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I am a retired Assistant Chief Executive and former Head of Education and Children's Services in Stirling Council. I have contributed nationally to early years and schools curriculum development in Scotland and have published two books on the importance of early education.
The context of this story is about the parental breakup and the complex emotions that children experience. From the outset, the author speaks to the child in an engaging tone and lively storyline. She clearly understands how children experience emotions, and her narrative and guide help them to understand, process, and manage feelings that can at times be overwhelming. The device of the book is essentially a guide in the form of Angus the Angel. This guide is useful not only in the context of family breakups but would be useful in other situations such as moving home, bereavement and loss, or bullying. Children will readily relate to Angus. They will also understand the importance and sensitivity of animals, as the author as cleverly made this integral to the story. The book is ideal to be shared between the child and adult as it also provides informed explanations to adults facing complex issues. As well as being useful to parents, this book may also be of interest to teachers and carers working alongside children.
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Yvonne Goldie (Retired Social Work Service Manager)
Jenny Brown has written a heartwarming and beautifully illustrated tale that turns the tables on our complex adult world by allowing us to see it from a child’s point of view. It is ultimately a tale of love, but it also provides practical support for children going through difficult times.
Ben’s parents are breaking up and Ben feels forgotten, ignored, but most of all, sad and scared. His best friend Kirsty is there for him and they share a love for a beautiful local woodland. His time with Kirsty in this lovely environment makes Ben very happy, but will his home life ever be the same again? Help arrives in the form of Angus the Angel. Angus can’t change Ben’s situation, but he can teach him the tools to cope. More problems arise for Ben when his beloved woodland comes under threat. This isn’t a job for an angel, but little miracles can happen in our world. In this instance, the answer unfolds when a big brown dog finds something very interesting and a grown-up, Ben’s teacher, actually listens.
Although this book deals with specific issues of family relationships, the coping mechanisms Angus shares with Ben and Kirsty can help any one of us deal with the stressful situations that life throws our way.
A great read for children and a powerful tool for adults who want to help.
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Alistair Sinclair (Social Work Manager for 30+ years)
This book may well appeal to children aged 7 to 8 plus years old.
Advice is given to children with the assistance of Angus the Angel...in particular to children who are struggling with changing domestic circumstances.
The focus is on human emotions, self-awareness, confidence, and in trusting others who find time to listen to and discuss ways of understanding situations.
I consider that it would be of help if a trusted adult shares and discusses the content of this book with the child who is caught up in similar challenging situations.
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Linda Kinney (Retired Assistant Chief Executive, Stirling Council.)
The context of this story is about a parental breakup and the complex emotions that children experience. From the outset, the author speaks to the child in an engaging tone and lively storyline. She clearly understands how children experience emotions, and her narrative and guide help them to understand, process and manage feelings that can at times be overwhelming.
The device of the book is essentially a guide in the form of Angus the Angel. This guide is useful not only in the context of family breakups but would be useful in other situations such as moving home, bereavement and loss, or bullying. Children will readily relate to Angus the Angel. They will also understand the importance of animals as the author has cleverly included both the importance and sensitivity of animals, particularly when children are dealing with challenging situations and emotions.
The book is ideal to be shared between the child and the adult, as it also provides informed explanations to adults facing complex issues. As well as being useful to parents, this book may also be of interest to teachers and carers working alongside children.
-
Yvonne Goldie (Retired Social Work Service Manager)
Jenny Brown has written a heartwarming and beautifully illustrated tale that turns the tables on our complex adult world by allowing us to see it from a child’s point of view. It is ultimately a tale of love, but it also provides practical support for children going through difficult times.
Ben’s parents are breaking up and Ben feels forgotten, ignored, but most of all, sad and scared. His best friend Kirsty is there for him and they share a love for a beautiful local woodland. His time with Kirsty in this lovely environment makes Ben very happy, but will his home life ever be the same again? Help arrives in the form of Angus the Angel. Angus can’t change Ben’s situation, but he can teach him the tools to cope. More problems arise for Ben when his beloved woodland comes under threat. This isn’t a job for an angel, but little miracles can happen in our world. In this instance, the answer unfolds when a big brown dog finds something very interesting and a grown-up, Ben’s teacher, actually listens.
Although this book deals with specific issues of family relationships, the coping mechanisms Angus shares with Ben and Kirsty can help any one of us deal with the stressful situations that life throws our way.
A great read for children and a powerful tool for adults who want to help.
-
Alistair Sinclair (Social Work Manager for 30+ years)
This book may well appeal to children aged 7 to 8 plus years old.
Advice is given to children with the assistance of Angus the Angel...in particular to children who are struggling with changing domestic circumstances.
The focus is on human emotions, self-awareness, confidence, and in trusting others who find time to listen to and discuss ways of understanding situations.
I consider that it would be of help if a trusted adult shares and discusses the content of this book with the child who is caught up in similar challenging situations.
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Maureen Annan ( A retired primary school teacher whose experience with young children was gained in various schools in Glasgow and the West of Scotland.)
This is a real wee gem of a book! It represents the distillation of Jenny Brown’s lifetime dedication and wisdom in relation to helping and caring for vulnerable children.
Stories are a marvelous way to help us with feelings and emotions that children especially can find hard to describe and deal with. The captivating characters of Ben, Kirsty, Molly, Dancer, and, of course, Angus the Angel form the basis of a delightful storyline that shows children that they are not alone in how they feel and, most importantly, that there are strategies that can help them with emotional conflicts and difficulties.
This book is a wonderful vehicle for discussion and is full of positive, practical advice for children (and adults) to engage with and follow. Jenny has done a magnificent job of taking the complex topic of parents splitting up and delivering potential ways forward in an accessible, relatable, and enjoyable way!
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I am a retired Assistant Chief Executive and former Head of Education and Children's Services in Stirling Council. I have contributed nationally to early years and schools curriculum development in Scotland and have published two books on the importance of early education.
The context of this story is about the parental breakup and the complex emotions that children experience. From the outset, the author speaks to the child in an engaging tone and lively storyline. She clearly understands how children experience emotions, and her narrative and guide help them to understand, process, and manage feelings that can at times be overwhelming. The device of the book is essentially a guide in the form of Angus the Angel. This guide is useful not only in the context of family breakups but would be useful in other situations such as moving home, bereavement and loss, or bullying. Children will readily relate to Angus. They will also understand the importance and sensitivity of animals, as the author as cleverly made this integral to the story. The book is ideal to be shared between the child and adult as it also provides informed explanations to adults facing complex issues. As well as being useful to parents, this book may also be of interest to teachers and carers working alongside children.
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