I Want to Grow Hair, I Want to Grow Up, I Want to Go to Boise: Children Surviving Cancer

by Erma Bombeck

Book Overview

America's favorite family writer presents a warm, important book about children surviving cancer. Using the children's own observations and illustrations, Bombeck will move you with tales of the hope, love and innocence of childhood. Harper & Row.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0060161701
• ISBN13: 9780060161705
• Release Date: September 1989
• Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
• Length: 174 Pages
• Weight: 1.20 lbs.

Customer Reviews

I Want to Grow Hair Hair, I Want to Grow Up and I Want to Go

My son was diagnosed in 1989 at the age of 8 years old with three brain tumors. We were told her would die in surgery and if he did live he would be a vegetable. The doctor was wonderful and he lives and is doing wonderfully! I have been involved deeply with brain tumor suppport now for 11 years. I talk to families at least once a week. This book gives great insight into how the kids feel about their disease and the experience that goes with it. The most important part of this book is the section that the fathter's discuss their feelings. Dads have a very difficult time knowing how to help and "fix" it as they think they must! This chapter is priceless. Good Book, Good Information, Important learning here!

Only Erma Bombeck Could Make It Work

Erma Bombeck became renowned by highlighting the amusing aspects of the terrene. She did not usually make what are typically called "jokes"-just offbeat observations. Her columns more often initiated a satisfying smile than a hearty belly laugh. But even on the occasions that she was painfully funny she showed respect for her subjects and her audience. It was the proud acknowledgement that she was one of us that allowed us to chuckle at family life, grocery shopping, housework, and all the other quotidian errands that compose the bulk of our lives. Regardless of the subject she found some aspect that was good for a "laugh with" not a "laugh at."How about the subject of children battling cancer? The thought of jocularly treating such a topic sounds comparable to the depraved entertainment regurgitated by the likes of Howard Stern. Surely, Erma Bombeck-the avatar of wholesomeness-would never approach such a subject. No, but it approached her. She was asked to write this book, and at first the thought of it repulsed her. Momentarily dropping her guard, she allowed herself to be talked in to attempting this work. We should all be thankful that she caved. The result is a reverent; inspiring read that has had a propitiatory impact on many, many children and adults battling cancer---not to mention legions of us who are blessed with good health.Treading with great veneration for her subject, she produced a book overflowing with warmth, encouragement, and-as unbelievable as it may seem-tasteful mirth. It stands a proud addition to her rich legacy.

Wonderful!

Having grown up in an era when "the 'C' word" meant a death sentence, I was taken aback when a friend of mine suggested this little-known work of Erma Bombeck's. Why would a humerous writer tackle such a depressing subject? Kids with cancer? The book was not depressing at all. Sure I cried, but they were tears of joy. I laughed at the antics of some of the kids. I praised the professionals who dedicate their time and money to these kids. Cancer is no longer necessarily a terminal disease. People beat it all the time. I was unaware of this until I read this book, and no one could do it like Erma. I highly recommend this book to anyone, but it is especially uplifting to someone who has a friend or family member with cancer.

This book is awesome and should be reprinted!!!

I loved this book. It was a great help to me when my mother was diagnosed with cancer. I've given it to friends when they had a family member diagnosed. It is wonderful and I'm sorry it is not currently available. Please bring it back!

A celebration of the spirit of children surviving cancer

I read this book for the first time while I was in the waiting room of the hospital where my younger brother was undergoing chemotherapy. Out of all the books that we were reading as a family on the terrible subject of cancer, not one of them touched us as deeply as this book. This book was filled with two key elements that any person who is battling a life threatening disease will need lots of -- hope and humor.Our whole family, including my terminally ill brother, read this book, and our spirits were lifted by it. We have since passed this book along to those who we feel are special enough to appreciate it. Thank you, Erma.