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What's Inside Your Backpack?: Coping Skills For Kids Who Have Experienced Trauma
All around us, children are carrying backpacks that are heavy with more than just textbooks. Each day, they also bear the weight of difficult life experiences and intense feelings. Zoey Harmon just wants to feel light-hearted and carefree. Unfortunately, she keeps getting weighed down by pesky "books" in her backpack, like Worry and Shame. Much to her surprise, she's not the only one! Zoey learns that the adults in her life deal with difficult feelings too! Luckily, they have some ideas that can help her set aside the books she's not meant to carry. Will it be enough to help her unload the heaviest book of all? "You look a little worried, kiddo," Zoey's mom said, giving her a squeeze. "Sometimes I need a bright thought to help me when I'm feeling upset. Here, try this." She slid a bookmark into Zoey's hand. Zoey looked down and read: Imagine with Hope. "What's this?" asked Zoey. "When we don't know what to expect, worry wants us to imagine with fear, to think about all the worst possibilities. This is a little reminder I use to think of the good things that might happen when I imagine with hope instead." While there are no quick fixes for all of life's complex problems, What's Inside Your Backpack? highlights some of the ways we can nurture resilience in body and mind. Using the metaphor of books and bookmarks, author Jessica Sinarski offers gentle, effective strategies to help children impacted by trauma. By sharing their burdens with people they trust, kids can lighten their load and realize just how strong and courageous they really are!
32 pages, Paperback
Published February 4, 2021
About the author
Jessica Sinarski
11 books43 followersJessica Sinarski, author of Riley the Brave, is also a therapist, supervisor, consultant and educator. She is a thought-leader in connecting neuroscience with practice, especially in adult-child relationships. Her areas of expertise include early trauma and adoption, with an emphasis on brain development and the mind/body connection. She has been consulting with schools, agencies and parent groups since 2005 and was recently invited to speak at the largest adoption conference in North America. Jess lives in Pennsylvania with her husband and 3 busy boys.
Find her at https://www.facebook.com/rileythebrave and https://www.instagram.com/jessicasina...
Find her at https://www.facebook.com/rileythebrave and https://www.instagram.com/jessicasina...
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
January 31, 2021
As an educator I am always interested in reading this kind of books, especially when they talk about delicate topics such as fear, shame, ...
The most interesting thing was the use of the books in the backpack (as the weight that we all carry on our shoulders, not just children) and the use of bookmarks.
-- "I wish some of these books would just go away forever! They come and go even for us adults. We all need safe people to talk through with when that happens... And reminders, like this bookmark, when they show up again!" --
The story is accompanied by beautiful illustrations, an important part in children's books.
Absolutely recommended!
3,5/4
Thank you NetGalley !
The most interesting thing was the use of the books in the backpack (as the weight that we all carry on our shoulders, not just children) and the use of bookmarks.
-- "I wish some of these books would just go away forever! They come and go even for us adults. We all need safe people to talk through with when that happens... And reminders, like this bookmark, when they show up again!" --
The story is accompanied by beautiful illustrations, an important part in children's books.
Absolutely recommended!
3,5/4
Thank you NetGalley !
February 8, 2021
Thank you #NetGalley for the advance review copy of "What's Inside Your Backpack?" This was a really interesting read as an adult and reminded me in many ways of the popular childrens movie Inside Out. It addresses some really important issues such as children that are feeling unsafe in their own home.
This book is really geared towards school age kids that are struggling with many emotions and going through changes. Because of the subject manner, I think that some older school age kids could also really benefit and learn a lot from the story as well. It addresses feelings such as worry, shame, bravery, fear, hope and excitement to name a few. It also has some poignant parts that explain how you can feel opposite feelings at the same time.
Overall the childens story What's Inside Your Backpack is a really important and impactful book and I wasn't sure what to expect based on the title of the story but I'm happy that I picked it up to read.
This book is really geared towards school age kids that are struggling with many emotions and going through changes. Because of the subject manner, I think that some older school age kids could also really benefit and learn a lot from the story as well. It addresses feelings such as worry, shame, bravery, fear, hope and excitement to name a few. It also has some poignant parts that explain how you can feel opposite feelings at the same time.
Overall the childens story What's Inside Your Backpack is a really important and impactful book and I wasn't sure what to expect based on the title of the story but I'm happy that I picked it up to read.
