A children’s book about cancer

Mum’s Purple Scarf is a picture book to help children know what to expect when a parent has cancer. Cancer means lots of changes for the whole family and the book covers chemotherapy, hair loss, fatigue, extra chore and hospital visits.

How do you tell your kids you have cancer? How do you prepare them for what’s about to unfold when you’re not even sure yourself?

While the medical impacts of a cancer diagnosis are difficult for children to understand, it is important that kids are given enough information to understand what to expect – at their level.​

From lasagne to hair loss, extra play dates and how talking can help, Mum’s Purple Scarf provides this through a beautifully illustrated literal (neuro inclusive) children’s book. It was written specifically to help parents explain the practical changes in a child’s life when a parent is diagnosed with cancer.​

This book is a must for diagnosed parents, and those supporting families through a cancer diagnosis, including teachers, doctors, oncologists and their nursing teams.

The text and illustrations were kindly reviewed by Cancer Council Victoria and the author’s oncologist to ensure the book provides advice recommended by the experts on talking to kids about cancer. It was also tested with cancer patient, survivors, nurses and teachers.

This book is a must for diagnosed parents, and those supporting families through a cancer diagnosis, including teachers, doctors, oncologists and their nursing teams. The text and illustrations were kindly reviewed by Cancer Council Victoria and the author’s oncologist to ensure the book provides advice recommended by the experts on talking to kids about cancer. It was also tested with cancer patient, survivors, nurses and teachers.

A book to help children know what to expect when a parent has cancer.

A children’s book about cancer

Mum’s Purple Scarf is a picture book to help children know what to expect when a parent has cancer. Cancer means lots of changes for the whole family and the book covers chemotherapy, hair loss, fatigue, extra chore and hospital visits.

How do you tell your kids you have cancer? How do you prepare them for what’s about to unfold when you’re not even sure yourself?

While the medical impacts of a cancer diagnosis are difficult for children to understand, it is important that kids are given enough information to understand what to expect – at their level.​

From lasagne to hair loss, extra play dates and how talking can help, Mum’s Purple Scarf provides this through a beautifully illustrated literal (neuro inclusive) children’s book. It was written specifically to help parents explain the practical changes in a child’s life when a parent is diagnosed with cancer.​

This book is a must for diagnosed parents, and those supporting families through a cancer diagnosis, including teachers, doctors, oncologists and their nursing teams.

The text and illustrations were kindly reviewed by Cancer Council Victoria and the author’s oncologist to ensure the book provides advice recommended by the experts on talking to kids about cancer. It was also tested with cancer patient, survivors, nurses and teachers.

$1 from every book sold will be
donated to Cancer Council Victoria.

Buy from the author

$1 from every book sold will be
donated to Cancer Council Victoria.

Buy from the author

About the author

Jane Gillard is a writer, editor and former journalist who was diagnosed with lymphoma in 2018. The news was devastating and she struggled to work out how to break the news to her children, who were then aged 10 and 7.​ There was plenty of material to support parents but Jane could not find a book which explained to a child the impact a parent’s cancer diagnosis would have on their everyday life. ​ She wrote Mum’s Purple Scarf to help other parents explain the cancer journey to their children. It can be read with children from 4 to 11 years of age. It mixes information and humour in a literal way.​ Read more about Jane and her cancer journey.

The Illustrator

Janet Croll is a designer and illustrator who lives in the hills outside Melbourne. ​

She was born in Wales and studied in Aberdeen before emigrating with her husband to Australia.  She is the Creative Director of Two Red Dogs Design.

Testimonials

“A diagnosis of cancer is difficult for anyone, let alone children. While often the first reaction may be to keep the news from children or to delay telling them, research shows that being open and honest helps them cope. Children are observant. No matter how hard you try to hide a cancer diagnosis, most children will suspect something is wrong. Educational resources such as this, can help friends and families have difficult conversations with children and invite questions from children and conversations about how they’re feeling. “

Katherine Lane
Head of Cancer Information and Support Services
Cancer Council Victoria

“I wish my children could have had a book like this to read when I was going through treatment for breast cancer. It touches on many of the side effects of chemo and acknowledges many things that mum may not be able to do.

It is great how it highlights all the people who children can talk to. Most of all, I appreciate the humour and positive messages it provides.”

Amelia
Melbourne

“This book offers children of cancer patients, parents of their friends and other relatives an insight into what families go through, and some good tips for coping through an excellent narrative.

