The word cancer is not mentioned in this story, but the illness is something very serious indeed, and ‘cancer’ seems to be the most likely cause. The story is about a happy, mixed race family, parents and two daughters, and the two little girls are the best of friends. The family often go to the woods and while there one day, the children decide to build a shelter. They sing as they work: ‘It’s the perfect, perfect shelter.’ But then something unusual happens. The older girl seems ill – just a bit tired their parents say. That night there is a storm, and the shelter is damaged. The girls rebuild it, but things are still not right. The younger girl, who tells the story, must be told that her sister is ill, and when the shelter is again damaged, it is mum and the younger one who do the repairs, while older sister is in hospital having an operation. The little one is very worried and cross and frightened and has lots of questions, not all of which can be answered, such as ‘Why MY sister.’ The shelter is destroyed in another storm, but the little girl doesn’t care; she just wants her sister to be better. When she is stronger, but still in hospital, the two girls decide to build another shelter right there, and with the help of a friendly nurse they do just that. They sing as they work and notice that they have begun to smile again. They decide they will return to the woods ‘to ride out the toughest storms’, but until then, they have had ‘the perfect day to build a shelter and be together.’ The text is lyrical and lovely, and the illustrations are full of light and colour, even when times are at their worst. The idea of the destruction of the shelter and the possible destruction of a happy family is a combination that works, and the picture on the last page of the family together in the woods again is evocative of things to come – not a promise that all will be well, but a hope for the immediate future. A delicate and enchanting book in spite of the subject matter.