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Teach Resilience and Practical Strategies to Cope with Trauma by Jessica Sinarski, illustrated by Joanne Lew-Vriethoff All around us, children are carrying backpacks that are heavy with more than just textbooks. Each day, they also bear the weight of difficult life experiences and intense feelings. Zoey Harmon just wants to feel light-hearted and carefree. Unfortunately, she keeps getting weighed down by pesky "books" in her backpack, like Worry and Shame. Much to her surprise, she's not the only one! Zoey learns that the adults in her life deal with difficult feelings too! Luckily, they have some ideas that can help her set aside the books she's not meant to carry. Will it be enough to help her unload the heaviest book of all? "You look a little worried, kiddo," Zoey's mom said, giving her a squeeze. "Sometimes I need a bright thought to help me when I'm feeling upset. Here, try this." She slid a bookmark into Zoey's hand. Zoey looked down and read: Imagine with Hope. "What's this?" asked Zoey. "When we don't know what to expect, worry wants us to imagine with fear, to think about all the worst possibilities. This is a little reminder I use to think of the good things that might happen when I imagine with hope instead." While there are no quick fixes for all of life's complex problems, What's Inside Your Backpack? highlights some of the ways we can nurture resilience in body and mind. Using the metaphor of books and bookmarks, author Jessica Sinarski offers gentle, effective strategies to help children impacted by trauma. By sharing their burdens with people they trust, kids can lighten their load and realize just how strong and courageous they really are! -
Help Kids Build Self-Confidence and Resilience by Jessica Sinarski, illustrated by Simone Douglas Destiny Davis carries more than just schoolbooks in her backpack. Her constant companion, Anxiety, makes everyday tasks feel impossibly hard. But when a big class project sends Destiny into a full-blown spiral, her dad steps in with a surprising solution - and a reminder that even the toughest challenges can be faced head on. This heartwarming story will help kids:- Understand the brain science behind anxiety
- Experiment with helpful coping strategies
- Build self-confidence and resilience
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Teach Kids to Figure Out Why They are Mad by Jessica Sinarski, illustrated by Macky Pamintuan What can you do when your feelings get the best of you? The students at Sunnyvale Elementary carry a lot in their backpacks - including some things you can't see quite so well, like big feelings and confusing emotions. Today, one fiery red book keeps spilling out and exploding onto everyone: ANGER! It's time for the kids to use their best detective skills to figure out what's underneath those angry feelings. Ana feels HURT when her friends don't play fair. Ben feels EMBARRASSED when he makes a mistake. Grace feels DIFFERENT when nobody chooses her for their team. When our feelings get the best of us, we need to do our best with our feelings. Become a backpack detective like Ana, Ben, and Grace! "Stop when I'm furious. Pause and be curious. What is underneath the mad? Am I lonely, stressed, or sad?" -
by Jessica Sinarski This isn't your average ABC book! It's not just for learning letters. B Is for Brain teaches kids how to name emotions, handle hard moments, and get ready for all that school has to offer. From Light Up the Learning Brain author, Jessica Sinarski, comes a playful alphabet adventure that helps children build the emotional smarts they need to thrive in the classroom and beyond. Familiar friends from Riley the Brave are back in this joyful read-aloud that nurtures confidence, curiosity, and even that oh-so-difficult skill of self-control. Ideal for ages 3-5 and the adults helping them grow.
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Help Manage Behavior by Understanding How the Brain Works by Jessica Sinarski, illustrated by Luiz Fernando Da Silva Faster than a speeding car! Stronger than a supercomputer! Are you ready to harness the power of your amazing brain? Get the inside scoop on why we do what we do! In this book, you'll discover:- engaging visuals explaining brain cell and nervous system basics
- the surprising role of our eight senses - yes, there are more than five!
