It is not always easy to remain optimistic when facing illness, especially for children who often do not understand the seriousness of the situation. Writer and volunteer Ana Paula de Abreu decided to bring hope to patients admitted to a hospital’s pediatric oncology, dedicating her time to telling stories with positive messages. Inspired by the transformation that these narratives provided, she published the book “Cabelo de Estrelas”, where the protagonist also faces childhood cancer.
“Cabelo de Estrelas” is a work that was born from Ana Paula’s experiences alongside children and their families. Illustrated with sensitive watercolors by Ana Cardia, the book tells the story of a girl who, upon seeing her reflection without hair due to chemotherapy, imagines her hair in creative ways, like stars, flowers and sea shells. This playful and imaginative approach aims to bring comfort and inspiration to young readers facing similar challenges.
Ana Paula de Abreu, who always had a passion for writing stories, turned this passion into a career after the birth of her daughter. With 14 books published and more than 600 thousand copies sold, the writer also has a postgraduate degree in Children’s Literature and Positive Psychology, and is currently studying postgraduate studies in Neurosciences, Child Development and Education. Her work, “Cabelo de Estrelas”, is another significant step in her mission to bring hope and joy to children undergoing cancer treatment.
What inspired you to write “Cabelo de Estrelas” and how did your experiences as a pediatric oncology volunteer influence the book’s plot?
The experience as a volunteer in the hospital’s Pediatric Oncology made me see how literature can be an important tool in the hospital environment. It is an easily accessible and low-cost resource that brings playfulness and develops creativity and imagination, which are so important for child development.
Can you tell us more about the book’s protagonist? How did you develop the character and your creative imaginations during treatment?
The protagonist is a girl who sees herself in the mirror with different types of hair: seashell hair, flower hair, star hair, etc. Until she finds herself with hair of hope (when the strands fall out). Through imagination, she is able to go through this process of hair loss in a more gentle way. She keeps the fireflies in a jar to brighten up the gray days. Fireflies, here, are a metaphor for our inner light. It’s a book that doesn’t talk about illness, it talks about self-acceptance, empathy, hope.
What is the main message you want to convey to readers with “Cabelo de Estrelas”?
The message that children, even when sick, need to continue being children. They need to imagine, create, continue accessing the playful side so that they can go through this difficult phase with more peace of mind. And never stop believing in yourself, in your inner strength.
How was the process of writing this book compared to your other works? Were there any specific challenges?
It’s always challenging to write about a delicate topic. It is necessary to have a balance, a gentleness to approach topics that may cause some discomfort. That is not the aim of the book. The objective is to create a moment of connection with the reader, a moment of interaction, of imagination. Therefore, we need to be careful when we approach this type of topic.
What was it like working with Ana Cardia to illustrate the book? How did you collaborate to ensure the images complemented the narrative?
I had already worked with Ana on other projects. I chose her work precisely because of her sensitivity and her art, all in watercolor, bringing delicacy and softness. Ana has a very similar outlook to mine and, therefore, our work ends up complementing each other in a very positive way.
How did your training in Positive Psychology influence the approach to the sensitive topic of childhood cancer in the book?
Positive Psychology is still confused with positive discipline (they are different lines of work), and many think that it is based on motivational phrases and things like that. In fact, Positive Psychology brings a different perspective to Psychology, taking the focus away from the disease and bringing it to the potential of the individual as a whole. We are not our illnesses and our problems. We go through difficult situations, but we have other important aspects that make us unique individuals. These aspects cannot be left aside, on the contrary, they must be stimulated and enhanced.
What has been the reaction of children and families to “Cabelo de Estrelas”? Is there any particular feedback that touched you deeply?
I received a lot of touching feedback from mothers who received the book and read it to their children going through treatment. I believe that this story makes children see that, even when they are sick, they continue to be protagonists of their stories, just like the girl in the book.
In your opinion, what is the role of children’s literature in helping children deal with difficult challenges such as serious illnesses?
I believe that children’s literature is an excellent tool to help in these cases, as it is easily accessible and enables important dialogues that, sometimes, do not happen because family members themselves do not know how to deal with it.
Do you have plans for new projects or books that follow a similar line of empathy and hope?
I have other books that follow this line, such as “Pedro Pianista”, which is a story based on a pianist from Santa Catarina who was born without sight and made music an important ally in coping with this situation. He can’t see, but he can hear. And like his ears, he can feel the world outside and people’s feelings.
I also wrote the book “Uma Baleia”, illustrated by Camila Yallouz, an autistic illustrator who does wonderful work. This book tells the story of a whale that is born dancing because it hears music that other whales are unable to hear.
Because I have ADHD, diagnosed at age 25, I also always swam “against the currents”. I wasn’t always understood and accepted, but I found myself in writing. I believe these stories can make children understand that they can be who they are. Swimming against the currents can be more tiring and time-consuming, but it is a path full of possibilities that also lead to happiness.
What advice would you give to other writers who want to approach sensitive topics in children’s books in a gentle and positive way?
My advice is to take a broader view, not focusing on the informative side, or trying to teach a moral lesson or, even, bringing up the dark side of these themes. We need to remember that reading should be a pleasurable moment, which allows dialogue, yes, but also brings fun, after all, we are dealing with the children’s universe. The question is: if I were a child and I was going through this, how would I want to approach this topic? What would I like to read? It is essential to put yourself in these children’s shoes and understand this place.
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