favorite PBs are: The Goodbye Cancer Garden by Janna Matthies, Kathy’s Hats by Trudy Krisher. MG books: Upside Down and Backwards by by Julie Greves and Katy Tenhulzen. You can click on my cancer in my sidebar and see what I’ve reviewed.
Patricia, you find amazing books. This one speaks to me today, I lost my 39 year old niece to cancer this week and can’t stop thinking of her 3 sons. Thanks for sharing it.
I’m so sorry for you loss. I’m pleased you liked it. There is a beautiful book called The Goodbye Cancer Garden about a mother who has cancer and how her children deal with it. But it has a happy ending. You might want to check out some of my good grief books.
Great and important find, Patricia. I had a peek at the website and the soft pastels – beautiful! Thanks for adding the link.
It is a beautiful book Julie. Glad you checked out Sally’s website.
Beautiful, thoughtful review. Thanks!
Thank you Darshana. It is an important story for siblings.
This sounds like a loving and beautiful book. I’m glad you put it in the spotlight. I’ve got to order this one from the library. Thank you!
September was the perfect month to highlight this important book for families balancing family life for the ill child and the siblings.
The sibling is so often overlooked when there is illness in the family and then feels guilty for having resentful, jealous thoughts, which only makes maters worse. Great that this subject has been tackled.
It is an important subject to tackle for families with an ill child. It is a beautiful story written for overlooked siblings.
Dear Patricia,
Thank you for your review and posting on my new book. I’m sure it will help spread the word of its availability to those families it can help. By the way, I enjoy all your thoughtful reviews. Sincerely, Sally
Sally, Thank you for stopping by. You’ve received a very favorable response to your beautiful story. It is always a pleasure to share a book that will heal families.
After just returning from two weeks painting on Monhegan Island off Maine’s MidCoast, I was very pleased to see Patricia Tilton’s review of my book, “Daniel and His Starry Night Blanket.” There are so many families impacted by catastrophic pediatric illnesses, cancer but one among them. Siblings both young and old have their own reactions against the background of their ongoing development and unique personalities. Quite a juggling challenge for parents attending to both sick and well children! My hat is off to all these courageous families. I hope my book proves a valuable resource to those with very young kids.
Sally, thank you for you lovely comments about your book. It is a valuable resource for families dealing with childhood illness! I hope it receives a lot of exposure.
I hadn’t heard of this book before, but what a great resource for families looking to talk about a difficult situation. Thanks so much for sharing this one with us.
Thank you for visiting. It is a great resource for families. I’m pleased you enjoyed the book selection.
It is often the sibling that goes unnoticed at these times. This is a good book for a family to read together, even if there is no illness in the family.
Darlene, What a thoughtful perspective you offer around using the book in families even without serious illness. When children learn about challenges for other kids and families, their empathy and sensitivity can grow. I’ve also been told that the book can help adult friends and extended family understand better what a family is going through around catastrophic pediatric illness and all the layered consequences.
I can see how it would assist adults as well.Thanks for writing this book, Sally.
I can see how this would help adults as well. Thanks for writing this book, Sally.
I hope folks will spread the word of the book so it can get to the families it can help. It is available at http://www.amazon.com, http://www.maineauthorspublishing.com and my own site, http://www.sallyloughridge.com.
I agree. I would think that it would create an atmosphere for discussion and be helpful if anyone in the family becomes ill. Darlene,note that the author, Sally Loughridge, left you a message.
This sounds like such a sweet book – and as Darlene says – we need good books that focus on the siblings.
Thanks for reviewing, Patricia, and thanks for popping in, Sally.
Thank you! I’m glad you enjoyed Sally’s book. This is an excellent book for siblings.
This sounds fabulous – and so very needed. Thank you for highlighting it.
It is a remarkable book for families.
Great post! That’s a cool picture and poem! 😀
Glad you enjoyed the review. It’s an important book!
Many years ago when I was doing my pediatric rotation during nurse’s training I was assigned a little boy who had bilateral Wilms tumor. He had a twin brother and another young sibling. His parents were devastated and as I read Sally’s book I couldn’t help but think how helpful it would have been to them. Her sensitive and gentle approach to dealing with serious illness would have given them comfort and the understanding to cope with the challenges surrounding such a difficult situation. It is a beautiful book.
Thank you for sharing your story as a nurse working with children with cancer. This belongs in hospitals as a family book.
You have a talent for finding lovely books, Pat. So glad I’m catching up with the list. 🙂
Thank you. I love finding gems like this! I have some catching up to do.
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