As a school counsellor in Kitimat, Kathleen Cherry first wrote a children's picture book, Blowing Bubbles (Mississauga: Aaspirations 2012), for ages 4-9, illustrated by Quinn Babcock. It is meant primarily to entertain but it is also designed to help teachers, parents, counsellors and children when considering changes brought about by the illness of a loved one. The story explores how the relationship between a boy and his grandfather changes and strengthens after Grandpa George has a stroke. But it's also about bubble gum and go-karts and family and laughter.

Everyday Hero (Orca 2016) is Kathleen Cherry's portrait of a schoolgirl, Alice, who has Asperger's syndrome but her ailment is unknown to her new schoolmates. When Alice invariably gets herself sent to detention, she is intrigued by a fellow detainee, Megan, who resolves to run away. Alice resolves to help her.

Cherry has a degree in Creative Writing and history from the University of Victoria and a Masters in Education from UVic. While publishing her first book, she was enrolled in a doctoral program in counselling psychology through Walden University, a U.S. online university. Everday Hero was also published when she was living in Kitimat.

BOOKS:

Blowing Bubbles (Mississauga: Aaspirations 2012) 978-0-9879947-0-7 $15

Everyday Hero (Orca 2016) $9.95 9781459809826

[BCBW 2015]