Childrens Wellbeing Leamington Spa

Review - "overcome stresses"

BookDads

Our mission at BookDads.com is to highlight books which show fatherhood in a positive light.

When I read this book, it brought me back to the days when I worked with autistic children and we used social stories to help teach them social skills. Rosador and the Dark Forest is very similar to social stories in that it attempts to be bibliotherapy for children coming through some tough issues.

This book really works its magic through the characters of Rosador, Orion and Fumblekins. Young readers are able to see these characters go through some tough times, but in way enabling them to see ways in which to understand, cope and overcome stresses in their own life. The author did an excellent job of using the characters in the story to examine issues such as death, rejection, bullying, insecurities, abandonment and more. I think the author's background as a counselor really works well in helping to portray some pretty difficult issues, while at the same time, keeping it written to fit the understanding of a young reader.

I like how the book is broken down into sections so as not to possibly overwhelm any young reader or listener. The conclusions of each chapter are a nice touch as well as they end with very positive messages for children to fall asleep to. Mark Turner does excellent work with gentle illustrations which beautifully add to the story. The book also comes with two CDs. Although my daughter isn't old enough to be able to sit through a reading, I did play the accompanying CDs for her in the car and while we were home. This was great to have in the car! My daughter often repeated words she recognized or made comments at the sound effects in the story. The reader had an excellent voice and I think the fact the reader was British actually made it even more enjoyable for us. It reminded me of one of our favorites, Mrs. P and her Magical Library. I actually enjoyed the CDs more and could picture a parent and their child cuddling up at bedtime to enjoy listening to the story together.

"overcome stresses"

http://bookdads.com/book-review-rosador-and-the-dark-forest/

Review 2 - "great book for teachers"

Ellis (reviews and life)

Posted 25th April 2011 by John, Danita, Infinity and Hayden

"Children who are going through the same issues as the characters will draw great solace from these stories. They avoid being overbearing, telling children what they should do, and instead offer gentle encouragement and comfort from characters who are really just like they are. This is not adults telling children how to feel, it's more like other children offering gentle advice after going through it themselves."
These stories are great for reading aloud or listening to on the two CD's that are provided in with the book. There are four stories included each story addressing a different issue that children who have been through traumatic events would benefit from. They address issues in such a way that a child listening to the story will feel positively about the way they are feeling. It allows them to admit they have feeling that they know are not acceptable to express on a regular basis.

The CD provided has a soothing British voice reads the stories accompanied by soothing music and great sound effects.

This is a great book for teachers to have in their classrooms as a resource for students who are going through tough issues.

"great book for teachers"

http://www.jdellis.blogspot.co.uk/#!http://jdellis.blogspot.com/2011/04/book-review-kids-night-knight.html

Review 4 - "overcome those negative thoughts"

Finding Our Way Home

Posted 4th April 2011

Rosador and the Dark Forest starts out by introducing us to Rosador the elf, and her friend Elf friend Orion. While Rosador worries a lot about others, Orion has his own "dark fairy" or negative thoughts because of bad things that have happened in his life. They look for guidance over their feelings from each other and others, like the trees. Through this adventurous and magical story the characters find that they can deal with their feelings appropriately. They also learn that there is typically a reason why someone is acting badly. That everyone at one time or another has a "dark fairy" that is weighing them down. Sometimes they need more guidance than others to overcome those negative thoughts so that they do not turn into negative actions. This story is a good way to introduce children to those concepts of negative feeling and actions, as
well as feelings that occur because of negative things that happen in their lives. What is nice is the story has characters that have to deal with their feelings over things that may be common for school aged chldren like their parents separating, someone dying, getting bullied (or being a bully), and feeling not good, strong, or smart enough. This may help the child express their own feelings as they may be able to relate to some of the characters.

Though the story helps the characters work through their feelings, it is also an adventurous story. I think the adventurous parts will help keep
the child interested in the story. It makes it feel more like a story than a lesson on their feelings. I think it would be a story many children would like even if they may not be going through a rough time, because of the adventure and magical nature of the story. The story takes you on adventures and shows you how the characters like the elves, fultures and hobgoblins interconnect. The story has "good" and "bad" and magical and intelligent beings like many mythical stories have. I think it is a great story to not only help children with their feelings, but to think creatively and use their imagination. It would be a great story to start introducing them to longer fairy tale stories. The story also has a few illustrations, by Mark Turner, that help give the reader an idea of what the characters and scenery would be like.

