Hair for Mama

Name: Hair for Mama
ISBN: 9780803729551

by Kelly Tinkham

For the child navigating a parent's cancer diagnosis and the changes it brings, this story offers a tender exploration of love and coping with hair loss from chemotherapy.

Find on Bookshop.org Find on Amazon Save

About This Book

A parent might reach for this book when a mother or close family member is undergoing chemotherapy and beginning to lose their hair. 'Hair for Mama' gently explores this experience from a child's perspective. Young Marcus sees his mother's sadness and her hair loss, and in a touching act of love, decides he must find her new hair to make her happy and well again. He gathers materials like yarn, leaves, and feathers to create beautiful, imaginative hair for her. This story is a tender entry point for discussing the physical changes that come with cancer treatment. It focuses not on the illness itself, but on a child's love, empathy, and desire to help, validating their feelings of helplessness and their creative attempts to solve a very big problem.

Sadness & Grief Love & Family Family Illness Family & Siblings Empathy & Kindness Resilience & Perseverance Art & Creativity

What Parents Should Know

Sad ThemesModerate

A parent's serious illness (cancer) and resulting hair loss is the central theme of the story.

Sensitive Topics

The book deals directly with a parent's cancer and the specific side effect of hair loss from chemotherapy. The approach is entirely secular and family-focused. It does not mention death or the specific prognosis. The resolution is emotionally hopeful, centering on the family's love and connection as the source of strength, rather than offering a simplistic cure for the illness. It is realistic about the physical changes but maintains a very gentle and reassuring tone.