"Daniel and His Starry Night Blanket: A Story of Illness and Sibling Love" was recently selected by the national "Best Book Awards" program as a 2016 Finalist in the Children's Picture Book: Soft Cover Fiction Category. Written and illustrated by South Bristol resident Sally Loughridge, this book tells the story of a young child whose older sister gets cancer and from his perspective, far too much of their family's attention.

Since its publication one year ago, the book has garnered a number of other awards, including:  2016 Literary Classics International Book Awards Gold Medal (Picture Book/Preschool Category); 2016  Literary Classics International Seal of Approval; 2016 Next Generation Indie Book Awards Finalist (Children's Picture Books 0 to 5 Category); 2016 Next Generation Indie Book Awards Finalist (Children's Picture Books 6 and Up Category); 2015 Gelett Burgess Book Awards Gold Medal (Lifestyle Emotions and Feelings Category); 2015 New England Book Festival Honorable Mention (Children's Books Category).

The book reflects Sally's extensive experience as a clinical child psychologist (now retired), her current focus as a visual artist, and her own encounter with cancer.  That health challenge later led to the publication of her visual treatment  diary as "Rad Art: A Journey Through Radiation Treatment" (American Cancer Society, Atlanta, GA, 2012).

"Daniel and His Starry Night Blanket" is an informative, engaging, and reassuring resource for families, pediatric oncology clinics, hospital gift stores, and public, hospital, and school libraries. For more information, visit the Books page of www.sallyloughridge.com or www.amazon.com.