When Someone You Love Has Cancer

Lily and Zach Learn About Grief

How do you explain cancer, treatment, and loss to a child without overwhelming them?


When someone close is very sick, children often feel scared, confused, and unsure how to express their emotions. Without gentle guidance, they may hold in their grief and believe it’s not okay to talk about what’s happening.


That’s what Lily, Zach, Felix, and Oscar experience when they learn their Great-Uncle John has stage 4 cancer. With Gramma Kate’s honesty and comfort, and Uncle John’s bravery and humour, the children see what treatment looks like, learn what grief feels like, and discover that love and memories last forever.  Through lighthouses, nature, and shared stories, they come to understand that even in the face of loss, light can still shine.


Social Skill Themes Explored:

✅ Understanding what cancer is and what treatment looks like

✅ Talking openly about grief and mixed emotions

✅ Finding comfort in memories and symbols of love

✅ Normalizing sadness, anger, and confusion during illness

✅ Learning resilience when facing sickness and death in the family


📘 When Someone You Love Has Cancer is a life skills story for children ages 6–12 that creates space for healing conversations about illness, death, and grief. Perfect for parents who want to support their child through loss, teachers guiding students with empathy, and therapists helping children process grief in a safe and supportive manner.


📖 Why You’ll Love It

  • 8.5" x 8.5" trim size — easy for small hands to hold and teachers to share aloud
  • 32 full-colour pages with engaging illustrations that children love
  • Durable glossy hardcover (also available in paperback) for long-lasting use
  • Activity included at the back: Lighthouse Memories — kids write down memories of their loved one.
  • Encourages resilience, emotional literacy, and healthy coping skills
  • Great for bedtime stories, classroom life skill lessons, or therapy sessions


Hardcover: $29.99 CAD |   Paperback: $17.99 CAD

Special Offer:  Save 10% when you buy any   2 books

                                 Save 15%  when you buy any  3 or more


Price includes shipping


👉 Add this inspiring life skills story to your cart today and help your child discover the courage to keep going, even after setbacks.

What Readers Are Saying

This book has inspired children in classrooms, counselling rooms and homes around the world. Here's what teachers, counsellors, and families are saying about When Someone You Love Has Cancer.

John Doe's Image
I was drawn to this book because my grandkids have had to deal with cancer in two of their grandparents. This is a wonderful story to help children begin to come to terms with the mortality/sickness of loved ones, and does so in a sensitive, informative way. Wisely, the story doesn't go too high or too low. It offers a nice balance of wisdom and permission to grieve. My one pet peeve--at one point grandma tells her grandchildren that her dying brother would not want to them to be sad. We often say that, but in doing so we rob people of the chance to feel sad and feel the loss. Otherwise, kudos to the author for a book well-done.

Tim Wright - United States (November 2025)

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