All books by Special Stories Publishing have been reviewed and approved by healthcare professionals to ensure the stories are as true to the real experience for a child as they can be.
Our books are designed to allow the child to directly relate their experience with that of the main character. As the stories are told through the voice of the main character, a young boy or girl, we use as little adult terminology as possible so as not to overwhelm the child with facts.
Any teacher, parent or healthcare professional using these books will find that they are an ideal tool to introduce a child to a certain situation or illness. As the child will relate their own story to that of the main character it offers a unique opportunity to discuss any feelings of anxiety or fear that they may have.
These books would be a welcome addition to any school library to help explain a certain situation to a group or to an individual child.
Parents
The topics addressed by books from Special Stories Publishing are extremely difficult for children and for families to face and to overcome. By using these books we hope that as parents you may feel better equipped to instigate a discussion with your young child.
Through the child-centred use of language along with the colourful illustrations we hope that children will feel more compelled to discuss their feelings of anxiety and compare them with the main character of the book. For siblings or other family members the books can be used as a tool to normalize and explain a certain situation or illness in a sensitive way.
Teachers
Many teachers and classrooms are currently lacking the appropriate material to explain the situations that so many of their students face on a daily basis. These beautifully illustrated books are an extremely important addition to any school as a means of normalizing rather than ostracising these sensitive issues to children at a young age.They are a necessary tool in creating awareness and tolerance to the differences that exist between all children in any classroom.
Health care and Social Workers
During my time spent researching the series I spoke with a number of social workers and other healthcare professionals both to ask their advice on the editorial of the books and also on the type of material they were currently using.Any I spoke with agreed that a series like this one was desperately needed as younger children are so often forgotten about when it comes to literature dealing with topics such as these. They also felt that any professional working with children would find these books an invaluable asset in helping a child or family understand and come to terms with their situation in the best possible way.
Anyone working directly with children on a daily basis is sure to find this series an invaluable asset.