January 27, 2021
The description of this title had me curious & I was positively surprised how well the topic of children and traumatising experiences, was touched in this little lovely book.
Instead of offering an escape into a dream world, this book shows how a child can learn to live with trauma and horrible memories - the metaphor of a "heavy book" was so fitting and the idea of the bookmark placed, very helpful.
What I loved the most was that the book showed that negative experience does not mean for the child to have to cope with it alone - there are people here to help deal with it & to become stronger.
I wish we had more such books, as for children who had to go through hard times - these kinds of books must feel like their new best friends.
Instead of offering an escape into a dream world, this book shows how a child can learn to live with trauma and horrible memories - the metaphor of a "heavy book" was so fitting and the idea of the bookmark placed, very helpful.
What I loved the most was that the book showed that negative experience does not mean for the child to have to cope with it alone - there are people here to help deal with it & to become stronger.
I wish we had more such books, as for children who had to go through hard times - these kinds of books must feel like their new best friends.
February 7, 2021
Book received for free through NetGalley
I absolutely adored this book. I read it through the first time with my 4 and 6 year old. I love that it gave us tools to talk about our big feelings by visualizing them as book and then adding positive bookmarks to them to help handle those feelings. The main character’s biggest feeling was about an unsafe dad. The author handled it well but figured I’d mention it in case it’s a bad trigger you may have to talk about first.
My kids review says:
“A trillion, billion and million percent good book” 6-year old
“I like there’s a Zoey in the book” my 4 year old Zoey
I absolutely adored this book. I read it through the first time with my 4 and 6 year old. I love that it gave us tools to talk about our big feelings by visualizing them as book and then adding positive bookmarks to them to help handle those feelings. The main character’s biggest feeling was about an unsafe dad. The author handled it well but figured I’d mention it in case it’s a bad trigger you may have to talk about first.
My kids review says:
“A trillion, billion and million percent good book” 6-year old
“I like there’s a Zoey in the book” my 4 year old Zoey
March 9, 2021
What's Inside Your Backpack provides concrete word pictures to help children understand those feelings they carry around with them that are not their fault or hard to understand: Worry, fear, and shame, etc., I felt it was especially important how counter-examples of adult were included--those who make bad choices (it being OK to say that!) and the adults who gather around Zoey to help her process the big feelings she wishes would go away. So much in this book! Two different things being true at the same time, adults who struggle with feelings also, how to cope (breathing and imagining hope). Beautifully done! What a great resource!
February 27, 2021
Kids nowadays face more complications than before: broken home, bullying, and many other things.
This book is the story of a girl who suffered an abusive father who then got separated with his family. The "baggage" she carries burdens her, and she doesn't know how to help herself. It's the adults' job to pay more attention to her and help her cope with her new life.
Recognizing what bothers her would be a tool to help her facing her problems and fears. As an adult, I learn many things from this book to be able to help kids like Zoey.
This book is the story of a girl who suffered an abusive father who then got separated with his family. The "baggage" she carries burdens her, and she doesn't know how to help herself. It's the adults' job to pay more attention to her and help her cope with her new life.
Recognizing what bothers her would be a tool to help her facing her problems and fears. As an adult, I learn many things from this book to be able to help kids like Zoey.
March 28, 2021
This book is about coping skills for children who experience some type of drama in their young lives. This easy read provides creative strategies and analogy to help young children with “big” problems. This book tackles worry, fear, shame, stress, and anxiety. They weigh your backpack down when you going through life. I really enjoyed all the metaphors in the book. Chloe finds out her teacher is going to be out and there will be a substitute. I recommend this to young children to middle grade. I give this book five stars.
February 13, 2021
this book was so beautiful and it put into words something that can be understood easily (about mental/emotional pain) understood by a young child. I don't know what I expected when I first saw the title but what I got was fantastic. I also loved the anti-bias theme with multiple different characters as well as the illustrations looking real. a great tool to have and something I would want in my classroom regardless of the age
March 27, 2021
I thought that this book was excellent – it makes tough subjects ones easier to talk about.
The book was well written, easy to understand and I liked the way it linked the topics to show that adults do feel these feelings at times too and you are not alone at all. It is a great way to bring up this topic to discuss with youngsters too.
It is 5 stars from me for this one – very highly recommended!
The book was well written, easy to understand and I liked the way it linked the topics to show that adults do feel these feelings at times too and you are not alone at all. It is a great way to bring up this topic to discuss with youngsters too.
