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Calm Down Counting
Molly’s family loves camping, but not Molly. Why? Because creepy crawlies are everywhere, and they scare her. In fact, they make her PANIC!
With the help of her mom, dad, and little sister, Molly practices using the 5-4-3-2-1 method for managing anxious thoughts and learns that while she can’t control the world around her, she can get a handle on her BIG feelings.
This book is designed to help children who experience anxiety by providing them with effective coping skills to better navigate their emotions and fears.
THEMES IN THIS BOOK…
self-regulation – grounding techniques – compassion – emotional competence – family support
Author: Suzanne Elson
Illustrator: Dania El Khatib
Ages: 5-9
Pages: 40
Dimensions: 9.5" x 9.5"
ISBN: 978-1-998549-70-2
Author & Illustrator
Suzanne emigrated from Scotland to Canada at the age of 10 and started writing in high school. Having had several poems and short stories published while completing her BA in English Literature from Guelph University, she paused her writing to raise her three sons. After furthering her education, Suzanne started her long career as an ESL teacher in London, Ontario. The quiet of the pandemic allowed Suzanne to resume her writing, which she is now doing full-time, with the occasional teaching day sprinkled in. When Suzanne isn’t writing, she’s creating new memories with her husband, her boys, and her beautiful grandbabies, and can often be spotted at a campground—if she’s lucky, her whole family is there too!
More information can be found on her website: suzanneelson.com
Dania is a graphic designer and illustrator born in Beirut and based in Ottawa. Her illustration journey started with a summer job as a comic illustrator while she majored in Arts and Archaeology and got her Master's in Museology/Art History. From there, a beloved childhood hobby swiftly and unexpectedly developed into an exciting career!
She has since worked as a graphic designer with international NGOs, institutions, and publishers, and designed diversified print and digital material for numerous educational projects, awareness campaigns, and events. She has illustrated and designed more than 40 children’s books and has even been the art director of a children's magazine.
See more from Dania on her website: dania-elkhatib.com
✍️ Book Reviews
Calm Down Counting is a wonderful book for kids of all ages! Both cute and educational, it hits all the notes parents would want in a children’s book. With its charming illustrations and hilariously relatable story, I would recommend this book to anyone looking to teach their kids about anxiety in a lighthearted way.
~ Julianne Magnan, author and mother
This book was so cute! Through fun and relatable experiences, Calm Down Counting teaches children the importance of taking a moment to cool down and realign their feelings with an effective calming method. We live an era of anxiety and learning the calm down counting technique is more important than ever.
- Lindsay B, children's book author and teacher
This beautiful picture book does an incredible job of leading children and their families through the process of calm down counting. The words and illustrations help young readers recognize that it is OK to be anxious, and the resources at the back are very helpful in dealing with those big feelings. I highly recommend this picture book to families everywhere!
- Coreen Wilkinson, special education curriculum leader
Five things I can see, four things I can hear, three things I can touch, two things I can smell... and one big deep breath. This is what we all need when anxiety and uncomfortable feelings arise. This story is very important not only for children, but for adults as well. Mindfulness is a practice that makes us strong and resilient, and learning it at a young age is beneficial to grow strong and attuned to our wants and needs.
- Roberta Abussi, retired preschool teacher
When our emotions get the best of us, Calm Down Counting is an excellent instruction manual for kids (and adults) to help regulate our emotions in 5 easy steps. Suzanne and Dania have artfully crafted a book to give us a story that both informs and beautifully entertains as it lays out concrete steps to tackle what makes us anxious in a world we can't always control. A must-read for all!
- Christina Frost, children's literature consultant