When Mommy is Sick by Ferne Sherkin-Langer

Illustrated by Kay Life. 24 pages. Whitman, 1995.

A girl's Mommy has frequent hospitalizations. When Mommy is in the hospital, the girl feels sad, things just don't seem right, and she doesn't want to do much at school. Her teacher is understanding, and she has other adults to take care of her - Daddy, a babysitter, and a friend's mommy. The girl worries that her misbehavior might have caused Mommy's illness, that Mommy might never come home, and that her hugs might hurt Mommy, and she resents the unfairness of Mommy's illness. Daddy reassures her. The girl eagerly anticipates visits to Mommy at the hospital - although it's painful to end them - and Mommy's return home. Mommy has to rest for a week when she returns, but she finally takes her daughter to the playground, and then things feel right again. This story validates children's feelings about a parent's illness and offers hope for recovery.

Ages: 4-7
Cultural Context: multicultural