Mrs T's Kooky Pants by Jennifer Reid

Dedicated to Helen

On Jayda’s first day back at school she felt quite nervous.

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She waved goodbye to her Mum and took a flower from Mrs Tillybloom (or Mrs T for short).

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Mrs T told the children they would all have turns feeding the classroom pet. “Be sure to talk to Gloria every day so she doesn't get lonely,” said Mrs T.

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Jayda chit-chatted about her shiny new shoes as Gloria blew bubbles and gobbled with delight.

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During Maths the children built block towers. Jayda's tower toppled over before she could measure it and her eyes filled with tears.

But as soon as Mrs T tooted her flute, Jayda forgot all about it and happily wiggled and giggled around the room.

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At playtime Jayda and Ben argued during soccer.

Neither of them wanted to be goalkeeper.

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“I'll do it”, said Mrs T. She made diving on the ball look so great that everyone wanted a turn.

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Story time was next and Mrs T told the class all about her mischievous cat Charlie, who almost drowned chasing a helpless butterfly.

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“Charlie ended up liking the water so much he took up swimming training and entered into the Pet Olympics,” laughed Mrs T.

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“But Charlie's not the only one who can have fun.

With the help of my magical kooky pants, we're going to have adventures of our own without even leaving the classroom,” said Mrs T.

First they sock-skated round and round an ice rink in New York's famous Central Park.

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“Now let's fly to the top of the Eiffel Tower in gay Paree, Oui?” said Mrs T, as she drew a French moustache above her top lip.

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Later when Mrs T tried to rub off the moustache, she realised she had accidentally used permanent marker.

Everyone roared with laughter, even Mrs T.

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Before long Mrs T was a hermit crab and everyone was catching waves on Sydney's Bondi Beach.

With no luck finding buried treasure using the map Mrs T found in a bottle, they headed back to the classroom just in time for the bell. The first weeks of school were so much fun.

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But one Monday Mrs T was not as bright as usual. She wore a scarf on her head instead of flowers and rather than being kooky, her pants were drab and dreary.

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When Jayda and Ben argued during soccer, Mrs T gave them time-out and got unusually cross when the classroom got too noisy. “What' s wrong with Mrs Cranky Pants?” whispered Ben.

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At bedtime Jayda told her Mum about the change and wondered how they could get the old Mrs T back.

Mum explained that Mrs T was sick and had cancer.

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Jayda was sad. She knew cancer was the nasty disease that took Grandpa away. She was afraid it would take Mrs T away too.

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The next morning there was a new teacher in the classroom. His name was Mr Mopsy. He was very nice but he didn't dance or wear kooky pants. Mr Mopsy told the children Mrs T would not be coming back.

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Jayda' s heart pitter-pattered and her tummy did a roly-poly.

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Mr Mopsy told the class it was okay to feel sad. “Mrs T was my friend too and I'm really going to miss her, just like all of you,” he said.

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Mr Mopsy suggested the children draw pictures to hang around the classroom as a reminder of happy times with Mrs T. Ben drew Charlie the cheeky cat and Jayda drew a lovely Mrs T as a flute-tooting princess.

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Although Mr Mopsy made school fun, the classroom was different without Mrs T. The children would never forget Mrs T, all of their amazing adventures together ... and of course, her magical kooky pants.

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About the author & illustrator Jennifer Reid is a Sydney-based designer and illustrator. She is also a mum, teacher and cancer survivor.

Between client work and personal projects you' ll usually find Jennifer exploring the vibrant streets of Sydney or enjoying the simple pleasures of life with her family and friends.

Jennifer dreams of a world free of cancer ... but knows that many families suffer the trauma that comes with a cancer diagnosis. This is why she wrote this book - to help carers open the difficult conversations with children, that may assist in supporting mental wellbeing when dealimg with cancer.

Visit Jennifer' s website at www.jenniferreid.com.au

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Mrs T's Kooky Pants is a story about Mrs T, a popular teacher who makes learning fun. When Jayda and her friends discover Mrs T has cancer, they begin to understand why she's not as bright and cheery anymore. With the help of their new teacher the children learn to communicate their sadness around losing Mrs T and find strategies to help them smile again.

Mrs T' s Kooky Pants is an engaging and vibrant story suitable for younger readers that tells a valuable lesson in an interesting and entertaining format. With the difficult theme of cancer, it is a story that will connect with children and allow them to understand some of the more unpleasant aspects of life in a supportive way.

- eTV Publishing

For many years Jennifer has helped people from all walks of life understand more about breast cancer by sharing her own personal story as a National Breast Cancer Foundation speaker. Jennifer has now drawn on her own experience to help explain cancer to children through Mrs T' s Kooky Pants. Mrs T' s Kooky Pants is a beautiful tool to fulfil an unmet need - for teachers and parents with young children, how to communicate the reality of cancer in an age-appropriate way.

- Carol Renouf, CEO National Breast Cancer Foundation 2014

Cancer comes with a myriad of challenges. But perhaps one of the greatest is communicating this to our loved ones, especially children. Research tells us that communicating to children about what is happening with family members can really help to reduce their anxiety. Jennifer has used her own experience with breast cancer to help young children better understand cancer.

- Dr Alison Butt, Head of Research, National Breast Cancer Foundation 2015

Jennifer Reid's personal experience of cancer has been channelled into a sweet, gentle tale to help children discuss and understand the sadness of dealing with this illness.

- Amanda Hampson, Author of The Olive Sisters