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.
Hersh, Nanci: - 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.
McVicker, Ellen: - 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.
