Lesley Millard Zafran

Fantastic Florence It's Not Your Fault! Lesley Millard Zafran

Fantastic Florence - It's NOT your fault! is a series of books for children, each of which tells a story about a child, or children, experiencing different traumatic experiences. Florence is a wise and loving magical bag who hears the thoughts of children, and writes them messages when they are suffering. Florence assures the children in each story that the painful challenges that life is presenting to them are not their fault. She encourages them to speak to someone they trust about what is happening to them. Each story is designed to be a safe space for children to see themselves in the story's characters and is an invaluable tool for parents and caregivers, therapists and educators. The stories can open the door to the hard conversations that children need to have in order to begin the healing process. In A Story About Bullying, a young girl named Ella is being bullied by her classmates. Florence hears her pain and uses her magic powers to soothe Ella's anxieties by encouraging her to reframe the situation and reach out for help. Florence's brave, caring insights and message help Ella feel supported and less alone, and to realize that it is not her fault that she is being bullied. Children and adults are sure to fall in love with Florence as she gently helps children navigate the specific traumatic situation they are experiencing, but are too young to understand. Florence gives children a name for the trauma/s they are experiencing and, most importantly, she comforts children by telling them that it is NOT their fault when bad things happen and that it is okay to reach out for help.