I really like how the story is broken up into eight chapters. You can read one chapter each night. The chapters will end with a message to the child on getting tucked into bed and give them things to think about with the story, the characters, and themselves. It gives them something to think or dream about...and even if the story might be a little scary....the message before the chapter ends will be positive and
reassuring. It will make them "Sleep tight and Night Knight"!

The story also can be listened to with the accompanying cd's. These are nice so the child can listen to the story if they can not read it. The story is narrated by the author Emma Piers. It is narrated well with much expression. There is some background music in spots and sound effects that are entertaining. There is a brief pause in between the chapters/parts. If you only want your child to listen to one part a night then you will have to stop this yourself. Otherwise your child can listen to these all at once with two cd's.

"overcome those negative thoughts"

http://kennedyandzach.blogspot.co.uk/search?q=rosador

Review 3 - "settle to sleep"

Chrissy's World of Books

Posted 6th April 2011

I received the special narrated edition with 2 Cd's and we read the story plus we also did the book with the Cd's playing so my daughter got a double dose of the story. My daughter was just a little younger then the age recommendation of 5 - 11 years but she really enjoyed me reading to her and even hearing the Cd's read to her at night.

I love the fact that the story is in parts so it can be read a little each night and at the end of each part it has some encouraging phrases for the child to think about while sleeping. For Example: "Tonight as you settle to sleep, remember that you are just as amazing and unique as Fumblekins. You don't need to prove this to anyone. You just are." I just loved the positive note that each part ended on.

The four stories each have 2 parts and they each deal with a different problem or issue that a child might experience. This book sure is a nice tool to have to help young children deal with issues and to help encourage them.... I really enjoyed reading this book to my young daughter and I'm sure it will become one of her favorites as she grows.

I rate this book 5 out of 5 stars

"settle to sleep"

http://chrissysworldofbooks.blogspot.co.uk/search?q=rosador

Review 5 - "positive thoughts and ensuring words"

Mom's Tree House

Posted 21st March 2011

I just finished reading Night Knight: Therapeutic Bedtime Stories by Emma Piers and all I can say is, Wow! This cute little book caught me off guard and took me by surprise. You all know what a strong believer I am in promoting children’s reading and this adorable book provides some big important themes for such little readers ages 4 to 12 years old.

This book is a collection of common themes that enable children to understand, cope and overcome stresses of life. Through the characters of
Rosador, Orion and Fumblekins, the reader learn ways to accept and overcome with what is bothering them, real-life based issues such as, death, rejection, bullying, insecurities, abandonment and so much more. This book conveys some hard-core issues but written to fit the understanding of a young reader.

Orion is an elf who has lost his younger brother and Rosador is his best friend, who helps him through this difficult time. Yet, with each other, they cope with their emotions and feelings to accept what has happened. Later, you get to meet some of their friends, like Fumblekins, the Fulture, who blames himself for his mother’s and father’s separation. Rosador and Orion help Fumblekins to see that it his not his fault and that he is perfect just the way he is.

Each chapter of the story is a lesson in life with heartfelt messages. At the end of each chapter, there are loving and soothing words allowing children to fall asleep with positive thoughts and ensuring words. The pictures in the book, illustrated by Mark Turner, are beautifully depicted enhancing the story. The book also comes with two CD’s in where the book is narrated in a soothing voice. Knight Night is really a delightful book and I recommend it every parent but more so, to any parent that may have a child going through some difficult, emotional hardships.

"positive thoughts and ensuring words"

http://www.momstreehouse.com/category/book-reviews/page/6

Dr Julia Ronder; Consultant Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist

Image taken from the movie "Shoot 'em up"

Marneta Viegas - Relax Kids

Image taken from the "Invaders"

Dr. William Bloom - The Endorphin Effect

Image taken from the movie "Transformers"