It is 5 stars from me for this one – very highly recommended!
May 5, 2021
This book made me cry in the best way. I'm not even sure what to say except BUY THIS BOOK and keep it in every elementary school classroom. Use this to help parents and caregivers understand good ways to talk to kids about trauma. Read this yourself and use the tools it provides. I can promise you, it's worth it.
Thank you to NetGalley, the National Center for Youth Issues, and the IBPA for providing me with an e-arc of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Thank you to NetGalley, the National Center for Youth Issues, and the IBPA for providing me with an e-arc of this book in exchange for an honest review.
March 31, 2021
This book is helpful as a subtle way to talk to children about trauma and how to utilize coping mechanisms. As an adult with trauma I find these metaphors helpful for me as well. The book is very thoughtfully written. I highly recommend it!
I just reviewed What's Inside Your Backpack? by Jessica Sinarski. #WhatsInsideYourBackpack #NetGalley
I just reviewed What's Inside Your Backpack? by Jessica Sinarski. #WhatsInsideYourBackpack #NetGalley
Want to Read
April 8, 2021Note: I received a digital review copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley.
July 10, 2021
What a wonderful book to read and discuss with children when worry, fear, shame, and other emotions are too big for them to understand.
February 4, 2023
This was so good with great tips at the end. I wish I would have had this concept in my toolkit when dealing with some anxiety/worry issues when my daughter was younger.
March 2, 2021
Therapists typically love metaphors and symbolism. Who among us hasn't talked to clients about their "toolbox", emotional "band-aids", icebergs, or chains? Sometimes new therapists treating children have difficulty effectively building an impactful metaphor that is relatable and age-appropriate. In Jessica Sinarski's new book "What's Inside Your Backpack?" the metaphor is introduced for you! The author created a perfect narrative of a young girl, Zoey, who is struggling with the experience of trauma-related thoughts and feelings. Full of shame & discomfort, she is reluctant to ask for help. Sinarski and illustrator, Joanne Lew-Vriethoff, walk the reader alongside Zoey as she carries this heavy backpack, laden with big emotions, scary experiences, and uncertainty about the future. As Zoey discloses how much she is struggling, she finds that people help her lighten the load. The author includes helper in Zoey's story like her mom, school teacher, and school counselor. An added bonus is that this book includes much needed diversity, often lacking in the SEL genre! In Zoey's experience, her trauma was due to actions by her abusive father but her coping, trauma reminders, and symptoms are relatable to the experiences of many in therapy.
As I read this book, I was flooded with ideas of how to incorporate Zoey's experiences into clinical practice. The book could certainly be used as a resource for child advocacy center therapists and victim services support staff. Additionally, Sinarski includes each of the primary components of the Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy model creating a FANTSTIC resource to be used form intake through discharge, on section at a time. I absolutely would incorporate a physical backpack and heavy prompts into my sessions to help further the impact of the metaphor about the burden of unaddressed feelings and intrusive memories.
I highly encourage this book to all of my trauma-therapy colleagues! "What Is In Your Backpack?" is sure to be an invaluable resource in your practice!
As I read this book, I was flooded with ideas of how to incorporate Zoey's experiences into clinical practice. The book could certainly be used as a resource for child advocacy center therapists and victim services support staff. Additionally, Sinarski includes each of the primary components of the Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy model creating a FANTSTIC resource to be used form intake through discharge, on section at a time. I absolutely would incorporate a physical backpack and heavy prompts into my sessions to help further the impact of the metaphor about the burden of unaddressed feelings and intrusive memories.
I highly encourage this book to all of my trauma-therapy colleagues! "What Is In Your Backpack?" is sure to be an invaluable resource in your practice!
February 4, 2021
What's Inside Your Backpack? Coping Skills for Kids Who Have Experienced Trauma
by Sinarski, Jessica
I am immediately sharing this book with a councilor and a principal at my local schools. I was amazed by the idea with in this book. It is a simple way of helping children adapt to difficult situations. Beginning with a young girl who is upset by life immediate changes. As you read through this you find that there is more to this little girl's story. She is carrying a vary heavy load, and making those problems into a book, and book marks as reminders of how to deal with the moment is a great visual idea that will help kids. I think this book should be in every classroom helping the teachers and adults learn the best way to help their students. This book is a great resource for the students as well.
by Sinarski, Jessica
I am immediately sharing this book with a councilor and a principal at my local schools. I was amazed by the idea with in this book. It is a simple way of helping children adapt to difficult situations. Beginning with a young girl who is upset by life immediate changes. As you read through this you find that there is more to this little girl's story. She is carrying a vary heavy load, and making those problems into a book, and book marks as reminders of how to deal with the moment is a great visual idea that will help kids. I think this book should be in every classroom helping the teachers and adults learn the best way to help their students. This book is a great resource for the students as well.
