My Hero
Deborah Warren, Growing Learners Team, Raul Ramirez
Paperback
(CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform, Aug. 22, 2017)
“My Hero” describes the life of Albie, a young and dynamic Labrador puppy. He spends most of his time with his uncle George, who trains him to do essential things such as playing and learning how to receive treats, love and cuddles from his owners. Throughout his journey as a young dog, Albie is willing to learn anything from his Hero George and seems fearless. However, there was one thing that George could not teach Albie, and that was not to be afraid of the water. No matter how George tried to encourage him, Albie was just too frightened to give it a try, thinking that perhaps swimming wasn’t for him. What if he couldn’t do it? What would would happen if he got it wrong? Would people laugh at him? Will Albie be able to control his fears and have the courage to take on the challenge and get over the water’s edge in front of George and his owners? “My Hero” is a story that can be read after the book “George - A true story of his early years” or independently. This book was created by the Growing Learners team at the University of Portsmouth (Prof. Sherria Hoskins, Dr Victoria Devonshire, Dr Frances Warren, Dr Emily Mason-Apps, Dr Joanna Nye, Ms Mathilde Chanvin). We are a group of education research psychologists who are passionate about supporting schools and parents in helping children to become resilient, confident learners. “My Hero” is a story underpinned by psychology and education theory, aimed at promoting a Growth Mindset by highlighting that achievements result from tackling challenges, exploring different strategies, learning from mistakes, persistence and resilience in the face of difficulties. This is a great story for parents or teachers to read with younger children or for independent readers aged 4-7 years. At the end of the book, you will find some questions for discussion with your children, as well as Mindset learning points.