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Children Are Always My Inspiration
Cassie’s Big Change: Going from the Living Room to the Classroom follows a young girl who is learning to write a story in her class and learning to express her feelings. What was the inspiration for your story?
The inspiration for the book was seeing children around the world missing the social interaction with peers in their classroom and school. I believe we need to allow children to express their feelings and continue to encourage them to use their voices. It was important for children to have hope that things could be back to normal with the support of teachers, family, and friends.
Many children also experience difficulty transitioning back to school. We know that many children had multiple mental health issues in the height of the pandemic and school provides a safe place. This is where they can get services and resources.
Children’s mental health and social-emotional health must be a priority for families, schools, and the nation.
Children are always my inspiration to help make a difference in their lives and others.
The art in this book is fantastic. What was the art collaboration process like with illustrator Gaurav Bhatnagar?
Gaurav and I worked well together, going back and forth. I gave him detailed instructions. We also met via Zoom when he needed help understanding. We are still working together on projects now.
What were some ideas that were important for you to share in this book?
It was important that I told the story from Cassie’s perspective. It was also important that children were able to share their feelings and have adults who supported them. I wanted them to know that it was crucial, to be honest with themselves and others. It was my goal to incorporate social-emotional learning in every Cassie book.
What is the next book in Cassie’s Big Change Series you are working on, and when will it be available?
I am actually working on two books and don’t know which one will be published first. I probably will publish one later this year.
Author Links: Facebook | Website | Goodreads | Twitter
In this second installment of the Cassie’s Big Change series, Cassie and her crew transition from learning on the computer at home to once again sharing the educational experience in the classroom. Peek in on the first days back in the building, how COVID changed life for Cassie and her friends, and the tools their teachers give them to manage their thoughts and feelings during this big change.
Cassie’s Big Change: Going from the Living Room to the Classroom
Cassie is finally getting to return to her school building after learning from home during the COVID-19 pandemic. She did not love going to school in her living room on a laptop. She missed her friends and teachers. Now that there is a vaccine, she can return to her school and be with her class in person again.
Cassie’s Big Change: Going from the Living Room to the Classroom is more than a story about returning to school. Author Tamera Foley uses this children’s story to validate the feelings many young children have had during the pandemic and the emotional struggles they felt. She uses Cassie’s writing assignment to show children different ways to express themselves and let others know how they feel. It shows children that the adults at school and home care about how they are feeling and that what they feel is important and real. I loved the part where the children were sharing their feelings on the playground, and they were not superficial remarks like you might expect in a kid’s book. Instead, they show just how aware children are of the world around them and the impact that things like COVID-19 have had on their world.
The childrens book Cassie’s Big Change: Going from the Living Room to the Classroom is beautifully written and shares ways that children can express their emotions in a positive and safe manner, be it through clay models, writing a story, or talking one on one with a teacher or parent. Tamera Foley shows kids that they have a voice and that their feelings are important. This is a wonderful children’s book that any elementary classroom would benefit from having.
Pages: 44 | ASIN : B099B13X7T
LITERARY TITAN 