So Loud it Hurts

So Loud it Hurts 

By Elaheh Bos

Gus loves almost everything about birthdays, except for the Happy Birthday song.  Gus doesn’t like loud noises and becomes overwhelmed when there is too much going on around him. He suffers from sound sensitivity. Like many children, this type of sensitivity is hard to understand or control.

Gus continues to prepare for his own birthday party thinking about more of the things that he doesn’t want to deal with such as noise from the barking dog, balloons that might pop, children singing or talking loudly. He spends his entire day worrying about the loud noises that he will hear, wondering why other people aren’t bothered by sounds like him. Throughout the story Gus learns that maybe all people don’t get bothered by sounds like he does, but this makes him uniqiue. And being unique is very important.

The author has created a great teaching tool with this story with many wonderful discussions and tips in the back of the book to help children deal with this type of sensitivity. She includes a sound chart, a relaxation plan and tools with the help of a consulting psychologist, Stephanie Margolese, PhD.

Illustrations are a mixture of hand drawing and digitalization. They are bright and colorful pictures with expressive characters. The use of font sizes and color type conveys the play with words and expressions.

This story along with others from the 'plant love grow publishing company' creates books to help children understand, and implement strategies in dealing with sensitivity disorders. This also might include children that fall on the Autism Spectrum as well.

Other books to look for include: A Spot of Blue and The Tiger in My Chest

**Author, Elaheh Bos, has created a wonderful publishing company and website that teaches and encourages and most importantly creates tools and resources for parents, teachers, health professionals and children to guide, nurture, and inspire for change and growth. She deals with many different issues including anxiety, sound sensitivities, anger management, autism, sadness, fear, and many more. With bold digital and hand drawn illustrations, each of her books are unique in that they deal with different issues that speak or resonate to people

Audrey Bunny

Audrey Bunny 

by Angie Smith, Illustrated by Breezy Brookshire

Audrey Bunny isn’t perfect. She has a little hole above her heart. She wants nothing more than to be loved. But is she unworthy of being loved with her hole? When Caroline enters her life and takes her home from the toy shop, Audrey falls in love. But then is conflicted because she is worried that she will lose Caroline’s love when Caroline notices that she isn’t flawless.

Audrey Bunny is a sweet love story that proves nobody is perfect. Written with religious undertones, this story can be read over and over again. Thanks to Angie Smith, the author, for creating a lovable character and story that will touch your heart. Most importantly the message that the author builds on is differences make us unique and special. While there is so much more to this story that can be found on Angie Smith’s website, it is how she created the story and her spiritual closeness with G-d that makes this a gem. You don’t have to be religious to enjoy the story and share it with others. It can be a great tool for discussion with children on many levels and Angie has also included activities in the back of the book to do as well.

This is a love story, of a different sort. Recommended for children ages 4-8.