- differences between the two brain "teams" and the ways they impact behavior
- proven strategies for helping our rational "upstairs brain" run the show
- simple brain-boosting ideas for all ages
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by Jessica Sinarski, illustrated by Zachary Kline Riley the Brave is the story of a little bear with big feelings! Join this super-cool, cape-wearing cub as he embarks on a journey to face his fears. Riley is joined by all of his animal friends who care for him as he faces his difficult feelings. Along the way, Riley learns how sometimes, being tough or loud isn't the bravest thing to be - sometimes it's asking for help, or being brave enough to let someone into your heart. Written for any child who is looking to unlock their inner courage, and particularly those healing from difficult life experiences or trauma, this book creates a safe space for conversations about complex thoughts and feelings. It also features an educational afterword for grown-ups which explains how the book helps children, and how to get the most out of it.
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by Jessica Sinarski, illustrated by Zachary Kline
Roaring, grumping, knots in tummies...Making sense of big feelings can be tricky. Riley the Brave and his safe big critters are here to help! Enjoy 60+ fun activities and trauma-sensitive strategies to help children understand the brain science behind those big MAD, SAD, and SCARED emotions...and what to do about it! Bright illustrations and familiar characters encourage children as they dig into their prickly porcupine moments, timid turtle moments, and all the feelings in between. An introduction for grown-ups will help you make the most of this treasure trove of games, printable masks, colorful cards, word searches, action plans, and more! Work one-on-one or easily adapt these strength-based activities for group settings. Lesson plans and frequent "Try This!" sections make this the ultimate resource for parents, teachers, counselors, and anyone else supporting children with big feelings. -
by Jessica Sinarski, illustrated by Zachary Kline Riley the Brave is a little bear with big feelings. He really wants to have fun at the fair, but sometimes he struggles just making it to school, especially on the STINKY, BUMPY, NOISY bus! It is hard for Riley to focus and have fun when he is feeling so many confusing sensations! He has porcupine moments and grumps at his friends, or turtle moments when he just wants to be alone. He even had a tiger moment, roaring at his teacher. With all these big feelings, how can he ever go to the fair? Riley the Brave's Sensational Senses teaches children about their senses through a playful story with real-life strategies for emotion regulation. It also features an educational afterword for grown-ups that explains our eight senses and includes tips for getting the most out of the book.
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by Jessica Sinarski, illustrated by Zachary Kline "I'm NOT going to school today!" Riley the Brave is a little bear with big feelings. Some days he wakes up feeling cheerful and ready to brave the day. He has energy to get dressed, eat breakfast and have some fun! But some days he wakes up feeling like a grumpy porcupine. His brow is scrunched and he thinks that it is going to be a terrible day. Today, Riley is having one of those days! What can be done to help him? All children struggle to make it to school some days, and this can be even tougher for children who have had difficult life experiences and extra challenges at school. This book creates a safe space for conversations about big thoughts and feelings, and offers positive tips for families to try. It also features an educational afterword for grown-ups which explains how the book helps children, and how to get the most out of it.
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A young boy learns to validate and accept his feelings as he comes to understand the different parts of himself. by Richard Schwartz, Ph.D. and Bethany Hegedus; illustrated by Kate Fedos As a boy goes through his day, he encounters all sorts of people and experiences. He reacts differently depending on the situation. Whether it’s The Manager who takes charge and organizes, The Exile who makes himself small and disappears, or The Firefighter who employs a lot of noise and distractions, each of these “parts” is useful in helping him cope. Based on the popular teachings of the Internal Family Systems (IFS) model of therapy developed by Dr. Richard Schwartz, this book is not only a great introduction to our feelings and behaviors but a way for all kids to talk about what they are experiencing. Children will learn to accept all parts of themselves and understand that within us there are no bad parts! -
by Sue Badeau, illustrated by Chelsea Badeau
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by Laura Duksta, illustrated by Karen Keesler "Both the parent and child perspective is represented in this touching book; declarations of love flips from one point of view to the other halfway through the book giving it an interactive element, too." - Seira Wilson, Amazon Editor Experience the bestseller that has sparked the conversation of love around the world! I love you mightier than the mightiest wind ever blew. I love you fuller than the fullest moon you ever knew. I love you brighter than the brightest star ever shown. I love you more, so much more than you've ever known. This cleverly conceived flip story, which ends in the middle and starts from either side, will show you what love looks like from both a child and a parent's perspective. With a simple, touching story, rhyme and rhythm, and vibrant childlike illustrations, this book is a timeless gift you will share again and again.
