What I Tell Myself FIRST: Children's Real-World Affirmations of Self Esteem

by Michael A Brown (Editor), Zoe Ranucci (Illustrator), Michael A Brown

Overview

A lot of adults have dark roads.

Started from when they were young. The hug they didn’t get. The pain they didn’t learn to manage because mom and/or dad patched mostly all of their wounds and fought mostly all their battles. Travelling through life, hearing “You’re fat.” “You’re slow.” You’re not like us.” “You’re ugly.” “I felt disrespected when he said...” “No one loves me.” “I fell for this person because I needed love. Who knew that he’d (or she’d) be.....” “It’s your job to make me feel like...” “WHY DON’T YOU WANT ME?!” If only we'd learn very early on that these things were our jobs to perform. If only we'd learn to do for self in every way.

Written by a US military veteran, this children's book, based on Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs, will instill in children the answer to bullying, body-shaming, hate, and attacks on the self through daily affirmations. Author Mike Brown has learned many life lessons and hopes to convey some of those lessons acquired from public and private service in the Army, as a police officer, an anger management specialist, nonviolent crisis intervention instructor, educator, as well as the real-world wisdom accumulated so far, to everyone that reads this book. Teaching a sense of self-love as well as self-acceptance and giving a framework for both parents and children to help build their lives into sturdy and happy homes is his goal. What I Tell Myself FIRST: Children's Real-World Affirmations of Self Esteem is to readers what the AED is to a heart: it instills the defibrillator of self-esteem so powerful for when times are tough and your mind is under attack. Mike hones in on his military past and the methodology behind why servicemembers say creeds in various forms and military occupational specialties. This book will serve its purpose not for when times are good. But for when times are bad, when one is on that dark road and it feels like no one is there. It will serve as the proverbial jump pack to the battery of the mind. Like the hug that you needed but did not get. Like the words you needed to hear but did not hear. This book of reality-based daily affirmations are the “I wish I had this” of books. We MUST instill in our children the answer to bullying, body-shaming, hate, and attacks on the self through daily affirmations.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781734184808
Publisher:	Mabma Enterprises, LLC
Publication date:	11/19/2019
Series:	What I Tell Myself , #1
Pages:	32
Product dimensions:	8.50(w) x 8.50(h) x 0.25(d)
Age Range:	1 - 12 Years

About the Author

An artist since childhood, Zoe lives in Belmont, NC and never had to ponder the question "what do I want to be when I grow up?" After graduating from the Art Institute of Pittsburgh in 1993 Zoe moved to Cleveland, Ohio to start her career. She worked for 7 years as an Art Director for GR&A Advertising until moving to Charlotte, North Carolina in 2002 and took the opportunity to begin her freelance venture. Currently, Zoe runs an independent graphic design and illustration studio and is enjoying great success. Zoe has enjoyed the wonderful opportunity to transition to more illustration along with her graphic and web design projects. She attributes a great deal of her inspiration from her husband Alex, two daughters, Mila and Giada, and her two hound dogs, two cats, two fish and one bearded dragon! You can learn more about Zoe and her work at www.gooddharma.com.

Born in Chicago, IL, Michael Brown served in the United States Army, in various communities as a police officer and currently serves as an anger management specialist, nonviolent crisis intervention instructor, and collegiate / career occupational educator in multiple criminal justice-related disciplines. He is the father of four beautiful children and believes raising them into the best strong, capable, productive, responsible, and most importantly, happy human beings they can be is his life's mission. Mr. Brown is an advocate of education and is a graduate of Governors State University in University Park, Illinois, having been conferred a Bachelor of Arts degree in Interdisciplinary Studies (Criminal Justice, Psychology and Philosophy) in 2006 and a Master of Arts degree in Criminal Justice in 2012.

Editorial Reviews

"As a parent and Autism Co. Chair/Committee Organizer, I not only recommend this book for all parents, teachers and friends, but to every elementary, middle and even high school. This book is empowering. It shows our children about Values and Self Love and to appreciate the person they see in the mirror no matter what others think. I believe that Mr. Brown has captured so many tools for helping our children succeed, showing them how to love who they are and also about dealing with things they might face in life while not allowing those things to change how they value themselves. This book is Amazing. Make sure you grab your copy and spread the word." Melissa Vega, Parent

“Who is your illustrator?! These are amazing! I love the illustrations, the affirmations, I love it. We just purchased a book called, The Heart of a Boy, trying to help black boys love themselves. And your book is very needed needed because adults have seemed the dropped the ball on building their children up and making them feel special. We want this.” Deborah Beasley, Youth Services Manager, Blue Island (IL) Public Library

“We just had a youth counselor come in and look for a book for his groups. This is perfect! This came right on time.” Matteson (IL) Area Public Library District

“I came from a two parent home and with them being busy this book can help a lot of kids when their parents are already there because they work. By the time the parent gets home, they’re tired and so no values get really passed on. This book is really good!” - PO Colon, Chicago Police Department

“It’s a good book that we can incorporate with our Christian values and being aligned with the Spirit!” Nate Pettinga, Oak Lawn Principal, Southwest Chicago Christian Schools

“I love it!” Let’s go!!!!" Laura Van Cleve, Director, Richton Park (IL) Public Library

“This is right up our alley with what we teach. This book would reaffirm these principles. And the illustrations are exciting and what kids love to look at.” Rebecca Bellonci, Head of School, All Day Montessori

From the Publisher

2019-12-20
This illustrated children's book aims to build self-esteem through affirmations.

Debut author Brown opens by offering three statements for kids to complete: "I am _____"; "The truth is _____"; and "A lie is _____." Each statement is accompanied by instructions to help them fill in the blank. Recommended affirmations include "I must always tell myself the truth" and "I must love me FIRST." Throughout, the book also accepts personal limitations: "If I'm not right, that's okay. I won't always be right." It's always okay to be ourselves, the book says, but we all have responsibilities to, for instance, teach what we've learned and earn respect. A final page explains the psychologist Abraham Maslow's hierarchy of needs, with a diagram. Overall, the book seems well intentioned, and Ranucci's (Crave to be Bold, 2018, etc.) energetic images hearteningly show diverse skin colors, body shapes, and abilities. Also, although plenty of children's books offer affirmations, few address Maslow's theory. However, some of its statements are questionable, such as "It is NO ONE's job to ‘Protect Me' from anything. That is my job." Many would say that adults should, for example, respond to bullying.

This book's diverse representation is a plus, but there are better options available in this genre.

Kirkus Reviews