Exposes the patterns and motives that lead parents to become too involved in their children’s lives, assesses the effects of their behavior on the family, and offers solutions to this problem
Problem solving
Ophelia
As Ophelia rushes to comfort her friend Kevin, who is suffering from butterflies in the stomach, she meets up with various friends who misunderstand the problem, each one adding a new ailment and cure to the growing list.
“I Have a Little Problem”, Said the Bear
The bear has a problem and absolutely everyone has the perfect remedy. The only trouble is, they’re all in such a hurry to help, they have no time to find out what the bear’s problem is. Everyone knows how it feels not to be listened to — especially children.
The Story of Growl
Growl is a little purple monster who lives alone in a big castle at the end of Eucalyptus Drive. Growl likes to hop and skip, and jump, and sing. But best of all, Growl loves to growl! She loves to growl inside and out. She loves to growl all morning, and even at night. One afternoon Growl sneaks across her garden and growls over the neighbor’s fence! When they telephone the police, a special rule is made and Growl is banned from doing what she loves best. But what will Growl do? How will Growl get her growl back?
Doctor All-Knowing
Desperate to provide enough food for himself and his daughter, a poor man sets himself up as Doctor All-Knowing and is soon called upon by a rich man to find a thief.
Out of Reach
Pressured by his aggressively competitive father to play soccer, teenaged Pip McLeod secretly pursues a sport that he truly enjoys–indoor rock climbing.
A Bicycle For Rosaura
Senora Amelia loves animals. In this lively and cheery story from Venezuela, you will see to what lengths she will go in order to grant her handsome hen Rosaura a birthday wish. The delicate colored pencil drawings lend warmth and charm to this tale. Their color and light precisely portray the sense of place–a small town in Venezuela.
Lizette’s Green Sock
Lizette tries to figure out what to do with the one green sock that she finds while out walking one day.
Pancake Dreams
Stefan loves the way his grandmother makes pancakes, but she lives far from him. One day he has an idea on how to get some of his favorite treats.
A Fortunate Life
Describes the author’s experiences growing up on the West Australian frontier, working as an itinerant rural laborer, and fighting in World War I. Condensed edition.