Sam Feels Better Now! An Interactive Story For Children by Jill Osborne - Book Review

Loving Healing Press (2008)to help get him through the scary times. There are
ISBN 9781932690606also exercises to help the child identify their emotions
"Sam Feels Better Now!" is the perfect tool forand to help them get started with telling their own
counselors who work with children recovering fromstory.
traumatic incidents. The author, Jill Osborne, has aI found "Sam Feels Better Now!" by Jill Osborne to
great deal of education and experience in dealing withbe an excellent resource for therapists who work
children who are survivors of domestic violence. Bywith children. As a counselor for persons with
creating this book, she has found a way to helpdevelopmental disabilities, I believe that this would
children be able to safely express themselves while inalso be a good tool to use with this population. This
therapy. It is presented as a picture book that hasbook allows the child to hear the story of another
exercises that invite the child to interact with what ischild who has had a bad experience. As the child
going on in the story.participates in the activities, the therapist will be able
The character Sam is described as having goneto glean more information about the incident that the
through a bad experience. The story begins with himchild has endured because it provides a more
meeting his counselor and feeling comfortable withcomfortable environment for him to express himself.
her. The interactive exercises involve having theThe exercises also help empower the child because
participant draw pictures that relate to the story.he is actively identifying his own personal resources.
Sam also gets to talk about his emotions. The storyThe book also includes a guide for therapists to
continues with the child helping Sam by listing theirassist them while utilizing this book. It also includes a
own personal resources that he can utilize. Thesehelpful list of references and resources. What a
involve identifying people and places that he can gowonderful resource this is!