Molly wished for a dog. But her mom; busy, tired, and not a âdog person,â always said no. Then came the cancer. As Mollyâs mom begins her treatment and healing journey, Molly learns just how brave she can be. And when a scruffy shelter pup named Potato comes into their lives, everything begins to change.
Told in two voicesâMolly & Potato: A (Human) Love Story and Potato & Molly: A (Canine) Love Tailâthis heartfelt children's book explores how love, loss, and rescue go both ways. Both Molly and Potato wrestle with confusing feelings: guilt over finding joy after hardship, and the realization that sadness and happiness can exist together.
Co-written by pediatrician and cancer survivor Dr. Kelly Curtin and her daughter Molly Hallinan, these mirrored stories gently show young readers that healing doesnât mean pretending, and that itâs okay to be happy, sad, and everything in between. Through their love and support for each other, Molly and Potato learn that a sad past doesnât stop them from finding happiness in the present.
Molly wished for a dog. But her mom; busy, tired, and not a âdog person,â always said no. Then came the cancer. As Mollyâs mom begins her treatment and healing journey, Molly learns just how brave she can be. And when a scruffy shelter pup named Potato comes into their lives, everything begins to change.
Told in two voicesâMolly & Potato: A (Human) Love Story and Potato & Molly: A (Canine) Love Tailâthis heartfelt children's book explores how love, loss, and rescue go both ways. Both Molly and Potato wrestle with confusing feelings: guilt over finding joy after hardship, and the realization that sadness and happiness can exist together.
Co-written by pediatrician and cancer survivor Dr. Kelly Curtin and her daughter Molly Hallinan, these mirrored stories gently show young readers that healing doesnât mean pretending, and that itâs okay to be happy, sad, and everything in between. Through their love and support for each other, Molly and Potato learn that a sad past doesnât stop them from finding happiness in the present.
Molly and Potato is a touching story, narrated first through the eyes of a little girl in A (Human) Love Story and then from the perspective of a sweet shelter dog in A (Canine) Love Tail. These moving tales are inspired by a real family and their real rescue pup during a time when the little girl was overwhelmed with feelings centering around her mother's cancer diagnosis and the pup who longed for a home/family.
Cancer is a disease that strikes fear in the hearts of those with the diagnosis and also their family members. It can be difficult for people, especially children, to understand how cancer will affect their loved ones. If they've already lost someone to cancer, another loved one getting the diagnosis can make them wonder if this person will meet the same fate. Molly's story falls into the latter category. The darling little girl lost her aunt to cancer and now fears that cancer will take her mom away too. Molly's sadness, anger, and fears over the unfortunate situation are valid, and her family did offer reassuring words. However, Molly's mother realized that her worried daughter needed more help coping with the terrible situation, so they visited the animal shelter, where Molly met her adopted friend, Potato.
Like Molly, Potato is also navigating a world of big emotions. He grapples with the question of why no one wants to adopt him because of his broken teeth. Despite the kind words from the vet and shelter volunteers, Potato doesn't feel beautiful. He feels a mix of sadness and anger until one day, a family walks into the shelter. Then, his doggie dreams come true. Molly and Potato share hugs when one of them is sad. They lend an ear when the other needs to talk. They also both question the reason why they entered into each other's lives, stirring up more conflicting feelings. (Read the story for more information.)
Was it fate that brought Molly and Potato together? Perhaps. Whether you believe in fate or not, what all readers will agree on is that these two changed each other's lives for the better. I recommend sharing this touching story with any child dealing with intense feelings surrounding a medical diagnosis, considering adopting an animal, or who needs a reason to smile. While the story touched my heart, the illustrations fell short. There were inconsistencies in the coloring of the pooch's face, and certain scenes and images have an AI-generated feel to them. That said, Potato's crying image made me say, "Aww," and the framed photo of Molly dressed as a princess holding Potato, who was wearing a tuxedo, was adorable. Love the bowtie!
Whether your child is wrestling with big feelings regarding an illness in the family, considering adopting a pet, or simply in need of a heartwarming story about kindness and healing, I recommend reading Molly & Potato. My suggested target audience is 3-8-year-olds.