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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Nana and the “c” is a book for all ages and all cultures as it is about family and the ability to support a loved one through the challenges of cancer. It is told from a seven-year-old’s perspective as she gathers the courage to face her grandmother’s illness and learns that her irritating younger sister is perhaps smarter than she seems. Together they also learn how to conquer their biggest fear and replace worry with wonder. 

The story is uplifting and often humorous while symbolizing hope. It will make readers of all ages laugh, cry, and remember their own childhood and the relationships and events that influenced who they have become. The goal of this story is to help children through health crises in their family. The illustrator, editor and designer donated their time to help with the project in order to make possible the donation of copies of the book to waiting rooms of cancer clinics.

~ Buy 1 Gift 1 to Charity ~

Thank you so much for your generosity. We’re donating books to hospitals and children’s centers. Anywhere people might benefit from an uplifting story dealing with cancer.

~ Universal Amazon Link ~ 

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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.

Nana and the “c” is written from the perspective of a 7 year old. Madison and her little sister find out that her grandma has breast cancer and they learn about the side effects of chemo including hair loss. Nana is very good at alleviating their fears about cancer and teaches Madison that it doesn’t help to worry. It’s more important to appreciate the wonder of our life.

Even though this book is a good one for children to read if they’re dealing with a friend or relative who has cancer, it’s also a good reminder for adults to focus on the important things in life. I think it’s an amazing idea to donate copies to hospitals and children’s centers.

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About the Author

Doris Schneider is an artist, scene designer, writer, and educator. She taught at William Carey University and was a tenured professor of theatre at North Carolina Central University. She published two novels: Borrowed Things and By Way of Water. 

After her own bout with breast cancer, she wrote this story based on a real event with her granddaughters. While the illustrator, Wenhai Ma, was teaching at Duke University, the two became long term friends—culminating in their collaboration on Nana and the “c”.

~ Facebook ~ Blog ~

~ Writing Group Website ~

~ Writing Group Twitter ~

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About the Illustrator

Wenhai Ma – American-Chinese scene designer, illustrator and educator. He was granted tenured professorship at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. He graduated from the Central Academy of Drama, China and Carnegie Mellon University, USA. He has taught at Duke University, University of Nebraska Lincoln, Purdue University and the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts, the Central Academy of Drama, China and the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts, Singapore. He is the author of Scene Design Rendering and Media (Focus Publishing, USA) and illustrator for 10 children’s picture books in the US. He has designed sets and costumes for various dramas, operas and musicals in the United States, China, Hong Kong, Singapore, Taiwan and Indonesia. His first novel Such An Enchanted Night was published in Taiwan, 2017.

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Once upon a time . . . It’s how all heroes begin their story, and you’re a hero, too! Your mama has cancer, and it’s a scary journey, but you can help your mama just by being you—special, wonderful, YOU. Your mama loves you just the way you are. You are your mama’s knight.

Buy the Book:  Author’s Website

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My Review

I chose to read this book after receiving a free copy from the author. All opinions in this review are my own and completely unbiased.

Mama’s Knight is a wonderful book that I wish never had to be written. It’s a guide for parents and their children when Mom is diagnosed with cancer. What makes it special is that it not only explains to children what may happen but it is also personalized. 

The illustrations are cute and colorful and the text is simple enough for children to understand what is going on with their mom.

It’s never easy to talk about cancer, especially to children, but Mama’s Knight is a great tool to open that conversation. It also has activities for the child and parent to do, so it can be used over and over as a resource for activity ideas. And what a great keepsake for children!

Themamavillage.com is listed at the end of the book and is a website that has love and support for Mom. 

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About the Author

Aurora Whittet started out as a wild red-haired girl in Minnesota dreaming up stories for her friends to read. Today, she has completed Bloodmark, Bloodrealms, and Bloodmoon of the Bloodmark Saga trilogy and started her journey into children’s books with Mama’s Knight in honor of her own mother who lost her battle with cancer. She’s a national award-winning graphic designer and birth doula in her day jobs. Aurora lives with her family in Minnesota.

Connect with the author: Website ~ Twitter ~ Facebook

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