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Therapeutic Tools
Bella and Bird Explore Anger follows a young boy who is visibly upset after being denied a slice of his favorite pie, as he learns about anger and how to process it. What was the inspiration for your story?
The inspiration for the first book in the Bella and Bird the Emotion Explorers series came after Hurricane Ian devastated our island in Southwest Florida. Just three weeks before the storm, I had adopted my therapy horse, Bella, from Southern California. After traveling across the country to her new home, Bella endured and survived a Category 5 hurricane.
Her resilience was incredible, and as I thought about her journey, I also kept thinking about the children who lived through that hurricane and children everywhere who face devastating events, whether storms, fires, floods, or tornadoes. I wanted to create a story that would help adults talk with children about big emotions in a way that felt safe and approachable.
More importantly, I wanted my books to provide practical, therapeutic tools children could carry with them for life so they would know not only that it’s okay to have big feelings, but also how to process them in healthy ways.
What were some educational aspects that were important for you to include in this children’s book?
One of my main goals was to help children develop both emotional literacy and emotional intelligence. Emotional literacy is the ability to recognize, name, and understand our feelings, while emotional intelligence is the ability to manage those emotions, express them appropriately, and empathize with others.
In Bella and Bird Explore Anger, I wanted young readers to not only see a character experiencing a big feeling, but also to learn the vocabulary to describe it and the tools to manage it. The story introduces simple, therapeutic strategies like box breathing, cool-down counting, and using an emotion wheel to help children process anger in a healthy way.
By embedding these skills into a relatable story, my hope is that children begin to understand that all feelings are valid, but how we respond to those feelings matters. This combination of emotional literacy and emotional intelligence sets a foundation they can use for the rest of their lives.
What scene in the book did you have the most fun writing?
I had the most fun creating the box breathing scene because it gave me a chance to show a calming tool in action in a way that children can easily understand and try for themselves. But even more than that, I loved creating the character of Bird, who is based on a real bird that lives in Bella’s stall. In the story, Bird brings comic relief to balance out the heavier emotional themes. These books deal with big, sometimes difficult feelings, and I think sprinkling in humor makes the lessons more engaging, comforting, and memorable for children.
Is this the first book in the series? If so, when is the next book coming out, and what can your fans expect in the next story?
Yes, Bella and Bird Explore Anger is the first book in the Bella and Bird the Emotion Explorers series. The second book, Bella and Bird Explore Sadness, is going to print soon. In that story, readers will meet Molly, a little girl experiencing the heavy emotion of sadness. Bella and Bird gently teach her how to tend to her sadness, while also offering therapeutic tools that nurture both emotional intelligence and emotional literacy; skills she can carry for life.
Following that, fans can look forward to Bella and Bird Explore Happiness. Oh, what a joyful adventure that one is! And then Bella and Bird Explore Fear. Each book is designed to help children and the adults in their lives talk openly about big emotions, build the vocabulary to name those feelings, and learn practical strategies to understand, manage, and express them in healthy ways. In doing so, the series aims to nurture emotional literacy (recognizing and naming feelings) and emotional intelligence (understanding and managing those feelings with empathy and self-awareness).
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When Henry storms into the pasture, Bella, the wise horse, and her wisecracking sidekick, Bird, step in to help. Together, the friends set out to explore why Henry is angry and offer better ways to cope.
By the time Henry leaves the pasture, he’s gained new insights, is in better control of his feelings, and has tools to take along with him.
Bella and Bird Explore Anger helps children understand and manage their anger, making it a valuable resource for open and honest conversations about this challenging emotion.
Navigate Big Feelings
Puppy Day Jitters is a rhyming picture book that follows an anxious puppy’s first day of school, teaching children to face fear with empathy, courage, and connection. Why was this an important book for you to write?
I created the Pawsome Pals book series to help children navigate big feelings and to foster empathy. The inspiration for my books is to offer encouragement to all children, and that after reading a Pawsome Pals book, children and their parents will feel better about themselves and the world around them. With back-to-school season quickly approaching, Puppy Day Jitters is a perfect addition to books addressing the first day of school with the purpose of calming those first day nerves. Starting something new may bring on many new emotions and by reading Puppy Day Jitters, I hope to offer reassurance, comfort and understanding by knowing that we are not alone in experiencing these emotions.
What inspired you to write Puppy Day Jitters, and is Dolce based on a real dog?
