Buckle Up
by Stephanie Scott

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Life can be challenging at times, and unpredictable, with ups and downs and all sorts of things we can’t control. It’s like driving a car on a bumpy road. We can’t wish the bumps away. We can’t control who travels those roads with us, or make the sun shine on our journey if it’s a rainy day. But we can control how we feel about it. We can let it make us angry or sad or scared, or we can stay calm, accept the challenges, and make good decisions. That’s what this story is all about. With Nini the bird as your special guide, you will take a driving journey in your imagination, a road trip in your mind, with you in the driver’s seat. You’ll learn how to face life’s obstacles and disappointments with healthy, positive “green thoughts”, and wait patiently for the rainbow that will surely follow the rain.

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“Mom I want that bird book even though I don’t like birds. I like lots of colours. The bird looks nice, not like a boolie (bully).” —Bianca C, age 4. “The ducks make me feel happy, because they’re cute. I feel comfortable when I see the water (the pond). I feel love when I read this story. Red means you get angry and yellow means slow down.” —Dominik W, age 5. “This is a great story. It calms people down. Awesome book!”- Andy B, age 10. “The lake makes me feel happy. I could go fishing! Seeing the rainbow makes me feel good.” —Nikolag W, age 10. “This book is a nice metaphor for staying calm and making good decisions”. —Amisha G, age 10 & Arjun G, age 12. “The book is amazing because it had great messages to kids and for parents to help their kids regulate if they are going through a stressful time. Overall I think it was an amazing book and people are going to love this book and the bird is so cute.” —Eddie B, age 13. “Brilliant! Captures the true meaning of feelings and self-control in this book. My kids were excited to read and use the steering wheel. We all interacted as a family, sharing our feelings while reading it.” —Sandra W, age 39.

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A graduate of Ryerson University’s Child and Youth Care Program, Stephanie Scott has been involved with the care and education of vulnerable children, many of whom struggle with various emotional and intellectual challenges, for years, and has found inspiration in their various journeys. With this book, and others in the works, she hopes to provide an outlet for them to communicate their needs, gain coping tools, and learn skills and approaches that will benefit their growth and development. When she is not working, she enjoys meditating, the outdoors, writing, and listening to music. She also loves spending time with family and friends, who bring light, love, and humour into her life, motivating her to be the best that she can be. She currently resides in Oakville, Ontario, where she continues to pursue her goals in the child and youth care field.

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Contributors

Author

Stephanie Scott

Illustrator

Olga Barinova

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Other eBook Editions

This book is also available in eBook format from these sites.

• Amazon Kindle Store
• Apple Books
• Google Play