Hair for Mama

Hair for Mama

Kelly Tinkham

Publish date 2007

Grade 3

Published by Dial Books for Young Readers

Reading Level: 530L

2 starred reviews:

“Without sentimentality, both text and art capture the fear, pain, and hope that come with chemotherapy for a family member” –BookList

“Realistic look at a strong family facing cancer.” – Kirkus

Summary:  It has come time once again for Marcus’ family pictures to be taken. But, his mother does not want to be in the picture this year. His mom has been diagnosed with cancer and has been undergoing chemotherapy. The treatments have made Marcus’ mom very tired and she has lost all of her hair.  Marcus’ tries to come up with a few ways to try to get his mother to be in the picture. His best idea is to make a wig for her to wear. So wen Marcus’ goes to get his hair cut he has a special idea in mind. But this is not what makes his mother want to be in the picture after all.

Description: Fiction

Suggested Delivery: whole group

Electronic Resources (2):

Author Website

            This is a link to the authors personal website. This includes reviews about the text and information about the author. This can be used as a per reading activity.

Locks of Love

            This is a link to the Locks of Love website. This is a nonprofit organization that provides hair to underprivileged children under 21 years old that have lost hair based on a diagnosis. This can be used as an after reading activity.

Vocabulary:

            Cancer – sickness/disease

            Chemotherapy – cancer treatment/medicine

            Cardinal – birds

            Underneath – to be under

            Queasy – sick to her stomach/feels like going to throw up

            Dozing – not really there/ daydreaming/sleeping

            Wig – fake hair

            Glistened –sparkled

            Tradition – something your family does every day/year

           

Teaching Suggestions:

·      Use this book to teach students about cancer

·      Use this book to teach students what families of cancer patients go through

·      Use this book to show how to think about doing something nice for someone else

Pre Reading: Students will have one guest speaker visit the class. This should be someone who has cancer, had cancer, or works with cancer patients.

During Reading: Students will fill out sticky notes that pertain to the reading. They can note any questions, comments, likes, dislikes, perdictions or observations they have about the text.

After Reading: The students will participate in a debate. The debate will revolve around if that person had cancer, would they or would they not want to be in the family picture in Mama’s situation. The class will be divided into two groups, a group that would be in the picture and a groups that would not want to be in the picture. The students will have to provide reasoning as to why they think a certain way. The group that provides the most reasons that are accurate to support their choice will win the debate.

Writing Activity: The students will be asked to write letters to a child battling/recovering from cancer from a local hospital. The students should include motivating messages for the child and provide the child with a little bit of joy.