★Rights sold to SERBIA, SLOVENIA
★Written by experts in child psychology
★Therapeutic story + advice for adults
★TOPICS: finding happiness in experience, happiness and material things, sharing good feelings with others, being happy for somebody else, inner sense of peace and joy
★Age group: Early learning (2 – 6)
★Why children react so well to therapeutic stories?
Children under the age of 7 usually have a hard time to verbalize and explain how they feel and what’s bothering them. Parents feel helpless trying to figure out what is on little one’s heart. In therapeutic story, main character which is usually an animal, goes through some challenge and every sentence in the story is carefully written to speak with children’s hearts. Children recognize their own inner mental and emotional states in the main character and on a subconscious level. If child asks parents to read them the same story over and over again, parents can more easily understand what is going on. Child will also get much needed comfort and relief knowing that there is a little bunny, duck or cat who also feels sad or anxious but was able to overcome unpleasant feelings and challenges. Therapeutic stories normalize hard situations, explain, soothe and offer solutions to the little ones.

This series includes 4 titles:
Fox learned that happiness comes from within - happiness found in material things vs happiness found in experiences with others
Pony found happiness in sharing effort and success - sharing happiness after successfully completed task and effort
Lioness knows how to be happy for others - happiness and joy caused by good feelings and the success of others
Hamster found happiness in peace and quiet - motorically restless and loud happiness vs quiet and calm happiness

One day, little pony decided to practice jumping over hurdles. It was very important for him to master it, but when he saw how high the hurdles were, he got a little scared and became insecure. His sister and dad offered to help him, and his mum was there to encourage him the whole way. Everyone gradually taught him something new and, finally, pony succeeded! Everyone congratulated him and rejoiced with him. They concluded that happiness is the sweetest after joint effort and success.

Children have this magical and contagious ability to rejoice even at the smallest successes. For example, a child will be very happy when they manage to put together bricks, puzzles, or when they complete a drawing.

Happiness is one of the so-called basic emotions. Basic emotions appear in all cultures and from the earliest age. By the end of the 6th month of life, a child expresses all four basic emotions (anger, fear, happiness, sadness).

Happiness due to success is satisfaction and pleasure because of successfully completed task. However, in learning new skills and overcoming greater challenges, a child will sometimes need our help. Such situations can turn into learning cooperation when we can show a child by example that it’s okay to accept help and that working together on a certain skill, problem or task leads to mutual happiness. The excitement and joy that we share after with each other is the most beautiful form of happiness.

At the end of the picture book, there are also tips for adults that will help you guide your child towards cooperation, receiving help, and sharing happiness with others.

Author: Tatjana Gjurković
Tatjana Gjurković has a master’s degree in psychology, she is certified psychotherapist, certified child play therapist (RPT), Certified Transactional Analyst (CTA), Teacher and Supervisor of Transactional Analysis (TSTA). She works individually with children and adults and holds educational programs for specialists in fields of child play therapy and transaction analysis. She is author of a book “Play Therapy with children” and 28 therapeutic picture books. She continuously promotes the importance of mental health in children and adults through Centar Proventus which she co-founded with her colleague Tea Knežević.

Author: Tea Knežević
Tea Knežević has master’s degree in psychology, she is certified psychotherapist, certified child play therapist (RPT) and Certified Transactional Analyst (CTA). She provides play therapy with children, psychotherapy with adults, parent consultations, and conducts numerous training courses for professionals in Centar Proventus which she co-founded with her colleague Tatjana Gjurković. She has written 28 picture books with therapeutic stories for children. In addition, she is the author of several manuals related to psychological resilience, gifted children, and anger management.

Illustrator: Jelena Brezovec
Jelena Brezovec has a master’s degree in social studies. For a long time, drawing was just a hobby, until 2008 when she became a co-founder of the publishing house Evenio and decided to study digital illustration, with the focus on children’s illustration. So far, she has illustrated more than 40 picture books and many other publications. She is the winner of the Grigor Vitez “Bird” Award, a special praise from the children’s jury. She has illustrated the most popular children’s book series in Croatia – Mrljek & Prljek. Her illustrations have been part of many exhibitions throughout Croatia. She lives and works in Varaždin, Croatia.