A new day by Emmaline Carroll Southwell and Heather Dryden

Today's a new day, today's a fresh start.
I move through this day with open mind and open heart.
I release yesterday, letting go of what's done.
Today's about joy.
Today's about fun!

A New Day is a positive look at a day in a child’s life, reaffirming the hope that every fresh day brings, empowering children to navigate their way through life’s challenges.

If on this fresh new day, a child feels somewhat alone and concerned, then this book offers five strategies to get back on track.

The first is to stop and breathe. Quietly concentrating on breathing in and out is calming. Next is to look out for the good. This may be simply taking in the natural environment, or talking to a friend. The third is to listen to how the body is reacting.  Number four is showing kindness and sympathy to others, and this ensures others will be kind to you. And the fifth is having your family by your side, supporting, loving and caring. With all these at your heart, each day is fresh and new, positive and life affirming, full of positive people, family and friends.

This  empowering look at the days’ routines are reflected in the illustrations, which show children in familiar situations, whether that be at school or home, in the street, in the woods, playground or with family or friends. A positive situation is shown in each illustration, reinforcing the positive message in the text. 

Children will see themselves in the illustrations, visiting, playing, cooking, and so on, as the images in the book cover all sorts of situations which are familiar. Support is shown by family and friends, neighbours and teachers, as each new day means a fresh start. 

Practical tips to help children navigate their first days at school are offered by the author, who had a reticent child anxious about going to school. The five ways to help the child keep on a positive track can be practised by all children as they navigate life’s journey.

Themes: Empowerment, Positive reinforcement, Family, School.

Fran Knight