New Book Helps Parents Talk to Children About Cancer
We live in a time where there’s a lot for our young kids to be afraid of. How do we explain to our children the things in life that are difficult for adults to comprehend like cancer or even losing a pet?
Watts Bugging You is a brand new series of children’s books written by Kristen Barnett that will help parents, teachers, or youth leaders talk through real life scenarios like bullying, adoption, moving, etc., with kids who may be facing difficult situations. Designed for children ages two through seven, the series incorporates faith messages while using children’s language and characters like bugs to tell the stories.
September is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month which times nicely with the release of the first book in the series called The Bug Who Thought He Lost His Buzz: What Happens When the Big, Bad Beast Stings (August 8, 2018). This story follows Bugsy the bee, who no longer feels his buzz and soon learns he has the Big, Bad Beast. Like many bees, Bugsy begins asking God the tough questions such as why, but learns that God is right by his side to support him through his difficult journey. This endearing story allows adults the priceless opportunity to talk to their child about being diagnosed with cancer or a serious illness.
“The birth of the series came from over 10 years of volunteering within the Oncology department at the Children’s Hospital Colorado, along with the adoption of my daughter,” says Barnett. “Parents at the hospital would ask me if they should tell their young child they have cancer. At the same time, parents and colleagues would ask me how I would tell my daughter that she was adopted. It was these two scenarios that led me to libraries and bookstores to find that there were plenty of books for young readers, but very few that deal with real life topics,” says Barnett.
Kristen Barnett is available for interviews and can discuss:
Her personal story as a volunteer at a children’s hospital, and why she developed the Watts Bugging You Series.
How The Bug Who Thought He Lost His Buzz is being used to make a difference in the lives of children with cancer or a serious illness.
Why she felt it was important to incorporate a faith based message in the books.
How the book can help explain other difficult issues to children like loved ones who may be facing cancer.
Practical ways we can all get involved to help children who may be facing cancer or a serious illness.
The Watts Bugging You team is passionate about making a difference in the lives of children. A portion of the proceeds from each book will be donated to organizations who pay it forward to children. For the first book, The Bug Who Thought He Lost His Buzz, the author is honored to provide a percentage of the proceeds to Children’s Hospital Colorado, which is the very place that helped the series come to life!
For additional details about the Watts Bugging You Series as well as helpful tools like conversation starters, activities, Bible verses, prayers, and reference materials, please visit:
wattsbuggingyou.com/. For review copies, please contact Sharon Farnell @ [email protected].
