Books in The Safe Child, Happy Parent Series series

An important story for young readers about standing up to bullies and developing courage and self-confidence. Kim is in kindergarten, and she loves going to school! She has a new backpack she can’t wait to use and show to her friends. On the way to school, she spots Grit and Fritz on the playground. They approach her, they call her names, they threaten to hurt her if she doesn’t give them her new backpack. Scared, Kim can’t find her voice to yell for help and shrinks inside herself as the bigger kids taunt her. When they are scared away by an older kid, Kim continues on to class but doesn’t want to tell Ms. Blume why she’s upset. In class that day, Ms. Blume sings a song about being strong and asks her students to create treasure boxes that will hold their talents and strengths. As Kim works, frequently bothered by Frtiz and Grit, she decides that her treasure box should hold everything she needs to be big and strong—confidence, courage, her voice. When Frtiz and Grit return to stomp all over her box, Kim has a decision to make: she can either run to the cozy corner and hide, or she can plant her feet, take a deep breath, and tell her bullies to leave her alone. Which will she choose?

We're lucky to have siblings! At first, Mira was so excited when her new her baby brother came home with her parents, but her excitement quickly turned to frustration. "Mom and Dad are constantly tired," Mira tells her friends at school. "And whenever they aren’t tired, they have something to do: change diapers, feed the baby, put him to bed, dress him, undress him, rock him, cuddle with him, and worry when he cries for a long time. And no one has time left for me. It totally stinks!" "I know all about it," Hannah tells Mira. "For us, it was exactly the same when my little brother was born. It's very normal." Hannah has an older sister and a younger brother. Paul has an older sister. Amelia has a big half-brother and a big half-sister. And Theo is an only child and is happy to keep it that way. In Dagmar Geisler's I'm Glad I Have Siblings, readers will meet a number of children with stories about how frustrating but fun having siblings can be. With help from her friends, Mira realizes that her parents are doing the best they can and that taking care of a baby can be challenging and rewarding at the same time—and that they still love her. The friends discuss the benefits of being an older or younger sibling, and how being in the middle means they can choose which group (older or younger) they want to be part of. Siblings make life more interesting, Mira's friends explain.I'm Glad I Have Siblings gives parents, grandparents, and caregivers the opportunity to speak with children about welcoming a new baby into the house and preparing to be the best brothers and sisters.