Book Birthday Blog with Tara Michener

 

Welcome to SCBWI-MI's Book Birthday Blog!

Where we celebrate new books from Michigan's authors, illustrators and translators.

 

Congratulations to Tara Michener on the release of I Am Not My Meltdown

 

 

How did you come up with the idea for your book?

I am constantly talking to kids and adults about meltdowns in my everyday life. As a mental health therapist that seeks to bring healing and understanding to the lives of families it is important to normalize that sometimes we may have issues with behavior. I find that telling stories is the best way to communicate and educate while entertaining this is how I came up the idea behind I Am Not My Meltdown.

What inspires you to write? 

My surroundings inspire me to write. I see children that seek both representation and validation. I see teachers and librarians looking for resources that will serve their communities and I understand that it is important to write what you know in order to make a difference. 

What is something you hope your readers will take away from your book? 

I hope that my readers will see themselves in this book and find hope and understanding. My goal is to create opportunities to build both empathy and emotional regulation while being entertained and soothed.

What was the most difficult part of writing the book? 

I did not see any difficulty in creating this narrative. I am constantly asked how to help young people with their emotions and this was the perfect way to answer and uplift so in some ways the difficulty lies in it being overdue. 

What's next for you and where can we find your book? 

I am working on more literary works and programs that create pathways for children to understand their feelings and to gain healthy information in regards to coping. My book is available wherever books are sold.

More about the book . . .

Melt-downs are common but solutions are too. This book serves as a pathway to educate and entertain. Kids sometimes feel like they are a problem because they are having a problem...in I Am Not My Meltdown feelings are normalized and solutions for regulation are introduced to kids so at the earliest level they can understand how to cope.

Publisher: Author House

More about the author . . . 

Tara Michener is the author of 8 children's books that are focused on social-emotional development. Her time is divided between writing and operating her counseling private practice which also serves as a hub for wellness, yoga and outreach programs for schools and organizations. She loves junk journaling, educating on mental health and Twizzlers and Diet Coke. Her favorite people are her hubistrator, Jason Michener and her son Cannon. She lives in Michigan where the apples are delicious and the winters are cold.

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