MANORLANDS is hosting the launch of a children’s book written with the help of a girl whose little brother died of cancer.

Yorkshire Dales author Penny Hartland collaborated with 11-year-old Emily Cammack who had endured the loss of brother Thomas when she was just six years old.

The pair together created the picture book Gentleman Sam, about the death of a beloved labrador, to help youngsters cope with loss.

The book will be launched on Saturday, April 22 at Manorlands, between 2pm and 4pm, by Penny, Emily and the book’s illustrator Rob Keep.

Also present will be Sam’s animal friends, including dogs Dexter and Dapper, Alpasta the alpaca, mini donkeys Murphy and Monty, pygmy goats and ouessant mini sheep.

There will be stories, an animal drawing, refreshments, and books for sale.

The animals are all from Hart Farm, in Hawkswick, which was set up by Penny and husband Roger to provide therapy for children by encouraging them to interact with the farm's animals.

Gentleman Sam was a black Labrador dog who spent the last five months of his life at Hart Farm, Penny decided to write the dog’s story after realising how many child visitors were affected by his death.

She has written four previous books based on animals at the farm, including one about Murphy the donkey who visited Martin House children’s hospice.

Thomas Hudson, who met Murphy, was a friend of Emily’s brother Thomas Cammack when the two were at Martin House, and they died within weeks of each other.

A few years later, Penny got talking to Selby girl Emily when the Cammacks and Hudsons visited Hart Farm together to see Murphy again. Penny discovered that Emily wanted to be an author one day.

Penny said: “Emily wanted to help other children cope with the difficulty of losing a relative, friend or indeed a beloved pet.

“Emily’s remarkable insights, empathy and honesty have helped shape this book, which has indeed proved to be the most challenging to date. It will be dedicated to the memory of Thomas Cammack.

“Emily is a remarkable, compassionate and articulate young girl who has experienced first-hand the heart wrenching loss when her younger brother Thomas finally lost his battle with cancer.

“Emily has been an inspiration and critical friend and this book would not be what it is without her considerable contributions and insights.”

Jayne Clarkson, children’s counselling coordinator at Manorlands, said she would use the book to help clients along their “individual journeys of grief”.