My inspiration behind all that I do is my own two incredibly bright children. In Puppy Day Jitters, the characters are inspired by my daughter, Sophia, and our dog, Dolce. With a mission to encourage discussion about the universal experience of being anxious or nervous, Puppy Day Jitters promotes empathy and addresses emotions that go with starting something new. My hope is for the book to be a source of comfort for those facing first day nerves, but also a reminder that compassion and support are worth celebrating. With the Pawsome Pals series, my goal is for children to not only talk about their feelings, but also to offer lifelong advantages of building better relationships, greater self-esteem and a stronger foundation for learning.
Can you share your collaboration process with illustrator Ada Konewki. How did you bring Dolce’s emotions to life visually?
Ada Konewki is an extremely talented illustrator. She has this amazing ability to make the visions I have for the Pawsome Pals books come to life through her exceptional creativity and beautiful drawings. Using a picture book template, I share my illustration ideas for each page with Ada, and she takes my words and creates them into engaging visuals that captivate young readers. When we need a worried Dolce or a comforted Dolce to match the words in the story, Ada nails each emotion through her illustrations. For Puppy Day Jitters, I also provided Ada with a picture of the real-life Sophia and Dolce for her own inspiration in creating the characters. I absolutely could not imagine the Pawsome Pals books without Ada and her charming and exquisite illustrations.
What strategies or conversations do you hope caregivers and educators will have with children after reading this book?
Picture books can be a valuable tool in helping children grow in self-esteem and positively managing their own emotions. After reading Puppy Day Jitters, my hope is that discussions can begin both at home and in the classroom to help young readers handle transitions, such as starting school for the first time and experiencing something new. If a nervous puppy who gains comfort and support from her friend while facing a new experience helps one child know they are not alone, then Puppy Day Jitters has served its important and intended purpose!
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The Pawsome Pals book series features pets with problems and their pals that help their pets sort through them.
Bella and Bird Explore Anger
As a mom of two fiery little ones, I’ve seen meltdowns over everything from mismatched socks to missing cookie sprinkles. So when I read Bella and Bird Explore Anger, it hit close to home. The story follows Henry, a little boy boiling over with frustration, and Bella and Bird, who gently guide him through what anger feels like and how to handle it. I didn’t expect a talking bird to win me over, but Bird’s silly lines had me laughing while still driving the message home.
What I liked most was how the book broke down anger into bite-sized, simple ideas. Just real feelings and helpful ways to deal with them. Box breathing and cool-down counting are now go-tos in our house now. My youngest actually paused mid-tantrum to count backward the other day. It wasn’t perfect, but it was progress. That kind of gentle teaching, wrapped in a sweet story, makes this book special.
The writing is clear, friendly, and easy for kids to understand. There’s a natural rhythm to the dialogue that kept my kids listening. I appreciated that anger wasn’t shown as bad, it was just something you feel, and something you can learn to handle. That’s a powerful lesson, especially for little ones who haven’t figured out their big feelings yet.
Visually, it’s lovely. The illustrations feel warm and cozy, and Bella the horse has this calm presence. If you’ve got a kid who feels things deeply, this book is a keeper. It won’t fix every outburst, but it gives you both a place to start.
Pages: 32 | ASIN : B0FG5MSTNB
Parents Are People Too
Saanvi’s Bad Day follows a young girl who is having a very bad Tuesday and how she learns to deal with her overwhelming emotions. What was the inspiration for your story?
When I write, I always have my children in mind. I have 2 children, a 5-year-old daughter, and a 7-year-old son. I think about lessons that I would like them to learn about. I always try to find books to help introduce new or difficult topics. And while there are plenty of books about managing a bad day, I hadn’t come across a children’s book that highlights that grown-ups have bad days too. I wanted this book to emphasize that parents are people too, and can have similar emotions and experiences.
What were some educational aspects that were important for you to include in this children’s book?
I really wanted to focus on tools that can be used to turn bad days around. I think it’s important for children to feel empowered, and to realize that these tools can be used by anyone at any age.
The art in this book is fantastic. What was the art collaboration process like with the illustrator?
I love Anais! She was the illustrator for my first book, Saanvi’s Family Tree, and she perfectly captures the feelings I want to convey on every page.
Is this the first book in the series? If so, when is the next book coming out, and what can your fans expect in the next story?
