Can I tell you about...? – serie

Meet Kit - a 12 year old undergoing medical transition - as he talks about gender and the different ways it can be explored. He explains what it is like to transition and how his friends, family and teachers can help through talking, listening and being proactive.With illustrations throughout, this is an ideal way to start conversations about gender diversity in the classroom or at home and suitable for those working in professional services and settings. The book also includes a useful list of recommended reading, organisations and websites for further information and support.

Meet Maria - a woman with Multiple Sclerosis (MS). Maria tells the story of her holiday with her husband Ben, her children Cara and Dino, and Teddy the dog, which was interrupted when she began to feel dizzy, exhausted and weak. She explains how this led to her diagnosis and describes what MS is, how it affects her daily life and what others can do to help.This illustrated book will be an ideal introduction to MS for children from the age of 7, as well as older readers. It will help family, friends and carers to better understand and explain MS, and will be an excellent starting point for group discussions.

Meet Jan. Jan is sometimes lonely. In this illustrated guide, he describes what loneliness feels like and how it affects him at home and school. He explains what he can do to feel less lonely, and how his teachers, family and friends can help him too. Child loneliness is an area of growing concern. This book is an ideal way to start a conversation about loneliness with anyone aged 7-18 and to help children understand the importance of healthy solitude, as well as socialising. It also includes a useful list of recommended reading, organisations and websites for further information and support.

Meet Asher - a teenager who self-harms to manage their feelings when it all feels like too much.The latest in the best-selling Can I Tell You About... series describes what self-harm is, along with the wide range of behaviours that qualify, why teens do it, and how to get help if you feel the need to self-harm. Reflecting on the different aspects of self-harming behaviour, including treatment of injuries and scars, this concise introduction dispels common myths and offers helpful resources to break the cycle of self-harm. By initiating the conversation around self-harm, this guide will offer alternative avenues for children and young adults to pursue when dealing with big feelings, such as professional counselling, distraction, and friends and family.This easy-to-read guide is suitable for readers 7+, along with their parents, teachers, and friends. All author royalties from the book will go towards the Charlie Waller Memorial Trust.

Meet Maya. Maya always tries to be polite, and to remember to say 'thank you' but she wants to learn what it means to be truly grateful. Should she be grateful to her teachers for their hard work, even though they're only doing their job? Does she need to say thank you for the gifts she doesn't really like - like the pink scarf Nani gave her last birthday? And when Laura gives her some earrings but later asks to copy her history project in return, should Maya be grateful and give her the thank you letter she has written?This illustrated book is an ideal conversation starter for children aged 7+, helping them to understand what gratitude means, recognise when it is appropriate, and develop their own ability to be genuinely grateful.

Meet Sam. Like most kids his age, Sam loves sport. His class have arranged a special football match to raise money for a charity which helps children who are suffering. Sam finds out more about how the money is spent and asks his mum for this week's pocket money early, so he can donate to the charity. His mum says he does this because he's such a kind boy. But when he asks his teachers about it at school the next day, they say it's because he's compassionate.Sam now has lots of questions about what this means. What is compassion? How can we become more compassionate? And what effects - both good and bad - does being compassionate have? Join Sam as he learns answers to these, and many more, questions about this important part of character education.

If a grownup you love has bipolar disorder, what does that mean? In this friendly guide, 11-year-old Josh tells all about his dad's bipolar, including what mental illness is, and how it can affect patients and their families.The guide explains in child-friendly terms how different types of bipolar affect people's feelings and behaviour. It is a comforting book that prepares young readers for the hard parts of knowing someone with bipolar, while communicating that bipolar is nothing to be afraid or ashamed of. Providing an excellent starting point for discussion both at home and in the classroom, it also includes a helpful list of recommended sources for additional support.

What does it mean to be Jewish? Are there different ways of being Jewish? Can you be Jewish but not religious? In this friendly guide, 12-year-old Ruth explains the different ways a person can experience being Jewish, by introducing us to her family and friends.Documenting the lived experience of being Jewish, the book contains diary entries covering festivals, rituals, ethics, and what a relationship with God entails, as well as more challenging topics such as Israel, the Holocaust and anti-Semitism. Providing an excellent starting point for discussion with children, it also includes a helpful list of recommended sources for further information.

In this friendly guide, a girl called Amy tells all about her Auditory Processing Disorder (APD). Together with her friend Tom and sister Lucy, Amy explains how every child with APD is affected in unique ways, and how to get help if you have APD.This illustrated guide is ideal for helping children aged 7+ with APD to understand the condition, while increasing their self-esteem and confidence. Explaining about causes, symptoms, diagnosis and comorbidity in child-friendly terms, it dispels myths and encourages children to self-advocate and seek help at home and at school. It is also an excellent starting point for parents, teachers and other professionals wishing to tailor support to the type and severity of a child's APD, and includes a helpful list of recommended sources for additional support.