January 30, 2021
This is a book with a purpose. What's Inside Your Backpack might be a good conversation starter with troubled children who carry a lot of heavy loads in silence. A happy bedtime story it isn't, as it involves a child who is afraid of her father, among other things. Zoey's backpack contains a book named Worry, and another titled Shame, Her new substitute teacher, her school counselor and her mother help her deal with her conflicting feelings, with the aid of encouraging bookmarks. Everyone has bad feelings and it's okay to ask for help to avoid carrying them around all the time. I liked the principal idea of the book and the colorful illustrations with a diverse crowd of children.
I read a digital review copy I got from Netgalley on my phone Kindle app but unless you have better eyesight than I do it would be better suitable for bigger screens or a paper copy. I had to zoom in to read the text and then zoom back to see the illustrations.
I read a digital review copy I got from Netgalley on my phone Kindle app but unless you have better eyesight than I do it would be better suitable for bigger screens or a paper copy. I had to zoom in to read the text and then zoom back to see the illustrations.
January 24, 2021
Review of eBook
Zoey carries some heavy books in her backpack . . . worry, unsafe parent, shame . . . and struggles to deal with the traumatic issues that she has experienced. Fortunately, her mom, her teacher, and the school counselor all have some very good advice for Zoey.
How will the advice help Zoey? Will she be able to set aside her worries and concentrate on playing basketball with her friends?
In a perfect world, children would never feel worry or shame or know the scary feelings that come with having an unsafe parent. But the world isn’t perfect and “What’s Inside Your Backpack?” suggests some ways that adults might help the children living lives touched by trauma.
Listening and talking with the child can help develop resilience as it provides the child with the needed coping skills. By using the representation of books and backpacks . . . something familiar to every schoolchild . . . the author provides an easily-understood context for the worries the children carry inside themselves. By encouraging them to share the things that are so heavy, they can ease their concerns as they discover their own strength and courage.
Tips for adults to help children cope follow Zoey’s story.
Recommended.
I received a free copy of this eBook from National Center for Youth Issues and NetGalley
#WhatsInsideYourBackpack #NetGalley
Zoey carries some heavy books in her backpack . . . worry, unsafe parent, shame . . . and struggles to deal with the traumatic issues that she has experienced. Fortunately, her mom, her teacher, and the school counselor all have some very good advice for Zoey.
How will the advice help Zoey? Will she be able to set aside her worries and concentrate on playing basketball with her friends?
In a perfect world, children would never feel worry or shame or know the scary feelings that come with having an unsafe parent. But the world isn’t perfect and “What’s Inside Your Backpack?” suggests some ways that adults might help the children living lives touched by trauma.
Listening and talking with the child can help develop resilience as it provides the child with the needed coping skills. By using the representation of books and backpacks . . . something familiar to every schoolchild . . . the author provides an easily-understood context for the worries the children carry inside themselves. By encouraging them to share the things that are so heavy, they can ease their concerns as they discover their own strength and courage.
Tips for adults to help children cope follow Zoey’s story.
Recommended.
I received a free copy of this eBook from National Center for Youth Issues and NetGalley
#WhatsInsideYourBackpack #NetGalley
March 10, 2021
Thanks to Netgalley and the National Center for Youth Issues for a free digital copy for my review.
A helpful story to help kids consider how our feelings afffect us and to learn which feelings to embrace and which to work to put aside.
A helpful story to help kids consider how our feelings afffect us and to learn which feelings to embrace and which to work to put aside.
January 28, 2021
This is such a good book for a child that is struggling with change in their home. Also, if there has been any traumatic instances that haven't been dealt with. This book walks with a little girl who is carrying around the weight of her circumstances and does not know what to do about them. She doesn't even really how heavy things are to her. Once she is helped by a teacher, she is able to open up and feel better. This would be wonderful for any child struggling with coping what has happened in their family.
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews