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Recognizing Emotions
Elsie’s Adventures to Harmony Hills: The Big Move follows a seven-year-old girl who faces a move that turns her world upside down and learns that big feelings don’t have to be scary. Was Elsie based on a real child, a personal experience, or a blend of many stories?
Yes, Elsie is inspired by a combination of my own experiences as a mom and my work as an educator. I’ve seen firsthand how moving can turn a child’s world upside down, whether it’s a local relocation or a family starting over in a new country. Many of the children I’ve worked with were English language learners navigating not just a new home but a whole new culture and environment. I’ve also worked with students in higher education who are teachers or aspiring principals, and through their experiences, I’ve seen how families cope with big changes and how children adapt and grow in the process. All of these experiences helped me shape Elsie’s story, allowing me to explore the mix of fear, excitement, and resilience that children feel during major transitions, and to show that big feelings, while challenging, don’t have to be scary.
Anxiety can be hard to explain, even to adults. How did you decide what language would feel safe and understandable for kids?
Anxiety can be an abstract and sometimes intimidating concept, even for adults, so making it understandable for children required careful thought. I wanted to create language that felt safe, clear, and relatable, so that kids could see their own experiences reflected without feeling overwhelmed. In my first book, Elsie’s Adventures to Brainy Cove, I introduced children to the brain science behind emotions, helping them understand why they feel what they feel in a way that is concrete and empowering. With The Big Move, I wanted to take that a step further by addressing anxiety—a feeling that can be confusing and even scary.
To make it approachable, I rely on visual language, metaphors, and storytelling. Illustrations and scenarios in the book also help children see that big feelings are normal, that they come to everyone, and that there are ways to cope and feel safe. My goal is for children to not only recognize their feelings but also feel validated and equipped to navigate them. Ultimately, I hope the book gives children the language and understanding to talk about anxiety and know that big feelings don’t have to be frightening—they can be understood, managed, and even a source of growth.
What skills do you hope children carry with them long after reading the book?
I hope children gain a strong sense of emotional literacy and resilience from reading the book. I want them to recognize and name their big feelings, understand that it’s completely normal to feel nervous, anxious, or overwhelmed, and know that these feelings don’t have to be scary. Beyond just recognizing emotions, I want to give children practical coping skills—ways they can calm themselves, stay grounded, and navigate change with confidence. A key part of this is helping them identify how anxiety or worry feels in their own bodies, so they can notice early signs and respond in healthy ways. Ultimately, my goal is for children to carry the understanding that their feelings are valid, that it’s okay to ask for support, and that they have tools to move through life’s transitions with courage, resilience, and self-awareness.
Will this book be the start of a series, or are you working on a different story?
Yes, this book is part of an ongoing series following Elsie’s adventures. Each book is designed to explore a different emotional challenge or growth moment, giving children practical tools and strategies for understanding and managing their feelings. Through Elsie’s experiences, readers can see that it’s normal to have big emotions, that they can navigate change and uncertainty, and that learning about feelings can be both empowering and even fun.
I’m also exploring new stories that continue to center on children’s emotional and social development, so there is much more to come from Elsie and her world. Each installment will introduce relatable situations, imaginative storytelling, and supportive lessons that children and the adults guiding them can carry into their own lives. My hope is that the series grows into a resource that children can return to again and again, helping them build resilience, empathy, and confidence as they face the ups and downs of growing up.
Author Links: GoodReads | Facebook | Website | Amazon
When Elsie finds out her family is moving to a brand-new town, she’s not so sure she’s ready for the big move. Her stomach flips, her chest feels tight, and her thoughts begin to spiral. Luckily, Granny Grace is there to help her understand what’s going on in her brain and body—and how to work through those big feelings.
Through imaginative storytelling and relatable characters, Elsie’s Adventures to Harmony Hills introduces young readers to helpful coping strategies like deep breathing, positive self-talk, and identifying emotions. With the help of Granny Grace and a clever metaphor involving a brain “guard dragon,” Elsie learns how to tame her anxiety and step into her new adventure with courage and confidence.
🌟 Includes a “Learning Spot” for caregivers and educators—featuring practical tips for recognizing signs of anxiety in kids and guiding them through emotional regulation strategies.
Perfect for ages 5–10, this book supports social-emotional learning (SEL) at home and in the classroom.
Elsie’s Adventures to Harmony Hills: The Big Move
Elsie is seven years old and content with her world. She lives in a small town where her days are filled with painting, climbing trees, and other simple childhood joys. She plays with her puppy, Rudy. She spends time with her best friend, Sofia. Life feels complete until her parents announce a move to a new home in Harmony Hills. Anxiety quickly follows. Elsie must leave behind everything familiar. Friends, routines, and the comfort of home suddenly feel fragile. The fear of starting over looms large, especially the worry that new friendships may not come easily.
Elsie’s Adventures to Harmony Hills: The Big Move, by Whitnee Coy, is a heartwarming children’s book that fits comfortably within the genre of life-lesson storytelling for young readers. The story centers on a deeply relatable childhood experience. Moving is common, yet its emotional impact on children is often underestimated. For a child, relocation can feel overwhelming. A new place can seem intimidating. Adjustment can feel impossible. The book captures this emotional weight with sensitivity and care.
