Our Stories
A puppy and a child have each had multiple homes and tough times. Together, with the help of family, they figure out what scares them, they learn that they are lovable, and they find safety and home.
This book was written to support children who have had scary experiences, including those who have been involved in the foster care system, whether they reside with their birth parents or foster parents.
Released September 2022
Other Language Versions:
(Adaptation of Mama's Waves)
Ellie's dad did not come for their visit, and Ellie is stuck in a cloud of sadness and anger as she tries to understand why. Fortunately, Miss K. and Ellie's Uncle Finny are there to help her. Using the metaphor of a wave, they help Ellie talk about and understand her daddy's ups and downs, recognize and hold on to loving memories, and know that she is not alone.
Millions of young children live in families with an adult who is struggling due to trauma (ACEs), mental illness (PTSD, depression, bipolar), substance abuse, or other addiction. Daddy's Waves was written for any child who has a family member who struggles with emotional waves whether they live together or not.
Daddy's Waves is an adaptation of Mama's Waves and was developed at the request of families and therapists.
Released February 2021.
Other Language Versions:
Ellie's mom did not come for their visit, and Ellie is stuck in a cloud of sadness and anger as she tries to understand why. Fortunately, Miss K. and Ellie's Uncle Finny are there to help her. Using the metaphor of a wave, they help Ellie talk about and understand her mother's ups and downs, recognize and hold on to loving memories, and know that she is not alone.
Millions of young children live in families with an adult who is struggling due to trauma (ACEs), mental illness (PTSD, depression, bipolar), substance abuse, or other addiction. Mama's Waves was written for any child who has a family member who struggles with emotional waves whether they live together or not.
Released September 2020.
Other Language Versions:
Holdin Pott
Meet the Potts. Holdin Pott grew up learning to keep in feelings of sadness and anger. He is one tough pressure cooker. Little Pott is watching and wants to be just like him, but when you’re little and the heat is on really high, it’s hard to keep the lid on and hold tough stories and feelings inside.
This story was designed to help parents and children talk about the importance of getting support and sharing difficult feelings and emotions rather than "lidding them."
Released September 2019.
Little Rabbit and Big Rabbit are together after a difficult separation, but even though they missed each other, Little Rabbit is not ready to cuddle up and receive Big Rabbit’s love. Little Rabbit needs Big Rabbit to understand what it felt like when they were apart.
This story was designed to help parents and children talk about difficult separations, reconnect, and find their way back to each other.
Released February 2019.
Other Language Versions:
Spanish, Vietnamese (through Nhã Nam Publishers)
A little squirrel announces that he was once very, very, scared and finds out that he is not alone. Lots of little animals went through scary experiences, but they react in different ways. Turtle hides and gets a tummy ache, monkey clings, dog barks, and elephant doesn’t like to talk about it. They need help, and they get help from grown-ups who help them feel safe and learn ways to cope with difficult feelings.
This story was written to help children and grown-ups (parents, teachers, and other important adults) understand how stress can affect children and ways to help them. Squirrel hopes you like it.
Released January 2017.
Other Language Versions:
Trinka and Sam Series
A free coloring book series developed in collaboration with the National Child Traumatic Stress Network to help young children and families after disasters, with specific versions for hurricanes, tornadoes, earthquakes, wildfires, and COVID-19.
Over the years, Trinka and Sam have been learning to speak other languages (Spanish, Chinese (Simple and Traditional), Albanian, Arabic, Cebuano, Finnish, Haitian Creole, Japanese, Kurmanji, Nepali, Portuguese, Turkish, Vietnamese, Waray), so they can help children and families around the world.
This was one of our first stories. It was designed to be used in trainings with providers to highlight the importance of reflective supervision and remind us to honor and support the child's relationships with key caregivers. It is freely distributed in slide and video versions.
Other Language Versions:
Spanish (on the same webpage as English version)
