Many children see bad things happen on TV or online. Some children see bad things happen in real life.
When nine-year-old Judeah Reynolds walked to the store to buy candy one day, she saw a man named George Floyd get killed by the police. Judeah was very scared and sad. She talked to her family about what happened, and that helped. She talked about it to other people, too. Judeah learned that even though bad things happen, there are many good people in the world who want to make things better.
She learned that she is one of those people, and she can make things better by sharing her story.
Told with deep respect and sensitivity, this true story ends with a message of bravery, hope, and healing. Children impacted by this specific event or other traumas are empowered to process their feelings and find pathways to healing.
Includes a straightforward tip sheet for caregivers and educators to help children process traumatic events, provided by Arubah Emotional Health Services, a BIPOC therapy practice in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Judeah Reynolds is a young girl who saw George Floyd get killed and has bravely decided to share her story.
Sheletta Brundidge is an Emmy-Award winning comedian, radio host, entrepreneur and picture book author. She founded a podcasting platform and production company called ShelettaMakesMeLaugh to amplify diverse voices in media. Sheletta has been featured in People magazine and USA Today and has appeared on Good Morning America, The Tamron Hall Show, The Ellen DeGeneres Show, The Today Show and CBS Mornings. When three of her four children were diagnosed with autism, Sheletta made it her mission to encourage and advocate for other parents who have special needs children. She's co-authored three best-selling autism children's books including her latest, Brandon Spots His Sign, which gained national attention after she received personal praise from President Joe Biden. She can be heard weekly on The Sheletta Show on CBS Radio or on one of the podcasts she hosts on the podcasting network she created to celebrate Black culture.
As a teen, Lily Coyle joined the Navy to see the world and pay for school. She spent the following years as a freelance writer, editor, and ghostwriter, and has had five plays produced on three continents. Her most phenomenal works are the two daughters she produced with her talented husband, filmmaker Patrick Coyle. In 2011, Lily took an editing position at an indie publishing company and now owns Beaver's Pond Press in Saint Paul, Minnesota. She's blessed to be surrounded day and night by stories and storytellers.
Darcy Bell-Myers has loved to draw since she was a little girl. She lives with her husband and three children, who also love to draw, in Stillwater, Minnesota. The illustrator of books that include Shiva's Dance; Needles: The First Christmas Tree; Mary Emma, Walk!; Wyatt's Big Day; and Higgledy Piggledy, she's also the author/illustrator of The Animal Babies ABC Book of Ballet. Her books have won honors and awards, including San Diego Book Award Best Published Picture Book, Parents' Choice, Dr. Toy, National Library Association, and IPPY.
