Official Site of Author & Blogger
KENDRA TIMBERLAKE
THE BOOKS
Social emotional learning books designed to facilitate difficult discussions with children while educating and empowering them to explore their feelings.
Wild-Haired Poet
ISBN: 9978-1-0881-0447-7 (IngramSpark)
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Becca is a feisty child with a flair for poetry and fantastical style! She fearlessly speaks her mind and acts on her feelings, but sometimes she could use a little direction. With untamed emotions wilder than her unruly hair, Becca gets carried away and crosses boundaries before she can rein in her feelings. When unruly behavior puts her in the spotlight at school, Becca learns to shine like a true star, rising to the challenge of building character and self-control--with a little help from friends and family!
Where's Poppi?
ISBN: 978-1-09838-129-5
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The loss of a loved one can trigger a storm of emotions that can be difficult to navigate as an adult, let alone as a child with no relevant life experience. Based on true events, this book tells the story of a boy named Zion, as he struggles with the reality of death and the pain of losing his beloved grandfather. Follow Zion’s journey with his family through confusion and grief to understanding and acceptance as he raises questions that any young child might have during such a difficult time. Discussion points, writing prompts, and other resources suitable for parents, caregivers, and teachers are included.
Cooley Gaffigan, MSW, LCSW
Clinical Social Worker/Therapist
"Where's Poppi? takes a child's confusion and disorientation about losing a loved one and provides that most needed thing at such a time: a space to safely hold and sort all of the many emotions and questions. The book is developmentally appropriate for a young child's understanding and draws the reader in with its true-to-life dialogue and situations. The story of Zion and Poppi's relationship allows the reader room for the bittersweet mix of sadness and joyous memory that losing a loved one stirs up. It opens opportunities for the child and family to communicate about--and sit with--the complex feelings and uncertainties that everyone, adult or child, feels after death. The guidance and resources for parents provided by the author are also an excellent resource on their own. I warmly recommend Where's Poppi? as a great addition to a family's library and as a springboard to coming to terms with a dear one's death. "
Tina Clayton
Educational Consultant,
Former Elementary Principal
"Where’s Poppi? delivers a delicate yet honest message for children (and their parents) struggling with the death of a loved one. This story is especially timely as the media blasts news of millions of deaths around the world and children are challenged to understand what it really means. I highly recommend this book – especially to parents, counselors, and teachers of children ages 4 to 8."​
Lisa Driver, Elementary Educator
"We use Where's Poppi? at our school for one-on-one student counseling sessions as well as SEL classroom instruction. The book's supplementary resources provide teachers and counselors with next steps and keep students engaged. Educators will want to add this book to their SEL library.”
Michael B. Bunch, Ph.D.
Education Advisor, Author
"Wild-Haired Poet touches on themes in both the cognitive and affective domains. The text and illustrations are creatively inclusive. The book is a delight to read and an excellent choice for teachers who are looking for texts their young readers will not only enjoy but actually learn from.
While my expertise is educational testing, not children's literature, I quickly grasped this book’s value as a tool for teaching measurable reading competencies."