This Introduction is more complete than in the book How Can You ‘Love Yourself?’ and How Can You ‘Help One Another?’
In the 76 years I have been alive, as a Grandparent; Parent; Teacher; College Adjunct Professor; Museum Educator; Children’s Librarian; Parenting Facilitator; Camp Administrator; Youth Advisor; and Human Being, things have both changed and stayed the same. Thirty-four years ago a much younger Julienne (the author) started writing a children’s book about two teens who were questioning the world and themselves and how to change it positively for both themselves and others. Then I was not as experienced with life as I am now. But the same issues bothered me then and now. And now I felt I needed to write these books for children and their adults to help them find a way to be kind, compassionate, hear what another person is saying, while trying eliminate how children (and their adults) reacted to things in their life in such negative ways via violence, sarcasm, bullying, etc. and giving them alternatives to use. Thus my inner angst about our world pushed me to create these books now.
“These children’s books are called non-fiction picture books. They features fictional characters and a story frame that wraps around the non-fiction content. The characters interact with the lesson and there is dialogue. But the balance of information is mostly nonfiction in nature. They are short books written for younger readers about educational topics. They can range from picture book biographies to nonfiction picture books on certain animals, or topics to do with math, science, or history.”
https://www.marykole.com/nonfiction-books-for-kids.
These books deal with your children’s emotional development, not the academics. “What is emotional development in children? Emotional development involves learning what feelings and emotions are, understanding how and why they occur, recognizing your own feelings and those of others, and developing effective ways for managing those feelings.” How you react to your experiences and feelings can change over time.
https://beyou.edu.au/fact-sheets/social-and-emotional-learning/emotional-development
Emotional Wellness Toolkit | National Institutes of Health (NIH) National Institutes of Health https://www.nih.gov/health-information/emotional-wellness-toolkit https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/emotional-wellbeingthroughoutlife
The title of my book series is “The Emotional Well-Being Series.” “Emotional Well-Being is the ability to produce positive emotions, moods, thoughts, and feelings, and adapt when confronted with change, difficult times and adversity in stressful situations and the ability to successfully handle life’s stresses.” https://beyou.edu.au/fact-sheets/social-and-emotional-learning/emotional-development
I realize that much of the information for children and adults found in these books can be found in many different places. But I wanted to tie it together for children.
Please note the accompanying charts in the children’s books that explain to the reader about the children’s conditions. There are more explanations in this website under For the Authors.
There are some Personal interjections put into the books. I have used some of my personal experiences as a basis for many of the characters and their circumstances. For example: Why I am using Ruth and Evan as the names of the main characters? I always enjoyed the Bible “Story of Ruth.” There was a time that I actually wanted to change my name to Ruth. Evan was the name I would have used if I had given birth to a boy. Ruth has curly long red hair as does my daughter, Aunt Elissa. Mrs. Hope wears long skirts, bohemian tops, scarves, hats, (clothes I personally like) and long necklaces and bracelets. She also has short grey hair as I do. I too was a former school teacher, museum educator, and children’s librarian. For the ‘Loving Yourself” book I used as the location a library as I had worked in several. I have a close cousin who for many years had trained service dog puppies. (Jo-Ann) One of my favorite field trips as a teacher when I was teaching was to go to a Guide Dog training facility. It was so interesting. Many of my favorite things have wound up in these books, like sunflowers on Mrs. Hope’s bathrobe. The names of some of the characters are actually people I know and most gave me permission to use their first names in my books. For example: Family: Stu (husband) Elissa (daughter), my parents who have passed away Esther and Len (red hair), Bill (older brother), Marlene and Marsha (my younger twin sisters), Emma, Ethel (Grandmothers), Joseph (Grandfather), Paterson (babysitter); Buzzy (pet dog as a child), and Peaches (my cat now). I also have used library friends’ names: Jo, Vicki, Julia, Anne, Becca; Friends: Laura, Roz, Mae, Nancy; Children from when I was a child: Dolores, (In kindergarten she who wore a large white shoe as one leg was shorter than the other) Geraldine; and Children I taught: Eileen. (little person) A cousin had a cousin who had Down syndrome whom we would see on holidays. A few items I had used or shared in my classrooms and library classes like the Talking Circle and Talking Stick are also referred to.
I am writing what I too am learning and hopefully walking my talk. “We teach best what you most need to learn.” By Richard Bach.
I need to state that I am not an expert but I have experienced life for many years.
Disclaimer: I am not a therapist. I cannot be held responsible for the actions of others as a result of my suggestions, ideas, skills/techniques, etc.
I cannot attest that all of these ideas presented here are original to me.