The Identity Series is a collection of children's books created to bring about inner healing through engaging story-lines, thoughtful dialogue, and textured artwork. Each one has themes of worth and value. Subjects that are hard to discuss are broken down in a discreet and simple way so children are able to digest them. IT'S MEDICINE FOR THE SOUL THAT TASTES LIKE A CUPCAKE!
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It is a collection of children’s books where the main characters are pieces of pottery that face certain life challenges and choose whether or not to receive help from the potter who made them. I address tough issues like trauma, divorce, and adoption in a way that is discreet and easily digested by children. The books are designed to help give young people words for tough situations that they might not know how to process or how to talk about on their own. Though the books dive into the depths of human experiences, they still only scratch the surface. At the very least, the series can be a conversation starter and dialogue can flow from there.
"Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it." (Proverbs 22:6) This is true both for healthy and unhealthy training. Children today face a unique world where identity is as important as ever and is also under attack like never before. Though I began writing these books back in 2010, more and more I am seeing why God laid them on my heart.
Some years ago, I was reading Our State magazine - a regional publication in North Carolina - and there was an article about pottery. As I read about what the man went through to create his artwork, it came to me that I should write a book about the potter and the clay, paralleling people’s relationship with God. That was all I had for a while. Then the stories started coming and I wrote them down. It just took off from there and has continued to grow! Also, I’ve always loved Beatrix Potter and The Berenstain Bears collection. I guess you could say I drew inspiration from sources like that as well. Old-school. Classic with substance. Innocent.
The target audience is 4-8 year olds and the books are meant to be read aloud to the child by someone else. This being said, people from any age can benefit from these stories. Teens and adults who have struggled with something can relate to the characters and the things they face in the books. This series can also help adults who deal with children that have gone through situations similar to what characters in the series encounter.
Multiple things. Number one, they are not "in your face." I did not want to run the possibility of re-traumatizing children and/or making them shy away from reading because of the subject matter. In regards to abuse, I have seen titles like, It’s MY Body and I can say NO! I have also come across pictures of half-naked children drawn on the covers and in the pages. Books like that have their place (I guess); but the way I think about it, children do not want to be seen with stuff like that any more than adults wants to walk around reading a pamphlet about STD's. To sum up this point in one word, I would say ‘discretion.’
Number two, the books meet the readers where they are - each person can walk away with something different. One book may mean one thing to person A and another thing to person B.
Number three, there are not many books out there which bring up the topics this series addresses. There are even certain topics that I have not found any children books attempting to tackle.
Yes and no. Since the subject material is dense - trauma and tough life issues - it is difficult to make talking about those things fun/whimsical. I add humor and action where I can. The dialogue and story-lines are engaging. As for happily ever after, most stories end on a good note. Some are left open-ended and you are not sure how things turn out because that is reflective of real life.
Not necessarily; it depends on the person. There are themes and truths that apply to all people regardless of their beliefs (or lack thereof). For example, with Finally a Flowerpot, the reader gets the message that no matter what you have been through in life, you are still valuable and have worth. And that it is never too late to fulfill your purpose. Anyone who has been through something can relate to this. Of course, it is my hope that people find their identity and purpose in Jesus Christ; but if they do not, they can at least be encouraged by positive messages in my children's books like Finally a Flowerpot.