THE PARENTING BIZ FROM THE BOOKSHELF
New Children’s Book Series Addresses Growing Childhood Anxiety
W
hile we teach children strategies to positively manage their emotions, we can also have fun by beaming off with them to a planet made of crystals! Former Superintendent of Education Lynn McLaughlin and her niece Amber Raymond, a practicing social worker and owner of MESSS Makers, have launched a children’s book series called The Power of Thought. They are passionate about this proactive work based on professional, personal experiences and the growing number of children, teenagers, and adults struggling with anxiety. The duo created an imaginary planet called Tezra where childlike beings hover and are not identifiable by gender. The characters glow in the colour of how they are feeling, because they haven’t learned to control or recognize them in others yet. In their first book — I Have Choices — Zirco (the main character) feels worried and scared, but learns a four-step strategy to find happiness and build confidence. Nine additional books will be published in the coming months. The co-authors are thrilled to introduce an extremely talented illustrator, Allysa Batin, a graduate of Kennedy Collegiate and currently attending the University of Windsor in the Concurrent Bachelor of Education and Visual Arts Program. McLaughlin shares: “Allysa’s creativity has taken these books to a level Amber and I could never have imagined.” Available in French and English, the series is designed to give children (age four to 10 years old) the tools they need to
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Authors Amber Raymond (left) and her aunt, Lynn McLaughlin aim to help teach kids fun ways to handle their emotions. Photo courtesy of Michelle Cassidy.
overcome worry and anxiety, in a practical, enjoyable way. “They will not only understand their emotions, but learn how to express themselves properly and use problemsolving strategies for everyday problems,” Raymond explains. Each book includes an evidence-based strategy children can use and adults can learn to model, an excellent resource for parents, guardians, and educators. Additional activities are available to reinforce the concept in every book. When our children have emotional literacy, they are self-aware and can recognize their own emotions by the signs they know. They also develop selfcompassion, giving themselves the same kindness they show to good friends. When children can put themselves in someone else’s shoes and understand what they are going through, they are able to be empathetic and connect with people
BIZ X M AG A Z I N E • J U N E 2 0 2 2
Alien Amber (left) and Alien Lynn as Tezranians.
on a deeper level, becoming more helpful, involved, and invested in others. I Have Choices/J’ai des choix books are available at local stores, which include: Storytellers Bookstore, 1473 Ottawa Street and Biblioasis, 1520 Wyandotte Avenue East, both in Windsor, and The River Bookshop, 67 Richmond Street in Amherstburg. Further information about the book series is available online at: LynnMcLaughlin.com /the-power-of-thought-series.
