Strong Like Mom, written by Allison Casperson and illustrated by Heather Jenkins, is a children’s book about the changes a family experiences when a parent has cancer. Its elephant family gives young readers a familiar way into a difficult subject: Mom and Dad care for their two boys, Bubba and Peanut, while trying to keep everyday life going. Casperson writes from her own experience as a mother and breast cancer survivor, and that personal connection comes through in the attention she gives to family relationships. The book’s warmth rests in recognizable moments of affection, worry, play, and being there for someone you love.

The writing is direct and easy to follow, naming cancer and explaining some of the changes children might notice during treatment. It’s especially attentive to how confusing a parent’s tiredness or sadness can feel to a child. Everyday routines give the story its emotional footing, with food, games, and shared reading showing how care takes shape in small actions. Faith is woven throughout the family’s experience, and references to God and prayer make this a particularly natural fit for households that draw comfort from those beliefs. The repeated language of strength and courage gives the read-aloud a reassuring rhythm, though some passages state their message quite explicitly.

Jenkins’s illustrations give this picture book much of its tenderness. The elephants have softly textured gray bodies, expressive eyes, and trunks that reach toward one another in gestures of affection. Gentle pinks, lilacs, greens, and warm yellows create an inviting setting, while grassy landscapes and broad skies give the pages room to breathe. Small touches, including flowers, butterflies, fruit, and sparkling stars, offer plenty for children to notice as they listen. The artwork also makes shifts in mood easy to feel through changes in color and light. I especially liked how the family groups convey closeness through their arrangement on the page; the pictures let readers see the comfort of having someone nearby.

What makes Strong Like Mom useful for shared reading is its attention to both children and the adults caring for them. The questions and caregiver guidance at the back invite readers to talk about feelings, personal experiences, and the different ways people can show strength. Drawing and coloring activities offer another way to spend time with those ideas, especially for children who express themselves more easily through pictures. This is a book to read with room for pauses and questions. Its strongest quality is the way it makes support visible, giving families a starting point for conversations about illness, love, faith, and accepting help from the people around them.

Pages: 32 | ASIN : B0HGMTNQ8H