Read All About It: Books That Help Children Cope With Special Concerns (NAPSA)—Being a kid can be tough, filled with challenges and developmental roadblocks that stump even the most involved parents. However, with the right books, they can help their child understand and cope with life issues, both large and small. And one publisher, uniquely affiliated with an organization dedicated to psychology, mental health and development, provides children and their caregivers with books that offer accurate, thorough, and aeRegs oe Dont Squeoal Unless |t’s a BIG Deal. Ps PIMA a ] SNe fe Ne age-appropriate content on a vari- ety of topics and issues. Magination Press (www.mag inationpress.com) publishes a whole range of beautifully written and accessible “self-help books for kids”—including picture books, storybooks and workbooks—that address such challenges in terms that kids can understand. Magination Pressis the children’s book imprint of the American Psychological Association, the largest scientific and professional organization representing psychology in the U.S. and the largest association of psychologists worldwide. Depending on the topic addressed, the Press’s titles are useful to parents, teachers, therapists and counselors, social workers, med- ical doctors, and other professionals who work with children. Books published by Magination Press are vetted by psychologists and other child experts to guarantee that content is accurate, current, and comprehensive. In their daily lives, children may confront a variety of concerns from common everyday issues— such as bullying, shyness, low self-esteem, worries, and anxi- by Jeanie Franz Ransom illustrated by Jackie Urbanovic @ Some new books show children how to manage, cope with and resolve their problems. eties—to special circumstances such as divorce, blended families, grave illnesses and chronic medical conditions, depression or other mental illness in the family, and learning disabilities (including attention deficit disorder), any of which can test their ability to cope, let alone thrive. Magination Press publishes booksfor all ages, from toddlers to college students, which help kids confront and work through a problem or issue imaginatively while they are comforted through understanding that their feelings and emotions are valid and normal. Magination Press books lead children through an accurate psychological process of change that includes verbalized thoughts and feelings, and illustrates or models a range of skills, techniques, and behaviors. Exploring and validating the range of emotions sur- rounding an issue that children experience, the stories show them both what to do and how to talk about their thoughts and feelings during this process. This helps each child feel normal, relieved, and better about him or herself, and in turn helps the child recognize the steps involved in changing a problem or confronting an issue. The stories model helpful adult behavior as well, showing parents and other caregivers constructive ways of responding to a child and helping with a problem. Many of the picture books for youngerchildren contain a “Note to Parents” written by a doctoral-level psychologist, a feature unique to Magination Press titles. These Notes are mini-seminars that provide specific, detailed, comprehensive information to caregivers on what the child is likely experiencing and point-by-point guidance in helping the child manage, cope with, understand, and—when possible—resolve the problem. Magination Presstitles can be ordered through local bookstores, or directly from the American Psychological Association. Recent titles include “Don’t Squeal Unless It’s a Big Deal: A Tale of Tattletales” by Jeanie Franz Ransom; “Big Sister Now: A Story About Me and Our New Baby” by Annette Sheldon; “Was It the Chocolate Pudding? A Story for Little Kids About Divorce” by Sandra Levins; “Always My Grandpa: A Story for Children About Alzheimer’s Disease” by Linda Scacco, Ph.D., and “What to Do When You Worry Too Much; A Kid’s Guide to Overcoming Anxiety” by Dawn Heubner, Ph.D.