My first book was entitled Saanvi’s Family Tree which was released by Mascot Kids in May 2024. It deals with the taboo subject of familial estrangement which is a very rare topic in children’s literature. I wrote that book for my son to explain my own difficult family dynamics. My next book will be released in 2026 and will focus on the topic that grown-ups don’t have all the answers and are also life-long learners! Another lesson I would love to teach my children!
Author Links: GoodReads | Amazon
Join Saanvi as she learns the different ways to turn her bad days around. When Saanvi has another bad day at school the next week, will she be able to tackle her unhappiness in a positive way?
Sisters and Mothers
Angry? That’s Okay! follows a group of seven animal friends on a camping trip who learn some important lessons on coping with the overwhelming feelings that result from frustration and disappointment. Where did the idea for this book come from?
As sisters and mothers with backgrounds in mental health and play-based education, our goal is to not only create space for children to feel their emotions but to give them tools that will help navigate life’s challenges. We wanted to address anger because it is an emotion everyone feels but not very many people understand how to navigate it. Our own children were the inspiration behind our characters, and we wanted this story to feel relatable to kids everywhere.
What is your collaboration process like? Do you have any routines in place for sharing ideas?
Living on separate continents brings a unique and oftentimes a little manic to our collaboration process. But thanks to technology, it is easier for us to keep track of said manic. We do mostly everything on our phones. We have a separate chat group that is just for book talk. And it helps that we are very much embedded in each other’s lives in the sense that we talk almost every day. So you hear of “power naps” but what we do are “power chats” wherein a small amount of time and competing with a 100 “look at this mums,” we share updates, thoughts, and action plans.
What do you hope young readers and their families take away from your story?
Anger often carries a heavy stigma—as if it’s a “bad” emotion. Because of that, many children (and even adults) aren’t equipped with the tools to handle it in a healthy way. We want our readers to understand that anger is a completely natural and normal emotion. The key isn’t to avoid it but to learn how to manage it in ways that are safe and constructive.
What is the next book that you are working on, and when will it be available?
We don’t have a specific title to announce just yet, but we do have a few exciting ideas in the works! Like our previous books, these upcoming stories will continue to focus on social-emotional learning and growth mindset themes. We’ve been releasing a new book each year since we began writing professionally, and as such readers can likely expect our 4th book sometime next year.
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Through relatable scenarios, this book explores the different ways anger can look and feel. From clenched fists to racing hearts, young readers will learn to identify the physical signs of anger and discover simple, effective strategies to manage their emotions. Whether it’s deep breathing, body scans, or taking a break, each character in the story finds a method that works for them.
With vibrant illustrations and an encouraging message, Angry? That’s Okay! empowers children to understand that anger is a natural emotion-but learning how to handle it can make all the difference. Perfect for parents, teachers, and caregivers, this book is a valuable tool for fostering emotional awareness and resilience in young readers.
Angry? That’s Okay!: A Book on Recognizing and Managing Anger
Angry? That’s Okay! invites readers on a delightful camping trip alongside seven close friends, each bubbling with excitement, until things don’t go as planned. Whether it’s struggling to pitch a tent, feeling disappointed about not spotting the brightest star, or missing a parent, each child faces moments of anger and frustration. Instead of letting their emotions spiral into tantrums, they pause, acknowledge their feelings, and choose joy over outbursts.
Selvanathan and Fassbender have crafted an accessible, engaging narrative that speaks directly to children’s emotional experiences. The message is clear and empowering: feeling upset is normal, but how we respond matters. The story gently guides young readers toward self-awareness, offering a toolkit for emotional regulation wrapped in a relatable storyline.
The illustrations are vibrant and inviting, creating a visual playground that encourages further discussion between children and adults. This makes the book not only enjoyable to read but also an excellent resource for initiating conversations about feelings. It’s a valuable addition to any classroom library and equally impactful in a home setting.
What stands out most is the simplicity of the scenarios. The authors intentionally choose everyday situations, minor setbacks that children frequently encounter, making the emotional responses feel authentic and approachable. At the end of the book, readers are offered practical strategies for managing big feelings, which parents and educators alike will find useful when revisiting the story.
Angry? That’s Okay! is a heartwarming, insightful read that validates children’s emotions while teaching them healthier ways to cope. A must-have for young readers learning to navigate the ups and downs of growing up.
