Stan the Timid Turtle Helping Children Cope with Fears about School Violence

Stan is a young turtle who loved to go to school every day. Then something bad happened at a nearby school: strangers got into the school and a lot of other little turtles like Stan got hurt. Stan is scared that the same thing may happen to him, so he retreats into his shell and becomes afraid of everything from the dark to going to school to getting kidnapped. However, with the help of his mom and dad, as well as his doctor, Stan learns that it's okay to be afraid, but that he can't let fear rule his life. Sometimes bad things happen: people get hurt or the lights go out, and Stan knows he must warn the other turtles when he spots strangers in his school. Stan is no longer a timid turtle, but a brave turtle. An important message of strength in the face of fear, Stan the Timid Turtle will help small children scared by the recent tragedies in Newtown and Boston find strength in themselves.

Educational training consultant Laura Fox received her master's degree in educational psychology from Kent State University. She is a training coordinator and technical writer at Miami University in Twinsburg, OH, where she lives. [Anita DuFalla bio to come. She lives in Pittsburg, PA.]