With so much talk in the media about children being bullied, after ten years out of print, the timing for the release of Dr. Pat Palmer’s classics, Liking Myself and The Mouse, The Monster and Me are perfect. Both books are illustrated by Sue Rama and published by Uplift Press.
My children seem to like The Mouse, the Monster, and Me best. It’s about understanding everyone is unique, from personality to behavior. The artwork and narrative illustrate an aggressive “monster” and a passive “mouse.” My children easily identified which of them was more like the monster and which was more like a mouse. They also extended this out into the people they know beyond family.
The Mouse, the Monster, and Me remind me of the communication awareness courses I took in my career as a Manager. I loved the exercises the book provides to reinforce the lessons. They are simple and yet, still fun.
We actually broke the book down into parts and took the time to discuss the topic and lessons. It opened the door for communication, and I caught a better glimpse of how they resist being bullied. My children were quick to see that while we are all different, we all have the same feelings, especially hurt, sadness, wanting to be loved, and anger.
While the book is targeted for kiddos 8 years and up, my five-year-old has benefited greatly; I see changes in my five-year-old. He actively participates in the lessons and enjoys himself just as much as those siblings that fit into the preferred age bracket.
The second book, “Liking Myself,” centers on building self-esteem. Its target age is between five and eleven years. It brings awareness to the things we feel. It encourages communication in both listening and talking about feelings. I love that “Liking Myself” tackles some pretty big emotions like anxiety, depression, anger, and being over-whelmed…without hurting others. My five-year-old has benefited greatly. He is my stomper, and by reading this book and working on the exercises, he understands why he is doing this and that there are alternatives to express himself positively in spite of his being upset.
The activities in both books seem to have my children coming back. They aren’t “work” but fun, like “Draw your favorite thing to do” (pg 4 of Liking Myself), Saying No Game (pg 43 The Mouse, The Monster and Me), Draw Your Own Smile (pg. 52 “Liking Myself”) and The Compliment Game (pg 65, The Mouse, The Monster and Me).
I encourage you to check out each of these books and open the door of communication with your children. I’ve learned a lot about myself as well.
Both books are available on Amazon or through the publisher, Uplift Press.
About Dr. Pat Palmer :
Dr. Pat Palmer is a psychologist and founder of the Assertiveness Training Institute of Denver. She has counseled adults and young people throughout the US in the areas of assertiveness and self-esteem. In addition to writing Liking Myself and The Mouse, the Monster and Me, Dr. Palmer also wrote Teen Esteem, and I Wish I Could Hold Your Hand.