Excerpt from SOLACE: “My other work, as a therapist, is partly to listen. One of my social-work clients said to me, when I asked her what she had hoped for in her marriage, ‘Somebody to Listen.’ There is a kind of beauty in my work at times that makes me believe it’s worthwhile. It’s as if I’m holding my warmth close to someone else–as I was with the woman who couldn’t speak–and helping them to melt the pain that has caused them to freeze inside.”
Books
A Foot is Not a Fish!
Shared reality is critical to a democracy. In a time of alternative facts and the loss of that shared sense of reality, A Foot Is Not a Fish! playfully illustrates the difference between what is true and what is not by the use of absurd fun comparisons that every...
Missing: A Memoir
One reader’s review: “…a beautifully written portrait of a mother and her family. Spelman’s examination of her mother’s life is deeply poignant and will resonate with all readers who recognize–and perhaps struggle with—the complexity of family relationships….Spelman is able to uncover significant pieces of the puzzle of who her mother really was. The journey is worth taking, It’s a terrific read.”
When I Feel Angry
Anger can be a scary emotion for young children, their parents, and caregivers. As this little bunny experiences the things that make her angry, she also learns ways to deal with her anger--ways that won't hurt others. "This gentle book puts an adorable bunny in a...
When I Feel Good About Myself
"I feel good about myself. Somebody loves me just as I am. I don't have to look like anyone else, be the same size, or do the same things. It's fine to be me." When I Feel Good About Myself offers children positive and upbeat examples about the value of being...
When I Feel Jealous
"Jealousy is a prickly, hot, horrible feeling," says a little bear in this book in "The Way I Feel" series of picture books. A bear cub describes situations that make her jealous: when someone has something she wants, when someone is good at something she wants to be...
When I Feel Sad
Readers can relate to the situations in which this little guinea pig feels sad. The little pig learns how to take actions to help her feel better, and eventually our heroine realizes that feeling sad doesn’t last forever. Included in the 2003 edition of "The Best...
When I Feel Scared
Children often feel afraid. This book, with its comforting words and illustrations, will help children address those fears and learn some new ways to cope with being afraid. First, a little bear describes some of the things that frighten him, like bad dreams or big,...
When I Feel Worried
Everybody worries. Children worry, too–in new or confusing situations, or when someone is upset with them. This new addition to "The Way I Feel" Series uses reassuring words and touching illustrations to address a child’s anxieties and shows him ways to help him feel...
When I Miss You
In this picture book from the well-received 'The Way I Feel' series, Spelman offers support for children with separation anxiety and, in a note to parents and teachers, practical advice for helping children cope. A little guinea pig narrates, telling her parents how...