“Catch a Falling Star”
Endorsements
“Children with mental illness suffer greatly, not just because of these devastating conditions themselves, but also because they lack the grown-up capacity to understand what has happened to their feelings, their thoughts, their behavior...in short, to themselves. As a result, special assistance is needed to tell them their story and with appropriate intervention, and to show them a brighter future. To be effective, this hope and help must be offered in children's own language and metaphors. The mythical but magical Iris the Dragon assists not just the young boy who meets the Dragon in this story, but can also help all children who read about the boy and the Dragon. Beautifully told, incredibly illustrated. My highest recommendation for parents and their children afflicted with this disorder.”
Peter S. Jensen, MD
Ruane Professor of Psychiatry, Columbia University
Director, Center for the Advancement of Children's Mental Health Formerly Associate Director,
National Institute of Mental Health for Child & Adolescent Research
“Children's stories are wonderful vehicles for teaching important lessons in life. The message that mental illness can be treated and people can resume their lives will be a great value to children, their parents and teachers. As the parent of a son with mental illness and as a former classroom teacher, I know that knowledge is the first step towards early intervention.”
Jacqueline Shannon
Board President, NAMI, the National Alliance for the Mentally Ill
“This charming, beautifully illustrated book, speaks to children in language they can understand. At once playful and imaginative, it is also realistic and poignant in a way that captures children's fears, worries and the longing for the comfort of a wise and caring friend. The story is set in an imaginary landscape with a friendly wise dragon, Iris, whose motto is faith, hope and courage. Fish, the central character comes to depend on Iris, who offers her friendship and advice on how to relax. Finally when Fish's worries persist and worsen, Iris encourages Fish to get help from a special doctor, a psychiatrist who will help Fish with his big worries. This book humanizes children's suffering, puts a face to it, and speaks to parents, educators and others about the pain and anguish mental illness can bring; pain that is often invisible and easily misunderstood. Iris helps pull the cover off children's problems showing a simple, easy to understand way that some worries don't just go away, they can grow and intensify, but that help can be found. This book has an important and powerful message - we must listen to our children, and respond with wisdom and support to their fears and worries and make use of available specialists to reduce suffering and distress. I heartily recommend this book to all, especially anyone who wants to better understand children, children's worries and the help that they may need.”
Joseph H. Beichman, MD
Clinical Director, Child Psychiatry Program,
Centre for Addiction and Mental Health Psychiatrist in Chief,
Hospital for Sick Children TD Financial Group Chair in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
Professor and Head, Division of Child Psychiatry, University of Toronto
“Using the medium of the fairy tale story, this book introduces children and their parents to the early warning signs of childhood mental illness in a thoughtful and innovative way. It helps its reader become aware of the many issues surrounding mental illness, including the importance of early intervention. I believe that the book's sensitive but direct approach will help remove the stigma of mental illness and lessen the burden of individuals, and their families, who suffer from psychiatric disorders.”
Simon Davidson, M.B., B.Ch., F.R.C.P.(C)
Chairman, Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry,
Department of Psychiatry, University of Ottawa;
Chief of Psychiatry,
Medical Director of the Mental Health Patient Service Unit,
Children’s Hospital of Eastern
Ontario
“Lucky Horseshoes”
Endorsements
“In this wonderful series, author Gayle Grass tells the story of Skippy, a youngster with ADHD whose frustration with her difficulties at school and home are gradually overcome after she meetings Iris the Green Dragon. Although she faces a number of challenges, she realizes her dreams as she learns to love and work with a young colt, Ben. Children and parents alike will love the story, and its powerful and re-enforcing messages.”
Peter S. Jensen, M.D. Ruane Professor Child Psychiatry & Director Center for the Advancement of Children's Mental Health Columbia University/NY State Psychiatric Institute
“Gayle Grass is a conscientious and talented mental health author, advocate and educator. From the Iris the Dragon series, she now presents her 2nd book, ‘Lucky Horseshoes’. She has comprehensively researched the appropriate mental health area, ADHD, and adapted the content into a tale developmentally appropriate and captivating for children. This work is informative and educative for this young audience who may also become more sensitive to mental health issues and less stigmatized by them.
Congratulations on your valuable and continued excellence Gayle!”
Simon Davidson, M.B., B.Ch., F.R.C.P.(C)
Chairman, Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry,
Department of Psychiatry, University of Ottawa;
Chief of Psychiatry, Medical Director of the Mental Health Patient Service Unit,
Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario
“Reading together is a wonderful way for parents to share a love of books and lifelong learning with their children. Iris the Dragon helps open the door for families to have conversations that are important, but may be more difficult to navigate without a skilled guide. By creating an accessible child-friendly discussion of children's mental health, Iris helps promote tolerance and understanding in children and adults alike.”
Sunita Vohra MD FRCPC MSc Director, CARE Program Stollery Children's Hospital Associate Professor, Dept of Pediatrics University of Alberta Director, PedCAM Network
“One of Equine Canada’s key missions is to create and foster an environment whereby Canadians achieve enjoyment from horses and sport excellence. For individuals with intellectual or emotional disabilities, or other personal challenges, the unique relationship formed with the horse can lead to increased confidence, patience and self-esteem. Lucky Horseshoes – Skippy and Little Ben demonstrates the power of such a relationship, and how that can support personal growth and dealing with personal challenges.”
