Home grown children's author Trudi Franke

I was just thinking back to when I first had the thought to write a story. My oldest son was stumped by an issue at pre-school. It was a personal issue which teetered dangerously on becoming a self-esteem issue and I knew if I didn't find the right way to deal with it - on a sensitive but positive level - it could well become one of those issues that could impact negatively in the future. A growth point versus a stumbling block.

I believe, to be effective as a parent is to be "tuned in" to who your child is. Communication is a way we tune in. There are two levels of communication we use as parents. The kind of general communication like "go and brush your teeth" which deals more with the physical well being of a child and then the more intimate level of communication, which touches on their emotional needs. It deals with the mushy stuff, like feelings or the complex issues of faith, self belief and self esteem.

It's easy to communicate on a general level but not always easy on a personal level. Our lives are busy. Taking time to communicate on a more intimate level means making a real effort.

It comes with the responsibility of not inflating an issue but rather nudging your child towards finding a positive means to understand it.

Effective parenting is not always about delivering a solution - my son's would call that a lecture - but rather encouraging a child to find a solution for themselves. Children love positives and so helping them to find positive solutions is a way of teaching them about coping positively with all life issues.

So I wrote these stories to develop my children as individuals. These simple little stories became as a way of introducing an issue, then revealing a solution without me speaking about it directly. It gave my children the opportunity to "discover" a solution for themselves and by doing that helped them work through it and move on. Call it shrewd parenting but it worked.

I also wrote these stories for the future. For those tumultuous teenage years. By developing a more personal and communicative relationship we were able to develop something even more important - TRUST. In the teenage years, trust becomes, by far, the BIGGEST issue. Having a strong, trusting relationship with your young adult, as they try out the world means you both stand on more solid ground. I'm there now, my first child is at that point and I can honestly say all the hard work has been worth it. Happy reading, happy nudging and happy parenting.

Trudi

The White Girrafe book review by Holly

Holly is 10 and she has written to us about a book she loved. Thank you for sharing your good read with us :)

The White Giraffe

By Lauren St John

This is a brilliant book about an 11 year old girl. When her parents die she has to move to a South African game reserve where her grandmother lives. When she gets there she makes a strange new friend, discovers she has a special talent and saves her friend.

I like this book because it is set in South Africa, it is full of mystery and because they are so many animals in it!

I have read some of this author's other books and they are also very good!

By Holly Marsden (10 years old)

Heaven for Kids by R.Alcorn

If you are a christian parent and you would like a book that answers some interesting questions about Heaven for kids , then this is your book. Randy Alcorn is a good writer and he sets this book out with questions and answers about Heaven. I have been reading it with our 12 year old and our 10 year old as a kind of spring board for clarifying ideas and questions and for discussing all sorts of good things. I have thoroughly enjoyed sharing this book with them and been thrilled at how God is using it to answer some tough questions. I recommend this book.

Why do kids like to and need to read books about good and evil?

 In answering the question about good and evil in children's books, I came across this perspective. Have a read and share your thoughts.


School of Education at Johns Hopkins University-Understanding Good and Evil in Children's Literature