Special thanks to Susanna Hill, and the many prize donors, for sponsoring the Halloweensie contest! This contest challenges writers to create a story in 100 words using the words cobweb, trick and potion! No easy feat! Here is my crack at it! Happy Halloween!!

COBWEBS
By Vasilia Graboski
 
​ 
Cobwebs, the bat, stalks bugs.
Witches and ghosts roam below.
 
 “TRICK OR TREAT!”
CANDY?
 
 I LOVE CANDY!
Cobwebs trails the ghosts.
“TRICK OR TREAT!”
 
“AAAAHHHHH!  BAT!” SLAM!
 
“TRICK OR TREAT!”
Cobwebs flies INTO the house.
 
“AAAAHHHH!!”
The witch slams the broom toward Cobwebs. BAM!
 
Trick or Treating is not for me!
 
But CANDY!  Gummy Worms!
“TRICK OR TREAT?”
 
“AAAAHHHH! BAT!” 
Candy flies EVERYWHERE! A sucker hits Cobwebs.
 
PLOP!
“AAAAHHHHH! DEAD BAT!”
 
Cobwebs awakens.
I need magic potion to make me less scary.
 
Maybe a costume?
Cobweb flies into a bird’s nest.
 
“TWICK OR TWEET!”
GUMMY WORMS!
EXCITEMENT!! Feathers fly EVERYWHERE!

ADHD is the most commonly diagnosed Behavior Disorder in children under 18 years of age. It is also the most over-diagnosed disorder, as many disorders of childhood present with similar symptoms. Hyperactivity, distractibility and impulsiveness can be present in many other disorders including Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, Anxiety Disorders,  Autism and budding Bipolar Disorder. Therefore, it is important to obtain an evaluation by a mental health professional who explores the child's developmental and family history. The professional should also obtain detailed feedback from parents and teachers, along with doing careful observations of the child. ​

Despite the complications of diagnosis, ADHD is real and creates much difficulty for the child at home, in the classroom, and often, in the community. ADHD frequently overlaps with other disorders including Oppositional Defiant Disorder, Learning Disabilities, Sensory Processing Disorders, Anxiety and Conduct Disorder. This is another reason it is difficult to diagnose as there are often multiple things going on. 

One of the most common side effects with children with ADHD that I have noticed in my practice, is the repeated negativity they receive in all settings. Their behaviors can be very trying on adult caregivers and teachers which often leads to significant negative feedback. They often become scapegoated by their peers and are often in trouble. This leads to poor self-esteem in addition to all of the other issues. ​This book goes a long way in helping that issue as it celebrates the positive attributes of children with ADHD.

Izzy, the main character, presents with many problems in the classroom, including getting hyper-focused on a thought, difficulty focusing on the current discussion, an inability to sit still, making distracting noises such as tapping foot, drumming fingers, snapping her hair clip, humming, etc. She also climbs on her desk and while doing so, all of her books crash to the floor disrupting the whole class. Many parents and teachers can relate to observing these behaviors!

However, there was a problem in the classroom with the pet rabbit's food disappearing and this is what Izzy cannot get off her mind. Due to her good problem solving skills, a very strong working memory, and a particularly strong interest in the missing food, Izzy is able to be a leader with problem solving and presents as the classroom hero as she is able to solve the mystery of the rabbit food thief! Her great memory and problem solving skills are her SUPERPOWERS.

This is an excellent book for kids with ADHD to read to gain awareness of their ADHD issues. The main takeaway from the book is to point out that ADHD kids, like all kids,  have many strengths and can contribute a great deal of positive to the world around them. These strengths need to be acknowledged and highlighted. Dr. Alloway offers a Note to Parents/Teachers at the end of the book providing much information on ADHD. She also provides Discussion Points for the reader to help kids increase their comprehension and personal awareness.

The Classroom Mystery; a book about ADHD is part of the Superpowers Series celebrating positive traits associated with common Special Educational Needs. All of the books in this series are printed in "dyslexia-friendly fonts" to make it easier for children with learning disabilities to read. Three other books in this series are being released soon by this author. Check out her website at https://tracyalloway.com!

For more information on ADHD, a great resource to refer to is http://www.chadd.com. 
​

After reading the book, why not have kids identify their own SUPERPOWERS?!  Making a SUPERHERO PUPPET would make this exercise especially fun! This activity can be beneficial for all children, not only children diagnosed with ADHD.

Materials needed:
paper bag
mask template
white cardstock
construction paper or cardstock-various colors
crayons/markers
black marker
scissors
glue​

I wrote the poem below for the Fall Frenzy Writing Contest and decided to share as I was hoping it might touch the hearts of other parents. I was inspired to write this poem by the image below. It is about separation between parent and child. A universal process that I feel is both the most beautiful and most painful part of parenting. It begins as the child starts to walk and move away from the parent and continues through young adulthood and beyond. Sometimes, as parents, we lose sight of the fact that separation and individuation are the goal of parenting. Luckily, we can count on those kids for continual, sometimes unpleasant, reminders!

​BIG THANKS  to Kaitlyn Leann Sanchez and Lydia Lukidis for organizing this amazing contest for the kid lit community. Special thanks to all of the generous donors for contributing their time, expertise and books to this fun Fall event!

​

Child of Mine
By Vasilia Graboski
 
  Child of Mine
I am your strength.
I am your foundation;
your roots.
 
You will grow.
You will change.
You will become yourself;
Flowing and fluttering in your own way.
Becoming you.
A Beautiful soul.
 
 Life will change you in many ways.
Sometimes it may feel harsh.
Life’s events may take pieces of you;
Make holes that you don’t desire.
Make you ragged in shape.
But you will still be you.
Beautiful you.
 
