Cancer Survivors Network

Talking With My Treehouse Friends About Cancer, Interactive Workbook Helps Kids Cope with News That Parents Have Cancer
The first activity book of its kind, Talking with My Treehouse Friends about Cancer, provides a creative, informative outlet for children during a difficult time

“It is hard to think of an occurrence more disruptive to family life than the diagnosis of cancer in a parent or grandparent,” says Peter R. van Dernoot, founder of The Children’s Treehouse Foundation, an organization committed to providing support in these difficult situations. In connection with his efforts to help children cope with such heart-wrenching news, Peter van Dernoot has created a unique diary and workbook, Talking with My Treehouse Friends about Cancer.

This full-color activity book includes a variety of fun projects such as drawing, coloring, pasting, and writing, to encourage children to articulate their new emotions and questions. By finishing statements such as “I remember how I found about the cancer,” and drawing “chemo stopping the cancer,” children learn how to cope with the disease and its impact. Additionally, the book informs about cancer in an easily understandable and unthreatening manner, using metaphors to explain cancer’s spread and the side effects kids may witness. A must for any family dealing with a parent’s or grandparent’s cancer, Talking with My Treehouse Friends about Cancer communicates with children in a language they understand.