Harvey the Hippo Meets Grayson Goat: Coping With Anxiety

Children Can Learn How to Defeat Anxiety Like a Superhero!

As Grayson deals with his anxiety, he discovers that not only is his mother a support and advocate for him, but Harvey and other friends in the zoo encourage and support him, too. Grayson's momma understands his anxiety and gives him some tools to help him calm himself. Grayson's friends provide him words of encouragement and let him know that they are there for him. In the end, Grayson is a "superhero" goat and tells his readers that they can be, too. Harvey the Hippo Helps Grayson the Goat is the third book in the Harvey the Hippo series.

"Harvey the Hippo Helps Grayson the Goat is a sweet book that contains real and helpful information. By personifying Grayson, the reader sees that a goat with social anxiety is helped to overcome his fear. He uses a breathing technique, distraction, compartmentalization and support from family and friends to help him conquer his fear of socializing. Grayson's self-esteem soars when he finds he can now do what he was trying to avoid. Lovely pictures accompany the story and will be appreciated by any child who has felt anxious in group situations without the presence of a parent. -Laurie Zelinger, PhD, ABPP, RPT-S, board-certified psychologist, author of Please Explain Anxiety to Me!

"Hooray, Harvey is back with his friend Grayson! This time, he aims to help young children develop the inner resources to manage separation anxiety. The psychologically informed text and tender illustrations gift young children with Grayson, a handsome goat. Through clever rhyme and an expressive face, Grayson shows us how he physically soothes himself, how he puts words to his feelings and how he relies on others to aid him. Caregivers will find this Harvey tale a gentle bridge to facilitate conversations about a common and challenging childhood issue." -Toni Seidl, child psychotherapist, LCSW, retired

"In this book, anxious feelings are identified and named. Grayson's mother acknowledges those feelings while providing reassurance of adult support. Grayson uses breathing exercises to feel calmer, and his friends provide words of affirmation and encouragement. It's a perfect model for children who are working to face challenging situations or undercurrents of anxiety, especially if they don't know how to describe how they are feeling. My favorite aspect is the visual representation of the breathing exercise and pausing the story to practice along with Grayson during each reading. This book would be a valuable addition to any classroom or home library." -Leah Corsover, director and lead teacher at a cooperative nursery school

Learn more at www.HarveyTheHippo.com

From Loving Healing Press