Over time, you will separate from me;
Slowly move away.
I will no longer be able to protect you
With my cover.
You will fly on your own.
But, pieces of me will be inside of you for always;
 to help guide your way.
 
Never forget where you came from;
the love and caring deep inside you.
Your foundation is strong.
It will flutter and flow with you
Wherever you may land.
 
 Child of Mine
Let the wind take you
Where you are destined to go.
Wander, explore, evolve,
I will always be there;
The foundation inside you.
 
Oh, child of mine,
I don’t want you to go.
But you must.
Now is your time.
Flutter, drift, glide, swirl, tumble, roll, emerge and
Soar through this great world. 

Join me in registering for this exciting event! Brian Gehrlein of Picture Book Spotlight has generously put together the amazing Picture Book Critique Fest 2019. There is a chance to win a critique from one of thirty-six published authors, author/illustrators or agents. Don't pass up your chance to participate. Check this out today! Click on the link below for detailed info.

https://www.pbspotlight.com/single-post/2019/09/24/Picture-Book-Critique-Fest

Millions of children in the United States live in single-parent homes without their fathers. This phenomenon has disproportionately affected minority groups, especially the African American Community, in a large part, due to the the history of mass incarcerations. It is also especially relevant today in the Latino community with the increase in deportations and family separations. 

Children growing up in fatherless homes tend to be more vulnerable to social problems and pressures. Research shows an increase in the likelihood of poverty, lower academic performance, behavioral and mental health issues and increased high school drop out rates. Children without a father figure also show higher rates of suicide, runaway incidents, substance abuse and aggression. Additionally, young men who grow up without father figures are twice as likely to end up in jail. Therefore, I think we can come to the conclusion that FATHERS ARE IMPORTANT! This fact is clear throughout the story. 

Daniel Beaty begins the story with a beautiful relationship between an African American father and son, who have many daily routines and rituals that bring them close. The father knocks on the son's door to wake him every morning and one day the knock doesn't come. Papa is gone. The boy strongly feels this void in his life and misses all of the rituals he did with his father. You can feel the sense of sadness and loss throughout the story and the illustrations.

The boy waits and waits for his father to return. He realizes he is lacking something and that he needs his Dad to teach him things as he grows. He shows a strong identification with his Dad and is afraid of forgetting what he was like. 

Finally, months later, the boy receives a letter from his father. This is a very sad moment in the story when he learns that his father will never be coming home. An important quote from the letter is "the best of me still lives in you." The father tells his son that he must knock down doors that he could not. He gives the boy hope that he still exists without his father and he has the potential to succeed. He does not have to let his past define him. 

The collage style illustrations throughout the book add tremendously to the heart and emotion of the story. Bryan Collier creates a realistic urban landscape with the father's things around the boy as a constant reminder. Of special significance is the hat that the father wore being present throughout the book. This seemed to me to be a symbol of the father always being present in the boy's life. I appreciate the representation in this book of an African American family. Children of all races need to be able to see themselves in books to know that they are relevant to the world. 

It is unclear in the book as to why his father is gone. However, the author pulls from his personal experience growing up in a home in which his father was incarcerated when he was young. The vagueness on the father's whereabouts feels especially relevant to me. Through working with these kids and families, I have noticed that it is common for caretakers to try and protect children from the fact that their parent was incarcerated. Children are often left in the dark with inadequate explanations and falsehoods, having to use their own imaginations on their parent's whereabouts. Children without a clear explanation often come to the conclusion that their parent left them voluntarily. This adds to the emotional distress and feelings of abandonment. For this reason, reading books such as this one, along with ongoing honest communication, are crucial to the emotional health of the child. 

This book not only addresses and acknowledges a child's feelings about a father's absence in their life, but also gives hope that they can move forward with the best parts of their fathers inside of them. 

The reality is, there IS hope! There are many things that can counteract risk factors in growing up in a fatherless home. Stand-in father figures can be especially helpful, whether they are extended family members, friends of the family or community members. Structured extra-curricular activities and/or church involvement can be helpful to kids in many ways. This participation can give them a sense of community, access to father figures and help increase self-esteem. 

I have included an activity below to go along with the book that can be meaningful to your children, clients or students. 

Also, check out the amazing monologue of Knock, Knock by the author, Daniel Beaty! https://www.danielbeaty.com/home

Since the illustrator used collage to develop the illustrations in the story, a great therapeutic activity would be to make a collage about the child's father. This might include cut-out pictures of things that Dad likes, ie. his favorite food, color, TV show, etc. It could also include interests the father has whether it be gardening, sports or cars, etc. Old photos, if available would be a nice addition, especially if there exists any of the child with their father. If the child does not know this information, it would be useful to have the current caretaker share some things they know. Additionally, you could help the child consult other family members and friends that knew him for more information. If that isn't available, have the child imagine what they think their father would like or be interested in. 

Materials Needed: 
Small poster board
glue 
scissors
old assorted magazines
copies of old photos
construction paper
letter stickers(optional)

Directions: 
1. Have child cut out pictures and/or lettering from magazines that reminds them of their Dad. Ie. favorites, interests, memories, etc. (if can't find pictures of what they want, draw things on construction paper and cut out)

2. Glue the above, overlapping, in a collage-like fashion, to the poster board. Add old photos if available.

3. Flip collage over and trim excess from edges of poster board.

4. Add lettering over the top with Dad's actual name and their name for him (ie. My Daddy, My Papa, My Father) 

5. Throughout the project, discuss father's interests, memories, personality, funny things about him, etc. If child never met father, have caretaker or others fill in gaps. 

6. Hang project in an area in the house that they will see often. 

​7. Have fun!