Cardenden: Author Jodi Heyes’ new book helps children manage their emotions
A CARDENDEN teacher has written her second book which she hopes will help young people express their emotions.
Jodi Heyes, 32, wrote her first book in 2020, shortly after the birth of her now 20-month-old daughter Luna, and has just celebrated the publication of its sequel, When Worley Gets Angry.
She produced the books – which tell the story of very special monsters who deal with different emotions – in her efforts to help children talk about their feelings.
“Having suffered a lot as a child – I lost my father at 10 and I lost my best friend at 14 – and I had a lot of bullying and unpleasant things and I didn’t know how to do it,” she explained. .
“It had a huge effect on me as an adult, which led to depression. I don’t want kids to go through what I did. The more I can teach people, the more I can help them. , the better. I don’t think I would have had such a big meltdown if I already had tools to use.
“My characters are all monsters – I have a whole tribe of emotional monsters who teach kids about emotions. Worley is the main one and he meets his friends with different emotions.
“The first was teaching him to be brave and through the monster you learn you might make a mistake but it will be fine. He realizes that he doesn’t have to be the best at everything.
“The second book is about anger. The book is written as a rhyme and basically Worley gets mad and doesn’t know what it is. His friend George, the angry monster, teaches him that it is normal to be angry and how to deal with it.
“It’s done in a fun enough way for kids to understand.”
Jodi, who also has a coaching and therapy business to help children with their mental health.
“Luna grew up with it, like I grew up with the first one when she was a baby. She knows all the monsters and it’s so sweet when she goes to get my books,” she said. had a total meltdown about something and got angry.
“I said you feel mad like George and I said why don’t you lie down and she did. Even the youngest kids can pull things from it as they grow up.
Jodi’s books – and accompanying plushies – can be purchased from her website at https://www.futurefootstepscoaching.co.uk/shop.
