Book Title: MC Plays Hide and Seek: An Empowering Story for Healthy Children Who Care About a Person Living with Cancer by Eva Grayzel
Category: Children’s Fiction (Ages 3-7), 64 pages
Genre: Children’s Picture Book
Publisher: Mascot Books
Release date: Jan 5, 2021
Content Rating: G for everyone.
M.C. is a cancer cell who shares just enough information about the nature of the disease to promote dialogue and minimize fear. The scary part of cancer is the unknown. Learn about doctors who look for cancer. Understand feelings children experience and learn ways to cope. Empower children with knowledge and how to make a difference. M.C. Plays Hide & Seek strengthens communication and builds emotional health.
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Eva Grayzel ~ B&N
My Review
I chose to read this book after receiving a free e-copy. All opinions in this review are my own and completely unbiased.
Eva Grayzel wrote this book after she had cancer because she felt that it would have been great if her children had had a book like it. It is meant to help children to deal with cancer in someone they care about. It’s well-written, and the video below is of her reading M.C. Plays Hide & Seek. She has so much energy and good vibes as she reads it (and yes, I did notice that it’s backwards).
M.C. Plays Hide & Seek tells children that it’s important to share their feelings by talking, drawing, or in writing. It doesn’t matter how, it’s just important to do it! Also, no feelings are “wrong.” Some may feel sad while others feel angry. It’s even possible to not feel anything at first because of the shock of it all.
I like that feelings are discussed, but I also think explaining that cancer can hide in the body for a long time and that it can affect any organ in the body is also important. There is so much that adults don’t think to explain to children when they’re dealing with a serious diagnosis. Also, the different types of doctors are defined. Some of those doctor names can be so long and confusing, it’s nice to know what the adults are talking about!
Finally, in M.C. Plays Hide & Seek there are pictures of people having a good time because kids need to know that they and their loved one can still have fun together. Cancer won’t stop that!
For parents, at the end of the book is a Quick Reference Guide about things that were discussed. There’s also a section about why to tell children about the diagnosis, and I think it is absolutely right: children are intuitive and will know something is going on, sharing will minimize their fears, hiding your diagnosis promotes secrecy, anger and resentment.
I definitely recommend M.C. Plays Hide & Seek for children who have a loved one with cancer.
About the Author
Eva Grayzel is a motivational speaker, storyteller, and cancer survivor. When her children were five and seven years old, she was diagnosed with cancer. Their fear of losing her was deep, real, and suppressed. When she got a second chance at life, she created the Talk4Hope book series to help children understand cancer and make it less scary.
connect with the author: website ~ twitter ~facebook ~ pinterest ~ instagram
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