About this item
Highlights
- The Magic Home is a story for those who believe in magic, to turn fear into bravery and let fantasies run wild!
- 4-8 Years
- 8.5" x 8.5" Paperback
- 52 Pages
- Juvenile Fiction, Family
Description
About the Book
A boy whose mother suddenly took him away from his home and the rest of his family feels confused, betrayed, and unable to breathe until he starts school, where Ina helps him cope. Includes notes about displaced children and play therapy, as well as therapeutic play activities.Book Synopsis
The Magic Home is a story for those who believe in magic, to turn fear into bravery and let fantasies run wild! This is a tale of a little boy that lives with his family, plays happily in the courtyard with his brother, sister, a brown dog and a fluffy white rabbit, and cannot wait to start school. Suddenly he has to leave for an unpredictable journey...
The Magic Home offers psycho-educational support for children, parents and childhood professionals who are assisting children through the difficult transition of displacement. The author presents a guide for caregivers grounded in the principles of Play Therapy that allows children to be engaged in a dynamic and engaging process based on their capacities and the objectives defined by a caring adult. The book is ideal for easy reading with individuals and groups, and the suggested activities can be used between parent and child, at school, in a healthcare agency or any other place where children spend time.
"The Magic Home is an endearing and enduring story of a child's journey to deal with unimaginable feelings of sadness, loss and displacement. This touching story teaches us how to tap into the child's resilience using the healing power of play and expressive arts. The Magic Home is a must-have book for child clinicians, caregivers and child professionals to use with children displaced from their homes, regardless of the situation."
-- Athena A. Drewes, PsyD, MA, RPT-S, founder and president emeritus of the New York Association for Play Therapy.
"The Magic Home is a comforting story about a little boy who loses all that is familiar and faces many uncertainties in his new life until he meets Ina, who helps him feel that he is not alone. This gently told story and sweet illustrations offer children who have faced disruptions in their families a sense of control over their circumstances and hope for a brighter future."
-- Sue Bratton, PhD, LPC-S, RPT-S, director emerita, Center for Play Therapy at University of North Texas
"The Magic Home takes us on a journey that is dealing with loss, adjustment and, most importantly, feelings. This book helps adults help children with big feelings that are hard to understand. The added suggestions on how to use the book and reusable figures are a valuable addition. A delightful and helpful book that helps us all know we have a magic home. "
-- Linda E. Homeyer, PhD, LPCS, RPT-S, distinguished professor emerita and past president of the Association for Play Therapy (APT) board of directors.
From Loving Healing Press www.LHPress.com
Review Quotes
"Isabella Cassina's book is a charming look at the sudden and unexpected disruption of a boys' life, when he and his mother have to leave the family behind and relocate to unfamiliar surroundings. Since the author keeps the reason for this move vague, children in a variety of similar circumstances will be able to identify with how the young boy feels about the change. The illustrations are simple and engaging and support the text beautifully."
-- Laurie Zelinger, PhD, ABPP, RPT-S, board certified psychologist and author of Please Explain "Anxiety" to Me!
"Isabella Cassina's The Magic Home is a useful resource for parents, mental health providers and educators. It is a tender story of loss and confusion that children may experience from a traumatic event in their lives. Cassina shares an effective process, providing a safe and caring space for a little boy to heal through expressing strong emotions and memories to discover his heart can again feel acceptance, hope and joy."
-- Kim Larkins, LCSW, author of Emma Lou the Yorkie Poo: Breathing in the Calm
"The Magic Home provides a child's view into what it is like to move from one home/place to another. This happens with little warning for many children worldwide, and like this little boy experiences, moves can mean that families are disconnected/separated for a period of time - if not forever. The main character's experiences with the therapeutic powers of play provide him with hopeful experiences after such a sad move. The activities at the end of the story provide an opportunity for the reader to contribute to the little boy's future. A lovely bibliotherapy book from a play therapist who has the privilege of working with refugee children."
--Theresa Fraser, CYC-P, CPT-S, RP, MA, RCT, author of Billy Had to Move: A Foster Care Story
"I work with children who have many different crises, including divorce, foster care, moves, etc. Many children will relate to the boys' experience of leaving home and experiencing displacement. The author fully captures the child's heart and emotions and I felt like I experienced them with him. I wholeheartedly recommend The Magic Home to therapists and others who help children. It's a sweet book and I love the illustrations."
--Jill Osborne, EDS, LPC, CPCS, RPTS, author of Sam Feels Better Now
"Isabella Cassina's work, The Magic Home, sheds light on the overlooked and underestimated approach of simply allowing children ownership of their feelings. The beautiful message of safety in self-expression offers the kind of nurturing attentiveness and encouragement that is vital in supporting children during times of transition. The included exercises help to create a clear path to working through potentially difficult topics where footing may be hard to come by."
-- Aimee L. Ruland, author of Float: A Guide to Letting Go