Healing Days: A Guide for Kids Who Have Experienced Trauma
Susan Farber Straus, Ph.D., Author
Maria Bogade, Illustrator
Magination Press., Fiction, May 18, 2013
Suitable for Ages: 5 -11
Themes: Children facing trauma and tragedy, PTSD, Anxiety, Fear, Anger, Healing
Opening: “Something bad happened to me. I did not want anyone to know. I was scared. I was sad. I was angry. I was embarrassed. I was hurt and confused. I tried to forget. I tried to sleep and not wake up.”
Synopsis: A child has had something scary happen. We follow the child through feelings of hurt, confusion, anger and fear that the bad thing might happen again. The child has bad dreams and is afraid of the dark. At school there are run-ins with the teachers. Friends notice the child isn’t fun to play with. The child is lonely. Finally an aunt notices differences and takes the child to talk with a therapist who helps the child share the secret. Only then can intervention and healing begin for the child.
Why I like this book: I am thrilled to find Susan Farber Straus’ very sensitive and comforting book due to its relevance in our world today. Although the story is told from the viewpoint of one child, each page features pictures of a diverse group of children of all ages acting out the narrative. This book is a fabulous tool for parents, guidance counselors and therapists to read with a child when they may suspect a trauma. And that trauma could range from abuse, an accident, school and home violence, bullying, the sudden death of a parent or sibling to natural disasters like tornadoes, hurricanes and floods that are prevalent today in the world. The book also helps children know they aren’t alone and that they can find ways to heal. Maria Bogade’s illustrations are warm, and comforting, and beautifully show the emotion of the children.
Resources: The book alone is a resource as the author is a clinical psychologist. The American Psychological Association also has a list of helpful resources available online. Also be sure to read the Note to Readers at the beginning of the book and check out the jacket flaps on the front and back pages.
Note: I will be attending the Northern Ohio SCBWI conference this weekend, so I won’t be able to respond to your comments or posts until I return.
Every Friday, authors and KidLit bloggers post a favorite picture book. To see a complete listing of all the Perfect Picture Books with resources, please visit author Susanna Leonard Hill’s Perfect Picture Books.
Children's Books Heal 
Enjoy your SCBWI conference, Pat! I am passing the name of this book along.
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Thanks Wendy, I did. This is an excellent book for parents to have on hand.
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Enjoy the conference. How many pages is this, Pat? Is it a typical picture book format? Is it the sort of story one would use one-to-one with a child or is it suitable for a whole class?
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Joanna, this is a 32-page picture book and follows the PB format. It is narrated by a child, but featurs four children throughout in the illustrations. They all have a part to play. It is very well done. Magination Press publishes for the American Psychological Association. For example, the child says “My therapist listened carefully about the thing that happened to me.” But it is still the child telling what he/she’s learned. It’s gentle and not preachy. Lots of showing in the illustrations. I would use it one-on-one with a child depending upon the circumstance. But, if it involves something that impacts a lot of children (i.e. disaster, tragedy)it could be used in a classroom with a teacher/counselor.
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Have a fabulous time at the conference!
There was a sad story in our area about a child who died after a hit and run accident on his bicycle. His school was making a grief counselor available to his classmates. I wondered how many would take the time out of a busy school day to talk with the counselor? This book would be a good tool to help bridge the gap for kids who might hesitate to ask for help without a 1:1 facilitator.
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This book would be an ideal book to bridge the gap. It is very child centered, warm and friendly. The situation you described is a perfect example how a book like this could help.
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This book sounds so important for kids to read! and know about. ESPECIALLY the teachers and guidance counselors. I WANT to read this book! Thanks so much for making this choice for PPBF.
Have Great Fun! 🙂
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Thanks Clar. With the Sandy Hook incident, the schools destroyed by tornadoes, child abductions and so on, this book is very timely. It could be used in many different ways by a parent or teacher/couselor.
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Yes, it is very timely and valuable indeed. Glad to get it out to the people who will spread the word. Thanks for making this choice for PPBF. 🙂
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This looks like an excellent resource to use for kids who have experienced a trauma. Might it also be used with groups of kids, to show them what to do if they do experience something like this, or might it just upset them?
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No, I don’t think this book would upset children — it’s very warm and friendly. The child is talking (really four with different issues). It would be good to use with a child to let them know that they can come to you if something upsets them and that you will be there to listen.
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I hope you had a wonderful time at your conference. Thanks so much for sharing this book. It sounds like one that every school counselor should have in their collection.
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Thank you Penny, I did have fun. This book would be a welcomed addition for any school counselor’s collection. It’s a gentle book.
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Hope you’re enjoying yourself at the conference, Patricia. A much needed book – thanks for introducing it!
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Glad you liked the selection. The timing was right to share it. Yes, I did have a nice time at the conference.
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So sad to realize that there are many children who have experienced trauma, but good to know there are a growing number of resources to help. Thanks for your post!
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You are welcome Jarm. As hard as some topics may be, I hope to show books that may help parents and teachers work through difficult times.
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Much needed book for the world we live in.
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Yes, I agree Cupcake. Looking back over the past year, there have been some big challenges for kids. Nice book for parents and counselors to have on hand.
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That’s wonderful, Pat. It seems to be like a lot of these problems could be avoided with a bit more pro-active behavior and vigilance. Everyone seems so good at reacting but it’s not enough.
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Probably so, but when you’re dealing with a tornardo that destroys a school and children lose lives, nature is a culprit. There are so many issues that children face today, that we didn’t. I’m glad that book like this is available to parents and counselors.
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Yes of course. Nature has become quite fierce recently.
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Wow. This is an amazing and challenging concept for a picture book. I look forward to seeing it in person. Have fun at the conference!
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Thanks, I did! I hope you check the book out. It is a challenging concept to address, but it is very well done.
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What a very important and much needed book. Great choice for PPBF. Hope you are enjoying the conference, Pat!
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Thank you Diane. It is an excellent book!
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What a good choice. I don’t think I’ve seen PBs that deal with this subject. I think this book would be very helpful to some people, sadly.
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Yes I agree, Erik! But, if you look at last year alone, there were a lot of children facing challenges — and this book covers a wide spectrum of problems.
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This looks like a fabulous book, Pat. I’m so glad to be adding it to our list! Have a great time at the conference! 🙂
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Glad you liked the selection. When I saw it, I knew I needed to review it for PPBF. Great resource for kids, parents and teachers.
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Looks like MY kind of book. I am going to order it directly. Thanks for the lead!
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Thought you might like this one Barbara. This just was released. There is another book coming out for the kids of Sandy Hook, but they are giving some time and space before the release. Can’t remember the author or publisher. You might keep a look out for it.
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Looks absolutely brilliant. How important and relevant.
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Yes, I felt it was a very relevant book to review right now. It was recently released.
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Another important book for parents and educators to share with children. They need books that are not so clinical but that the children can relate to. Thanks, I will be keeping this book in mind.
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Oops, thought I responded to your comment. I’m glad you see the book as an important one for parents and educators. I was very impressed with the book. Thank you for sharing on Twitter.
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I hope you had a fun time at your conference! This book looks great. I often encounter kids who might benefit from this. Thanks for sharing.
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Rhythm, good book for you and your mom to know about. May be useful to you some day.
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Yes, I’m thinking it might! Thanks!
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This looks like a good book for anyone. Kids and parents. Love books like this.
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Thank you for stopping by. This is a very moving and soothing book for children. I imagine it might help older kids to talk. And, there are parents out there with secrets too. It is an excellent book!
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