Call Me Penny Pickleberry
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Product Details
Publisher: Bird Upstairs Books
Formats: Hardcover, Ebook
ISBN: 978-1-954854-58-1
Publication Date: September 6, 2022
Page Count: 32
A Story to Help Kids Manage Worries
Meghan Grana
And that’s when it started . . . the inside-out squeezing, pulsing, whirly feeling in Penelope’s belly.
Meet Penelope Pickleberry, first-grader extraordinaire. Penelope can do lots of things, like pack her own snack and tie her shoelaces in under thirty seconds. But Penelope has one huge problem—Nelly, the negative voice in her head that tells her about bad things that might happen.
At the final game of the soccer season, Nelly’s I-just-can’t message is getting louder. Luckily, Penelope also has Penny, the positive, confidence-boosting voice inside her that tells her to be brave and persevere. Will Nelly win the battle? Or will Penny’s words of encouragement prove more powerful?
This fun and relatable picture book helps kids manage childhood anxiety by learning to quiet their negative self-talk and listen to their own Penny, the inner voice that fills them with the courage to conquer everyday obstacles.
Includes “A Guide for Shushing Your Nelly”— practical tips to help children overcome anxious thoughts.
About the Author
Meghan Grana has been advocating for students for nearly two decades. She holds a master’s degree in speech language and hearing science, and she’s served countless students with learning and language disabilities. She currently supports families in accessing school and community resources. Grana lives in Northern Virginia with her husband, two daughters, and mini Bernedoodle. This is her first book.
Visit the author’s website at www.meghangrana.com
About the Illustrator
Fanny Liem was born and raised in Indonesia. Since she was a kid, she's loved to draw. Her passion for storytelling and illustration started the first time she grabbed picture books, which were given to her by her uncle. When she is not drawing, she loves watching movies and listening to country music.
Visit the illustrator’s website at www.fannywen.com
Reviews
“Call Me Penny Pickleberry is an intentionally written story that provides context and explanation at a developmentally appropriate level of how some children experience anxiety. As a person who has experienced anxiety for their entire life, this would have been an extremely helpful tool to explain what was going on. By breaking down Penelope’s inner monologue into two voices (positive and negative), author Meghan Grana reinforces the idea that we are not our anxiety.” —Corrie-Locke Hardy, The Tiny Activist
“Call Me Penny Pickleberry is a gift for any child struggling with anxiety. Grana’s sensitive and charming story empowers children to become their own cheerleaders. And the inclusion of simple practices for reorienting negative thoughts and supporting self-confidence is invaluable. A must-have book for school libraries!” —Kitty O’Meara, author of And the People Stayed Home and The Rare, Tiny Flower
“Children’s thoughts are the window through which their feelings see the world. This book demonstrates this reality in a fun and engaging manner and helps teach children the importance of talking to themselves like their own best friend while also modeling how to accept our own imperfections. This is a very timely book and is highly recommended.” —Dr. Jonathan Dalton, director of the Center of Anxiety and Behavioral Change
“The personification of negative and positive self-talk in Call Me Penny Pickleberry is transcendent. I learned new coping mechanisms so succinctly from this book, even as an adult in the mental health advocacy field! It is truly heartwarming how Grana uses creative storytelling paired with amazing illustrations by Fanny Liem to help kids develop healthy coping skills at a young age.” —Thea Touchton, CFO of Sueñito Media
“I wish I had a book like Call Me Penny Pickleberry when I was a kid. I started having severe anxiety as a child and didn't know where to turn. If I had this book I'm sure I would’ve learned more coping skills and strategies to thrive despite the doubtful and taunting inner chat. Both the story and coping tools for self-regulation at the end are extremely useful for any child, whether they experience anxiety or not. This is a must-buy for all children!” —X. ARI, singer-songwriter, mental health advocate, public speaker, founder of nonprofit WisdoMania Foundation
“As someone who has struggled with anxiety his entire life, I can relate to this story so much. I have used many of the same tips offered by the author—even in my adult life—to overcome anxiety and thrive as a mental health speaker. I wish I had access to a book like Call Me Penny Pickleberry when I was a child, but I’m glad children today can benefit from such a well-written and beautifully illustrated tale of rising above our inner-Nellys.” —Rudy Caseres, mental health speaker
“Call Me Penny Pickleberry is a necessary addition to school libraries nationwide. Children are given the tools they need to become their own supporters by Grana's tender voice in an endearing tale. Additionally, Grana includes straightforward techniques for redirecting unfavorable thoughts and boosting confidence.” —Davida Padi, founder of Zachary’s Corner and youth mental health advocate