Grab the tissues!

Hair For Mama
Written by Kelly Tinkham, Illustrated by Amy Bates
Picture Book ages 6-9
Rating: 4/5

Marcus' mother is sick with cancer. When she loses all of her hair, Marcus sets out on a journey to find her some new hair, eventually cutting off his own and offering it to her!

Opinion: This one's a tearjerker! I actually found it on the website for Notable Trade Books of 2008 for my social studies class and brought it with me. It is sad yet touching, informational yet engaging. Marcus doesn't understand why his Mama is so tired and he wants her to have her hair back, because that will mean she is "better." When he shaves his own head his mother is touched but says she is fine just the way she is. I like that the characters in this book are African-American, because it brings culture to the book and can be more relatable for children of different races. All I have to say is, thank GOD she didn't die. Too sad. My concern is that this is a touchy subject and I don't want to scare kids and make them think their parents are going to get sick with cancer. It might be too complicated for younger kids. Around age 7 kids start to fear natural disasters and losing loved ones, (as opposed to monsters under the bed and animals), so I wouldn't want to "add fuel to the fire," so to speak. When I was little I had fears of things I couldn't control, and cancer for Mommy would definitely be one of those fears.

Curriculum Connection:  This would probably go into a discussion on health, even cancer for the upper elementary grades, but it could also be involved in a unit involving families and how they express love for one another. I might read it around Mother's Day before they make a present for their moms and say, "Marcus cutting his hair was his way of telling his mother he loved him. How would you do that for your mom?" You know, make it a little lighter.