Al Patterson, President, Equine Canada
“Little Ben sees only the beauty of the person within. Little Ben has only a positive and honest agenda. Little Ben knows there is always hope and that dreams can be achieved. I have long believed that the partnership of human and horse as a therapeutic solution is effective and powerful.When we understand children's mental illness, we have taken the first critical step towards conquering that illness. Gayle Grass, I am awed by your creation of Little Ben, all that he stands for and all that he achieves.”
Ian D. Millar CM LLD
“Hole in One”
Endorsements
Gayle Grass strikes again! Gayle is a creative and thoughtful author who has created her third book in the Iris the Dragon series. In this series, not only is she adept at accurately depicting different mental illnesses and mental health problems, but she is exceptional at making the story developmentally appropriate and enticing for young children. The goal of the series is to raise awareness, educate and also reduce the stigma of mental illness. Through her stories, she clearly underscores the importance of a total, holistic approach to dealing with mental health problems. ‘It takes a village to raise a child…’
The third book in the series, “Hole in One”, is the story of a young boy who, with Iris the Dragon's help, addresses his anxiety disorder in his efforts to become a successful golfer thereby achieving his dream. As always, the mental illness is accurately depicted, the tale is enticing, the graphics exceptional and above all, I believe, Gayle has another winner.
Gayle, congratulations! Your efforts to educate, to reduce stigma and to reduce the burden of suffering for children and youth with mental health problems are greatly appreciated.
Peter S. Jensen, MD
Simon Davidson, M.B., B.Ch., F.R.C.P.(C),
Chair, Child and Youth Advisory Committee Mental Health Commission of Canada;
Chief Strategic Planning Executive, Provincial Centre of Excellence for Child and Youth Mental Health at CHEO, Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario;
Chairman, Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Professor of Psychiatry and Pediatrics, University of Ottawa;
Chief of Psychiatry, Medical Director of the Mental Health Patient Service Unit, Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario.
“Little Ben sees only the beauty of the person within. Little Ben has only a positive and honest agenda. Little Ben knows there is always hope and that dreams can be achieved. I have long believed that the partnership of human and horse as a therapeutic solution is effective and powerful.When we understand children's mental illness, we have taken the first critical step towards conquering that illness. Gayle Grass, I am awed by your creation of Little Ben, all that he stands for and all that he achieves.”
Simon Davidson, M.B., B.Ch., F.R.C.P.(C)
Professor of Psychiatry and Paediatrics,
Chairman, Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry,
University of Ottawa;
Chief Strategic Planning Executive,
Provincial Centre of Excellence for Child and Youth Mental
Health at the Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario.
“I Can Fix It”
Endorsements
““The stigma associated with children and youth who have developmental disabilities can be devastating to their sense of inclusion in the community and their self-esteem. What is so disturbing is how easy it would be to remove that stigma if we had the appropriate tools and methods. One of the key tools must be education of typically developing children and their understanding of the trials and tribulations experienced by those with Autism Spectrum Disorders. I read, “I Can Fix It a tale from the Iris the Dragon Series,” with delight and knew immediately that this book could go a long way to removing that stigma. It recounts the story of a child with Asperger Syndrome, the teasing and bullying she experiences from her classmates, and the resilience she displays in overcoming those obstacles. The dialogue is charming, the illustrations magnificent, and the message uplifting. I hope to see copies of “I Can Fix It a tale from the Iris the Dragon Series” in all classrooms across Canada.””
Dr. Peter Szatmari has worked in the field of autism and pervasive developmental disorders (PDD) for more than 25 years. Dr Szatmari is Professor and Head, Division of Child Psychiatry in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioural Neurosciences at McMaster University, where he holds the Chedoke Health Chair in Child Psychiatry. He is Director of the Offord Centre of Child Studies. He is a founding member of the Canadian Autism Intervention Research Network (CAIRN) a national network of parents, clinicians, policy makers and scientists dedicated to launching a research agenda in early intervention in autism. He is currently part of an international collaboration investigating the genetics of autism, a long-term study of autistic pre-schoolers that will try to identify factors that contribute to positive outcomes for these children and a study of infant siblings of children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). He consults regularly to government agencies in Canada, the U.S. and internationally on research and on treatment services for children with ASD. He was co-editor of the journal Evidence Based Mental Health, has published more than 200 journal articles and presentations on autism and is the author of the book “A Mind Apart; Understanding Autism and Asperger Syndrome”.
Dr. Peter Szatmari
“Gayle Grass dedicates her storytelling talent to educate children, and their parents, about mental health and mental health problems, associated adaptive ways of coping and identification of early warning signs. “I Can Fix It a tale from the Iris the Dragon Series” is the 4th book in the wonderful Iris the Dragon series. Using her creative bent, augmented by exceptional illustrations, Gayle has focused on Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). While dealing with mental health literary from this perspective, she also very ably addresses the substantial matter of the stigma associated with mental health problems. Congratulations on your continued excellence Gayle!”
Simon Davidson,
M.B., B.Ch., F.R.C.P.(C) Professor of Psychiatry and Paediatrics,
Chairman, Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry,
University of Ottawa; Chief Strategic Planning Executive,
Provincial Centre of Excellence for Child and Youth Mental Health
at the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario.
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