Pages: 40 | ISBN : 978-0975648339
Worries and Anxiety
Carnival Chaos follows a curious, anxious young boy visiting his first carnival who finds it to be a sensory overload experience, learns to face his fears, and ends the day not just braver, but full of joy and pride. What was the inspiration for your story?
The Inspiration for this story is as with my previous two in this series, my son Kale. Kale represents the child of today’s world. Worries and anxiety are prevalent everywhere. These stories are a wonderful way to start a conversation about feelings.
What were some ideas that were important for you to share in this book?
This book is about trying new things and having new experiences. Trying something new can be scary, but it can also be a great accomplishment for anyone.
What scene in the book did you have the most fun writing?
The child running off the ride looking sickly was my favourite. Kale’s response is exactly how he would respond to seeing such a sight. The calm demeanor of Mama as she tries to just brush it aside so as not to worry poor Kale even more is perfect.
What will the next book in that series be about, and when will it be published?
I am going to concentrate on these three books in this series for now. I do however have a few ideas rumbling around in my brain, but right now I want people to understand the message behind my books and realize that they are teaching tools for not only parents but also teachers to start that all-too-important conversation about feelings with their children or students.
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Kale will want to go to the carnival every year knowing how much fun new experiences can be. Trying something new can be scary, but it can also be a great accomplishment for our little ones.
A Common Childhood Struggle
Leo Gets His Nighttime Zzzs follows a busy boy and his diverse group of friends as they discover the power of teamwork and relaxation to overcome sleepless nights. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
All our Kids Can Club Collection stories are inspired by the fact that children often face difficult problems and emotional struggles as they grow up. They can feel helpless and believe no one else shares their challenges. We felt it was important to introduce young readers to characters who are experiencing the same issues they are and then find the strength and motivation to seek solutions and share these solutions with others.
Leo’s problem, his losing sleep at night because his mind fills up with Important Things to Remember and Worries, reflects a common childhood struggle. A review of literature reveals that up to 25% of children experience difficulties with sleep. Research studies have demonstrated that the Progressive Relaxation exercise (our “Scrunch Up Five – Unscrunch”) is an effective relaxation-promoting tool.
We want young readers to see themselves in the Kids Can Club kids. Leo, Clementine, Clara, Iris, and Nico are each unique, with varying ethnicity, backgrounds, skills, interests, and styles, and are also relatable to so many real kids. Both the child and adult characters in our book series are based on people we know, our own experiences, families, and friends.
What was the process of collaborating with Dana Regan to create illustrations that enhance the story?
We worked with Dana on our first book, Clementine Gets UNSTUCK! (published in 2022) and were so excited she partnered with us again in 2024 for Leo Gets His Nighttime ZZZs! Dana is an amazing artist and has so much experience with the book printing and publishing process. She not only illustrated our stories, but she also developed the layout and created the final files to the publisher’s specifications for both Paperback and eBook versions.
For both stories, we connected with Dana and provided her with a detailed character background/description document and the manuscript, along with our general thoughts about pagination and visuals. We also discussed font choices and variations for emphasized words and phrases. Dana provided us with an initial sketch version, then, after we reviewed, color versions with pages and text outlined, adding so many of her own amazing ideas! We had multiple rounds of reviewing, proofing, and commenting, with Dana always open to feedback. Due to busy schedules, it took about eight months from when we sent the initial manuscript to Dana to the date each book was published.
We are so appreciative that Dana takes the time to really understand our characters. This is reflected in the wonderful details she includes in her illustrations. We are lucky to have Dana on our Kids Can Club Collection team!
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?
Through the personal experiences of the Kids Can Club kids and their club Missions, described in the first pages of Leo Gets His Nighttime ZZZs, we wanted to engage young readers and introduce them to multiple themes: 1) Universality-that we all share similar challenges, thoughts, feelings and are not alone with our struggles; 2) Empowerment and Agency-that we have the strength and ability make positive changes in our lives and environments; 3) Empathy-understanding and considering the feelings of others; and 4) Teamwork-learning that we can do so much for others and our community if we work together.
Can you share more about the Kids Can! series and its mission to empower young readers?
Our Kids Can Club Collection will continue to grow, with characters facing additional childhood challenges and finding THEY CAN find solutions for themselves and others. We are planning for a series of at least five books. Our series mission currently expands through our KidsCanClub.com site. Here we offer free activities, games, and additional wellness exercises. We also show kids (with the participation of their trusted adults) how to start their own Kids Can Club.
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LITERARY TITAN 