Meet Joseph - Joseph is curious to understand more about forgiveness. He lost his sister's brand new football. Although she forgave him, he feels really bad. Can he forgive himself? He told his friend Billy a big secret, but Billy has betrayed his trust and told other kids at school. Should he forgive Billy, especially when he is yet to say sorry? Joseph's friend George is being bullied at school by Jasper. If George forgives Jasper, could Jasper go on to bully others in the future? This illustrated book is the ideal conversation starter for children aged 7+ to explore what forgiveness means, what it is and isn't and when it might and might not be appropriate.

Meet Carly. Carly is a young person caring for her mother who has Multiple Sclerosis and depression.Part of the best-selling Can I Tell You about... series, this book raises awareness about children who live with and care for parents or other relatives in the home. It describes what young carers like Carly do, and the practical and emotional impact caring can have on home and school life, both positive and negative. It also explains what support is available for young carers, including from family, friends and teachers as well as other professionals and online. Carly's story will help young carers explore their worries and concerns, and help family members and professionals support young carers.

In this friendly guide, a girl called Amber explains all about her 'dancing eyes,' or nystagmus. Amber explains how children with nystagmus might need to read, learn or play differently, and what their families, school and friends can do to help. She invites readers to learn the causes and symptoms, to help others understand the condition and help increase the self-esteem and confidence of those who have it.This accessible guide for children aged 7+ is an excellent starting point for parents, teachers and other professionals working with children with nystagmus. It includes a practical checklist of easy adaptations to make school or home environments easier and more enjoyable for children with nystagmus, as well as a helpful list of recommended resources for additional support.

Meet Briony. Briony has always wanted to be a firefighter - they seem so brave! Firefighters stay calm during really difficult circumstances, and train to be able to rescue people in life-threatening situations. How do firefighters get to be so courageous? Are they born with that kind of courage? Or is it developed through their training? What is moral courage, and are there other kinds of courage? Where do they come from? The ideal conversation starter for children aged 7+, this illustrated guide will open discussion as to what courage means, the different types of courage, and how to be courageous rather than rash.

Meet Matt, who wants to learn what hope means. Matt likes to 'think positive' - if he believes in himself he is sure he can achieve whatever he wants. No need to revise for the big test, or practice his guitar, as long as he hopes for the best! But when his disappointing results come back, Matt starts to think maybe there is more to hope than just wishful thinking.Is it always good to hope, or are there times when hoping is misguided or futile? What sort of things can we - or should we - hope for, and what does hoping demand of us? What could we do to make our hopes more likely to come to fruition?The ideal conversation starter for children aged 7+, this illustrated guide will open discussion as to what hope means, the different types of hope, and whether or not it is a good quality.

Dyscalculia is a learning difference affecting the ability to process numbers. This illustrated guide provides children aged 7+ with the tools and confidence to understand the condition, discover helpful techniques, and seek additional support. It guides parents and teachers on how to help at home and at school, and includes an extensive resource list.

Meet Adam - a young boy with AS. Adam invites young readers to learn about AS from his perspective. He helps children understand the difficulties faced by a child with AS - he tells them what AS is, what it feels like to have AS and how they can help children with AS by understanding their differences and appreciating their many talents. This illustrated book is ideally suited for boys and girls between 7 and 15 years old and also serves as an excellent starting point for family and classroom discussions.

Meet Hannah - a young girl with selective mutism (SM). Hannah invites readers to learn about selective mutism from her perspective, helping them to understand what it is, what it feels like to have SM, and how they can help. This illustrated book is packed with accessible information and will be an ideal introduction to selective mutism. It shows family, friends and teachers how they can support a child with the condition and is also a good place to start when encouraging children with SM to talk about how it affects them.

Meet Jack - an older man with dementia. Jack invites readers to learn about dementia from his perspective, helping them to understand the challenges faced by someone with dementia and the changes it causes to memory, communication and behaviour. He also gives advice on how to help someone with dementia stay as mentally and physically active as possible, keep safe and continue to feel cared for and valued.With illustrations throughout, this useful book will be an ideal introduction to dementia for anyone from child to adult. It will also guide family, friends and carers in understanding and explaining the condition and could serve as an excellent starting point for family and classroom discussions.

Meet Ellie – a young girl with epilepsy. Ellie invites readers to learn about epilepsy from her perspective. She introduces us to some friends who help present the varying forms of epilepsy. Ellie and her friends help children to understand the obstacles that they face by telling them what it feels like to have epilepsy, how it affects them physically and emotionally, how epilepsy can be treated and how the condition is often misunderstood by people who do not know the facts.This illustrated book is full of useful information and will be an ideal introduction for children from the age of 7. It will also help parents, friends, and professionals to make sense of the condition in its varying forms and will be an excellent starting point for family and classroom discussions.

