Lynn Jenkins, Kirrili Lonergan
It’s tough to help an anxious child. Psychologist Lynn Jenkins knows this, from professional experience, and from being a mother! In Lessons of a Little Anxious Creature, she has created an essential emotional resource that encourages children to develop strategies for anxiety management, by discovering new, useful ways to think about their worries.
Loppy is an LAC, or ‘Little Anxiety Creature’. He always focuses his attention on what could go wrong and can’t seem to stop worrying. Curly the Calmster is just the opposite, and gently encourages Loppy to think differently about his worries. Along the way, Loppy (and the reader) are given simple, effective ways to reframe their thoughts and learn the right words to reassure themselves when they’re feeling anxious or worried. After all, just because bad things might happen, that doesn’t mean they will.
The result is an engaging picture book that gives readers a unique way to think about their worries and other feelings they may associate with anxiety. Having an understanding of their anxiety or ‘worry feelings’ gives them empowerment. Learning that there is an alternative to worrying all the time gives them relief.
Lessons of a LAC is the first book in the ‘Lessons of a LAC’ series. This gorgeous series, by an author and illustrator who are passionate about giving children ways to think about and manage common emotional difficulties, is a valuable resource for every child to help guide their emotional development.
"This great book is aimed at helping little anxious creatures manage anxieties … written by a clinical psychologist, this is a wonderful book for parents of anxious children."
- The Herald Sun read the full review
"Primary schoolchildren will be shown how to channel their inner calm in this story about managing anxiety. Written by clinical psychologist and mother-of three Lynn Jenkins, Lessons Of A LAC has been branded as an emotional resource to help kids develop strategies to manage their anxiety. And there are probably a few lessons in there for mum or dad as well."
- The Daily Telegraph read the full review
"This wonderful book was written by an experienced Australian clinical psychologist and it is full of valuable messages for Little Anxious Creatures all over the world. We love that this book offers skills to deal with anxiety and worries. It’s clever, funny and USEFUL. Helping children think about their anxiety is the first step in managing them. It opened up very useful conversations and I must say it’s even helped my anxieties a little too with being given the knowledge of some easy self-help tools! ."
- Early Childhood Book Reviews read the full review
"Written by clinical psychologist, Lynn Jenkins, the story shows children that just because bad things might happen it doesn’t mean they will!"
- New Idea read the full review
"Using minimal text and large expressive drawings, this picture book aims to help children to understand their anxieties. Written by a clinical psychologist, it gives ideas about how to stop worrying."
- Reading Time read the full review
"The delightful illustrations are very reminiscent of Dr Seuss whacky style and will have genuine appeal to children. Art activities which combine ‘feelings’ concepts are a very distinct possibility with this one."
- Just So Stories read the full review