Ian Learns to Be Resilient

In Ian Learns to Be Resilient, Ian is happy and excited for his first day of school, with his mom reminding him, "You are beautiful the way you are!" But when his classmates single him out as different and cast him out from playing with them, Ian is frustrated, disappointed, and hurt. After sharing his emotions with the teacher, Ian finds the courage to draw and share his experience with his classmates. The discussion helped his classmates understand their behavior, and Ian is overjoyed when he hears them call out to him, "Come play with us!" Confronting his emotions and sharing his interests and talents helped Ian make new friends. 

Through vibrant illustrations and uplifting stories, Allen expertly weaves tales that are relatable, motivational, and elevating. As he explains in his author message to parents in the back of each book, all children need support developing resilience in order to combat and overcome challenges. Social emotional learning content involving tactics that build resilience proficiency help children to develop critical thinking skills needed to be successful in school and in life. Being able to find solutions on their own empowers children and provides a sense of control.

Author Allen Rosales has a 28-year career in early childhood education. His experience has shown him that family members, teachers, and other educators should engage children in conversations that prepare them for potential negative situations. His new series of picture books provide a platform where children can learn techniques to help them flourish. Furthermore, his stories also show adults that children with less effective behaviors must be treated with equity and fairness.