Elsie’s anxiety is vividly reflected in the illustrations, which effectively mirror her internal struggle. Still, she is not alone. She is surrounded by support. Granny Grace offers reassurance and wisdom at the moments Elsie needs it most. Through gentle guidance, she introduces coping strategies such as deep breathing and open communication. These tools are presented simply and thoughtfully, making them accessible to young readers.
While the story resolves in a reassuring way, its lessons endure. Fear in the face of change is natural. Learning healthy ways to manage that fear is essential. This book delivers that message with warmth and clarity. Young readers will absorb these lessons almost effortlessly. The skills Elsie learns are ones that can grow alongside them, offering value well beyond childhood and into the challenges of adulthood.
Pages: 36 | ASIN : B0FHJJH8JX
Create Something Special
Elsie’s Adventures to Brainy Cove follows a young girl struggling to control her anger who learns how her brain responds to emotions and what she can do to control them. What inspired your story?
Elsie’s Adventures to Brainy Cove was inspired by my experiences as a teacher, a mom, and an aunt. I’ve seen firsthand how children, including my own, often struggle with big emotions, especially when they don’t fully understand what’s happening inside their brains. Teaching has shown me how important it is to not only recognize emotions but to offer kids the tools to manage them. As a mom and aunt, I’ve had plenty of moments where I’ve had to help little ones work through their feelings, and I wanted to create a story that does just that—explaining emotions in a way that children can understand and relate to. This book blends my love for education and my experiences as a parent to offer a resource for families, teachers, and caregivers, helping kids navigate their emotions with compassion and knowledge.
The art in this book is fantastic. What was the art collaboration process like with the illustrator Maham Ali?
I am so incredibly grateful for Maham Ali and her talent in bringing Elsie’s Adventures to Brainy Cove to life. The collaboration process with her was an absolute breeze—she’s so skilled and creative, and she captured the essence of the story beautifully. Even though we weren’t in the same place, technology made it possible for us to connect and share ideas as if we were in the same room. I’m really thankful for that because it allowed us to create something special together. I can’t wait to work with her on future projects, and I’m excited to see what else we’ll come up with!
What were some ideas that were important for you to share in this book?
In Elsie’s Adventures to Brainy Cove, it was really important for me to show that everyone experiences emotions, and it’s not about avoiding or suppressing them, but about how we handle them. I wanted kids to understand that it’s okay to feel big or small emotions, but what really matters is how we respond so we don’t cause harm to ourselves or others. That harm can be physical, but it can also be emotional or mental, which is just as important to recognize.
I also wanted to make the brain’s role in emotions more tangible for kids. I tried to break down the parts of the brain and how they interact with emotions in a way that children could easily grasp. It is really gratifying knowing it is working as my godson, who’s in preschool, asked his older sister recently after reading the book if she was in the “upstairs or downstairs of her brain house?” when she was feeling emotionally overwhelmed. That moment really validated for me that kids can understand these concepts, and it sets them up for emotional resilience and intelligence.
Lastly, I wanted the book to offer resources for families and educators. At the end, there’s a section with vocabulary and strategies tied to social-emotional learning, so they have practical tools they can use with kids, anywhere, anytime. It’s about making these conversations and techniques accessible for everyone.
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, “Elsie’s Adventures to Brainy Cove” is the first book in the series, and I’m already working diligently on the next one! I actually have a few drafts for the next installment with Elsie. If you noticed the gray balloon floating on the last page, that’s a little teaser for what’s to come. In the next story, that balloon will represent anxiety—specifically the anxiety that comes from big changes like moving and going to a new school, something a lot of kids can relate to.
The next book will dive into how Elsie learns to recognize and manage her feelings of anxiety as she navigates a new environment. Just like in Brainy Cove, the goal is to give kids a way to understand their emotions and the tools to work through them. I’m really excited to continue this journey with Elsie, and I can’t wait to share more soon!
Author Links: GoodReads | Facebook | Website
Elsie’s Adventures to Brainy Cove
Elsie’s Adventures to Brainy Cove by Whitnee Coy is a delightful and educational story that provides children with valuable tools for understanding and managing their emotions in a fun, engaging way. Elsie, with her big heart and radiant smile, enjoys playing with friends, reading, and exploring. However, like many children, she sometimes struggles with anger when things don’t go her way. She describes her emotions as a balloon growing inside her, threatening to burst. Fortunately, her grandmother recognizes her distress and takes her on a magical journey inside her mind to teach her about emotions and how to stay calm.
One of the standout aspects of the story is its clever use of allegory, particularly the metaphor of a house with different rooms to explain how the brain functions. This approach simplifies complex concepts, such as the role of the amygdala and the brain’s limbic system, making them easily understandable for young readers. As Elsie learns how her brain responds to emotions, she gains practical strategies to calm herself, and children reading along can adopt these same techniques. The charm of the story is matched by its stunning illustrations, which create magical, comforting visuals that beautifully enhance the narrative. The pacing of the story is excellent, with a variety of situations and settings that keep young readers engaged throughout. The tips provided at the end of the book are a thoughtful addition, offering further guidance for emotional growth.
Elsie’s Adventures to Brainy Cove is a wonderful blend of imagination, education, and creativity. It sparks curiosity while promoting a positive mindset, making it an ideal tool for parents and educators alike. Whether for sparking conversation about emotions or simply enjoying a magical adventure, this book is a must-read for young minds.
Pages: 29 | ASIN : B0D92XFW72