Meet Alfie - a young boy with asthma. Alfie invites readers to learn about asthma from his perspective, describing how it feels to have an asthma attack and what the common triggers are. He talks about the challenges of having asthma and how important it is that his friends and the people around him can recognise the signs when he starts feeling short of breath and know how to help. Alfie also gives simple instructions on using asthma inhalers and other medical treatments.This illustrated book is full of useful information and will be an ideal introduction for young people, aged 7 upwards, as well as parents, friends, teachers and nurses. It is also an excellent starting point for family and classroom discussions.

Meet Ben - a young boy with ADHD. Ben invites readers to learn about ADHD from his perspective. He helps children understand what it means to have ADHD and describes what it is and how it feels. Ben explains how he was diagnosed and what he has learnt about ways to manage his ADHD symptoms, and how friends and adults can help at home and school. This illustrated book is full of useful information and will be an ideal introduction for young people, aged 7 upwards, as well as parents, friends, teachers and professionals working with children with ADHD. It is also an excellent starting point for family and classroom discussions.

Meet Katie - a teenager with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD). Katie invites readers to learn about OCD from her perspective, helping them to understand what it is, how her obsessions and compulsions affect her daily life, and how people around her can help. With illustrations throughout, this will be an ideal introduction to OCD for both young people and older readers. It shows family, friends and teachers how they can support someone with the condition and will be an excellent way to start a conversation about OCD, in the classroom or at home.

Meet Max - a boy with Tourette syndrome (TS). Max invites readers to learn about Tourette's from his perspective, helping them to understand what tics and triggers are and what it feels like to have TS. He explains how living with TS can sometimes be difficult, and how people around him can help him to feel happy and accepted. This illustrated book is ideal for young people aged 7 upwards, as well as parents, friends, teachers and other professionals working with children with TS. It is also an excellent starting point for family and classroom discussions.

Meet Harry – a young boy who stammers. Harry invites readers to learn about what it is like to stammer from his perspective and how it affects his daily life and makes him feel. He talks about techniques that can help reduce stammering and describes how friends, family and others can help him to feel at ease and reduce his stammer further.This illustrated book is full of useful information and will be an ideal introduction for young people, aged 7 upwards, as well as parents, friends, teachers and speech therapists working with children who stammer. It is also an excellent starting point for group discussions at home or school.

Meet Harry – a young boy who stutters. Harry invites readers to learn about what it is like to stutter from his perspective and how it affects his daily life and makes him feel. He talks about techniques that can help reduce stuttering and describes how friends, family and others can help him to feel at ease and reduce his stutter further.This illustrated book is full of useful information and will be an ideal introduction for young people, aged 7 upwards, as well as parents, friends, teachers and speech therapists working with children who stutter. It is also an excellent starting point for group discussions at home or school.

Meet Marco - a boy with dyspraxia, which is sometimes called Developmental Co-ordination Disorder (DCD). Marco invites readers to learn about dyspraxia from his perspective, helping them to understand what it is and what it feels like when he sometimes struggles to control his movement and co-ordination. He talks about the challenges of having dyspraxia and lets readers know how he can be helped and supported.This illustrated book will be an ideal introduction for young people, aged 7+, as well as parents, friends, teachers and professionals working with children with dyspraxia. It is also an excellent starting point for family and classroom discussions.

Meet Mollie – a woman with an illness called ME (Myalgic Encephalomyelitis) or CFS (Chronic Fatigue Syndrome), and her family, Mike, Ellie and Eric. Mollie and her family help readers to understand what ME/CFS is, what it is like to have it and how it can affect their family life. Mollie can't always do things that other mums do because of her illness, which can sometimes be frustrating, but they share strategies that help them all to cope. The family also explain how ME/CFS can affect different people in different ways.This illustrated book is an ideal introduction to this often misunderstood condition. It shows family, friends and anyone who knows someone with the condition how they can support someone with ME/CFS, and their family.

Meet Tom - a young boy with autism. Tom invites readers to learn about autism from his perspective, helping them to understand what it is and explaining the challenges he faces with issues such as social communication, sensory overload and changes in his routine. Tom tells readers about all the ways he can be helped and supported by those around him.This illustrated book is ideally suited for readers aged 7 and upwards, and will be an excellent way to increase understanding about autism, in the classroom or at home. It also includes clear, useful information for parents and professionals.

Meet Sophie - a girl with cerebral palsy (CP). Sophie invites readers to learn about CP from her perspective, helping them to understand what it is like to use a wheelchair to move around and assistive technology to communicate. She also introduces readers to some of her friends who have different forms of CP and explains that living with CP can sometimes be difficult, but there are many ways she is supported so that she can lead a full and happy life. This illustrated book is ideal for young people aged 7 upwards, as well as parents, friends, teachers and professionals working with children with CP. It is also an excellent starting point for family and classroom discussions.