Jane is an inspiration to patients around Australia who have been through a diagnosis and treatment of cancer.”

A/Prof Eliza Hawkes
Lymphoma Lead
Medical Oncologist, Austin Health

“Fantastic book! This well written story was amazing for explaining cancer to my 6-year-old son. It’s extremely child-friendly and very informative about cancer treatments causing tiredness, hair loss etc.

Highly recommended to any family trying to navigate how to explain cancer to young kids.”

Claire
Melbourne

“As a teacher, I will definitely make use of this book to deal with the topic of sickness and cancer in the classroom.
​
It deals with it in a delicate, yet informative way and gently guides you through the journey that this particular family went through.”

Anna O’Grady
Primary school teacher

“As a teacher, I will definitely make use of this book to deal with the topic of sickness and cancer in the classroom.​

It deals with it in a delicate, yet informative way and gently guides you through the journey that this particular family went through.”

Anna O’Grady
Primary school teacher

“We have this book at home and I often see my teenagers pick it up and read it.”

Jess
Melbourne

“What a beautiful book! It very much echoed my own experience, and purple is my favourite colour. My daughter who is 8 now, but was 3 while I was going through chemo, said she wishes she could have read this book then.

I think this book can help children to understand that it’s not just them and their mum who are going through the difficulties of cancer treatment, but others have as well. It’s kind and gentle in its clarity and honesty about cancer treatment.”

Susan
Townsville

“Told from the perspective of children, ‘Mum’s Purple Scarf’ doesn’t flinch from the reality of cancer and cancer treatment (mum is tired and grumpy, her hair falls out).
​
At the same time, it is soothing in how it shows that life goes on, people will help and funny things still happen (three lasagnes dropped off on the same day).”

@naomilovesbooks
Melbourne

Testimonials

“A diagnosis of cancer is difficult for anyone, let alone children. While often the first reaction may be to keep the news from children or to delay telling them, research shows that being open and honest helps them cope. Children are observant. No matter how hard you try to hide a cancer diagnosis, most children will suspect something is wrong. Educational resources such as this, can help friends and families have difficult conversations with children and invite questions from children and conversations about how they’re feeling. “

Katherine Lane
Head of Cancer Information and Support Services
Cancer Council Victoria

“I wish my children could have had a book like this to read when I was going through treatment for breast cancer. It touches on many of the side effects of chemo and acknowledges many things that mum may not be able to do.

It is great how it highlights all the people who children can talk to. Most of all, I appreciate the humour and positive messages it provides.”

Amelia
Melbourne

“This book offers children of cancer patients, parents of their friends and other relatives an insight into what families go through, and some good tips for coping through an excellent narrative.

Jane is an inspiration to patients around Australia who have been through a diagnosis and treatment of cancer.”

A/Prof Eliza Hawkes
Lymphoma Lead
Medical Oncologist, Austin Health

“Fantastic book! This well written story was amazing for explaining cancer to my 6-year-old son. It’s extremely child-friendly and very informative about cancer treatments causing tiredness, hair loss etc.

Highly recommended to any family trying to navigate how to explain cancer to young kids.”

Claire
Melbourne

“As a teacher, I will definitely make use of this book to deal with the topic of sickness and cancer in the classroom.
​
It deals with it in a delicate, yet informative way and gently guides you through the journey that this particular family went through.”

Anna O’Grady
Primary school teacher

“As a teacher, I will definitely make use of this book to deal with the topic of sickness and cancer in the classroom.​

It deals with it in a delicate, yet informative way and gently guides you through the journey that this particular family went through.”

Anna O’Grady
Primary school teacher

“We have this book at home and I often see my teenagers pick it up and read it.”

Jess
Melbourne

“What a beautiful book! It very much echoed my own experience, and purple is my favourite colour. My daughter who is 8 now, but was 3 while I was going through chemo, said she wishes she could have read this book then.

I think this book can help children to understand that it’s not just them and their mum who are going through the difficulties of cancer treatment, but others have as well. It’s kind and gentle in its clarity and honesty about cancer treatment.”

Susan
Townsville

“Told from the perspective of children, ‘Mum’s Purple Scarf’ doesn’t flinch from the reality of cancer and cancer treatment (mum is tired and grumpy, her hair falls out).
​
At the same time, it is soothing in how it shows that life goes on, people will help and funny things still happen (three lasagnes dropped off on the same day).”

@naomilovesbooks
Melbourne