Book Review: Riley the Brave’s Big Feelings

At the very outset, author Jessica Sinarski, LPCMH, states this activity book aids readers by helping them “put some of the essential elements for healing into practice with the children in your life.”

Printed in the traditionally wide dimensions of activity books, “Riley the Brave’s Big Feelings” mixes playful activities with serious, necessary messages that would help both caregivers and the children alike. It is not a kid’s playbook, but rather one that should be navigated by an adult and child together.

It starts by explaining what the term “feeling” denotes; explaining it as a mix of “sensations + memories + thoughts.” Early childhood traumas impact developing brains in ways that cause it to respond negatively.

The central characters of the book are animals, led by Riley who is a bear cub being parented by elephants. Throughout the book, the animal motif runs strong. For example, various moments of life are attributed to certain animals such as a chameleon moment, “when I try to blend in too much, copy others, or don’t let people say nice things about me.”

Through the activities and suggestions to cope with various situations, Sinarski claims “Mad is not Bad” and offers ideas on how to “share our angry feelings without hurting anyone.”

Any page that has a bright red star symbol may be downloaded from https://library.jkp.com/redeem by using the code FVTQCAV. This activity book would help parents, teachers, counselors as well as anyone entrusted to the care of children. The illustrations by Zachary Kline are completely in sync with the tone of the book — playful yet earnest, such that serious messages are shared in a way that would appeal across age groups.

Book Details:
“Riley the Brave’s Big Feelings Activity Book”
A Trauma-Informed Guide for Counselors, Educators, and Parents
By Jessica Sinarski
Illustrated by Zachary Kline
Pages: 160; Size: 279 mm x 216 mm
ISBN: 9781839973000; Cost: $27.95 (trade paperback); $15.37 (Kindle)

Create Your Own Resiliency Plan

As a caregiver of young children, you hold many roles. You are responsible for the safety and well-being of the children in your care. You must abide by established laws, policies and rules; maintain required paperwork, training and child supporting practices; and act as a liaison to family members, other service providers and court-related personnel. […]

Giving Grace to Ourselves and Those We Care For

The reflective and celebratory time of year is the perfect opportunity to explore elevating how we extend love through grace. Parenting in today’s modern world is complicated. Parenting through foster care and adoption adds complexity to the experience that can lead to a unique set of challenges and opportunities. Excitement, hope and love are often […]

CASA Programs for Youth in Need

Nationwide, local organizations recruit, train and support volunteers whose sole focus is to advocate for the best interests of children in foster care. These organizations are part of the National Court Appointed Special Advocates/Guardian ad Litem (CASA/GAL) Association for Children, established in 1977. The group’s mission is to “… support and promote court-appointed volunteer advocacy […]

Art From the Hearth: A Group of Taos Tribal Kids Use Art to Rekindle Indigenous Traditions

Earlier this summer, a group of children on the Taos Pueblo Reservation in New Mexico gathered to paint with plant-based materials native to the land of their grandparents and great-grandparents. Deep rust-colored adobe homes, snow-capped mountains and bright bursts of sunlight covered the canvases, once derived from thin stretches of deer hide. The gathering for […]

Infertility and Foster Care: An Intersection of Ambiguous Losses

Utah parents Mindi and Justin Whipple know about living with uncertainty. They tried for years to have a baby, sometimes aided by fertility treatments. Each month they hoped for good news until discovering a medical issue meant it was unlikely they would conceive. Mindi describes the loss she felt, saying, “I had to give up […]

Balance is Key: Parenting During the Holidays Can Be Stressful, Both for Resource Parents and the Children in Their Care.

As a resource parent, it can be exciting to welcome a new child into your family. It’s likely been a long journey, preparing yourself and your family to embrace a child who needs love and a safe place. It’s normal for new resource parents to set expectations for what things might look like, especially after […]

Asked & Answered: Giving Grace

The holiday season may be stressful for many of us, but it is also the time to give grace to ourselves and the children we care for. We asked current foster, kinship and adoptive parents how they give grace. Here’s what they told us: “Remembering that little ones might be unhappy despite our best efforts […]