I love you so much that…
Written by Kathy J. Picard
Author of Life with My Idiot Family – Found here
An enchanting story written with warmth and purpose about what love is and does to keep children safe. With soft, simple illustrations and meaningful text, this beautiful story focuses on keeping children aware of what caring adults expect, teach, and share. It should be read, shared, and talked about often. This will certainly help young minds to understand what is and isn’t love.
You can contact her by email at kathychildadvocate@gmail.com and read more at her website, KathyPicard.com. Also, visit the informational website for the book at iloveyousomuch.org.
New Expanded Second Edition! Paperback – Large Print, October 14, 2022
This new edition has an entire section dedicated to interactive activity for listeners and readers to engage and repetition to drive home the message of love and safety. There are pages to color, draw, and many great questions to urge children to continue to think about the story. It also contains more background about the author and her work in child advocacy, including national and state organizations she had been involved with and that offer her books as educational resources.
Since 2003, Kathy Picard has worked tirelessly to raise public awareness about the prevalence and realities of childhood sexual abuse. Using her own life’s experience as a platform, she speaks to public, private, and political audiences as part of her mission to expose childhood sexual abuse for the “dirty little secret” it continues to be and to educate and inform all of us about how we can become a part of the solution. For her consistent and concerted efforts in raising awareness, and for being an active and vocal advocate in the successful reform of the Massachusetts Statute of Limitations laws regarding sex crimes against children, she was awarded the Unsung Heroine Award, the William Pynchon Award, and the Zonta International’s Founder’s Day Award.
If Roses Were Blue is an adventure story gently based on the issue of child sexual abuse. Chris, a college student, believes a friend of her young sister is keeping a terrible secret – one that Chris also kept at that age. With tenderness and insight she tells her story, going back several years to a decision that marked the beginning of a series of rescues, including her own! A lady of light, a boy named Gus, and a stolen dog add to this delightful tale of courage, trust, and friendship.
This book is not about identification or prevention. Instead, If Roses Were Blue speaks to the victim, bringing a magical and comforting approach to a sensitive issue while reminding survivors they are not alone, there is help, and that they are truly lovable and worthwhile. As a survivor and former child advocate, I know the need continues to reach children with positive and encouraging messages on this topic.
For more on this book, go here: https://www.debbiejenae.com/ifroseswereblue and more behind the book, go here: https://www.debbiejenae.com/more-about-if-roses-were-blue.
Debbie Jenae is an award-winning author, master handwriting analyst, speaker, and the founder of Inspired 101 – a resource for positive action, advocacy, and healing. She has a passion for encouraging and inspiring others about human behavior and potential. Also a child abuse survivor and child advocate, her goal is to change the dialog around child abuse, recovery, and prevention from fear-based to love embraced. She has written two books on that theme: “Be An Inspiration!” and “If Roses Were Blue.” Debbie is also a Master Certified Graphoanalyst and was honored with the Graphoanalyst of the Year Award for 2015. Through her columns “Write On!” and “Handwriting@Work,” she has published more than 300 articles to inspire others.
Learn more at DebbieJenae.com or Inspired101.com.
Take Care of Yourself
Written by Shohreh Afshar
When Helen, a kindergarten teacher, enters her class with a huge bag instead of her usual books, children right away realize that something different and important is going to take place. This story educates children to be aware of their feelings and trust them. The book also helps children know what to do when facing an uncomfortable situation.
Parents and educators may find it difficult to initiate a discussion about sensitive subjects such as private parts. This story, through engaging and provoking children’s curiosity, provides definitions and clarification on some of the related concepts, such as good touches and bad touches, good secrets and bad secrets, and how to tell the difference.
The story also educates children to be aware of their feelings and trust them. This is especially important as the analytical mind is not yet developed, and a child has to rely primarily on his or her feelings to assess a situation and act accordingly. The book also educates children what to do when facing an uncomfortable situation.
Shohreh currently lives in Greater Vancouver, BC, Canada. She has worked in a number of industries, including health care and education. While teaching, she closely observed how childhood abuse deprives a child from a happy and normal life. Equally disturbing is the shocking amount of adults whose entire lives were poisoned by debilitating memories of childhood abuse. This compelled her to draw on her experiences and studies to make a contribution to preventing all forms of child abuse. Prevention requires awareness, and awareness requires education. This book intends to provide some basic educational material. Click here to order the book.
Teaching children to trust their gut makes this book a must read for children and parents! This engaging book is an important teaching tool that can save a child by letting them know they matter and they have the power within themselves.
You can contact her at annemalver@gmail.com and can follow her on Instagram: @anne.malver
Educator and author Anne Malver has worked tirelessly to help victims of abuse. Holding multiple degrees in education and psychology, and graduate certificates in special education and school counseling, Anne serves her community as a school counselor in rural Western Washington. As a survivor of childhood sexual abuse, Anne has a unique perspective, which she brings to her work both as a clinician and as an author. Her book, “My Yucky Feeling,” addresses the fact that we have an internal alarm system when danger is near. This can be described as My Yucky Feeling and can help keep us safe when in harm’s way. This book may be used as an additional teaching tool as part of an ongoing family dialogue about child abuse prevention education. Click here to order the book.
Cate’s Magic Garden
Written by Betsy Coffeen
A heartwarming and lavishly illustrated picture book to remind young readers that even in the darkest of times, “words change worlds.”
You can contact her at coffeen2@cox.net
When Cate the caterpillar discovers a dried-up garden and the grumpy critters who call it home, it’s up to her to show Davey Dung Beetle, Pete Potato Bug, and Walter Worm how to make it bloom. Can Cate teach them to use the magic of friendship and the power of positive thinking to bring their garden back to life?
Betsy Coffeen is a mom, a Childhelp Wings Advisor, and a freelance writer, trying to make the world a better place one word at a time. She lives in Paradise Valley, Arizona with her husband Clay and three children. She enjoys running, yoga, traveling with her family, and devoting her time to serving the children of Childhelp. She especially wants to thank her husband, Minnesota family, cherished cousin Stephanie, and dear friend Jamie Relei Ferguson. Click here to order her book.
Some Parts are NOT for Sharing
Written by Julie Federico
Author of Anger is OKAY Violence is NOT – Found here
Travel with a pair of friendly fish as they learn about what parts of our bodies we share with others. Children learn what the boundaries of appropriate touching are in a very non-threatening way. Children enjoy learning about their bodies as they get some important information from a pair of fish. Parents will marvel at the simple straightforward language and use of sea creatures that create this message all children must hear.
You can contact her at juliefederico@gmail.com.
Julie Federico, M.A., is a former a middle school counselor. Violence in schools is a topic Ms. Federico understands. She was employed with Jefferson County Public School District during the 1999 Columbine High School shootings and was a first responder. Ms. Federico is an award-winning author of children’s books on personal safety and anger control. Click here to order the book. This book is also available in Spanish – found here.