Insight into Helping Friends Who Suffer W/ Anxiety
In ââ?¬Å"Alex, the Awesome and Artsy Allosaurus: An Encouraging Story About Friendship and Supporting Others Who Have Anxietyââ?¬Â? by Susan Mills, we are introduced to Alex, an awesome and artsy Allosaurus who seems to worry himself over quite a few things. Hadley, who is a Hadrosaurus and Alexââ?¬â?¢s best friend, has seen Alex worry nearly all the time. So, she does what a best friend can do ââ?¬" she finds things they can do to calm Alex down. What kind of activities do they try together to see if Alex stops worrying so much about everything? Do they finally find an activity that Alex enjoys most of all?
Ms. Mills created a story that readers of any age can thoroughly enjoy as they turn the pages. When we meet Alex, who is a very bright Allosaurus, it�s easy to fall in love with him and want to become his best friend. Readers will empathize with him when they find out that poor Alex is always so worried about things and doesn�t know a way to deal with his anxiety to make himself feel better. Many anxiety-prone children will easily relate to Alex and fully understand how anxious he feels all the time.
When Hadley the Hadrosaurus is introduced as Alex�s best friend, readers will enjoy seeing the special bond shared between the two dinosaurs. You can feel Hadley�s love and concern for Alex and one can appreciate the measure she went through trying to help Alex find a special activity that not only he was good at and enjoyed doing, but also one that helped him feel relaxed in the end. The love and compassion Hadley has for Alex is obvious; it shows through her actions toward him. Children will see the close actions between the two dinosaurs, and they will easily be able to apply what they learned to possibly help one of their friends who might suffer from anxiety.
The illustrations, also provided by Susan Mills, are colorful and easily pull the readers into what the story is reiterating in picture format. Each illustration is enjoyable to look at and readers will even chuckle at the antics Alex and Hadley do in each scene. Plus, as a bonus, there is an illustration provided on every page for the readers to adore.
One useful tool the author includes for teachers and parents to use is a ââ?¬Å"Question Timeââ?¬Â? page listing questions you can ask the child after they read this delightful book. Such questions include: What are some things you worry about?, or How can you comfort someone that is worrying? These and other questions create a wonderful opportunity to open the lines of communication between adults and children in your life. Having an open and loving conversation is the key to helping a child with anxiety or other issues that may limit them from thriving.
ââ?¬Å"Alex, the Awesome and Artsy Allosaurusââ?¬Â? by Susan Mills is one childrenââ?¬â?¢s story that teaches the readers that itââ?¬â?¢s okay to experience anxiety. It also teaches how important friends are in helping to alleviate their friendââ?¬â?¢s anxiety so they both can have fun and grow together. This childrenââ?¬â?¢s book comes highly recommended!
