FOUR illustrated children’s books have been published, specifically targeting use by adopters and foster carers who have, or may encounter, children who have suffered traumas earlier in life.

A mother, Sarah Naish, and her eldest adopted child, Rosie Jefferies, 25, from Dursley, believe their partnership is unique in using combined personal experiences in the field of fostering to write the books.

Whilst Rosie was growing up she and her new mum had to deal with difficulties that occurred in their relationship “I think readers like the fact they’re written by me and my daughter, and we’re out the other side now.”

“People have been totally blown away by the books because they’re making connections to their children that they’ve never been able to make.”

Sarah adopted five children, including Rosie 18 years ago, and has fostered many other children in the interim.

She has a vast backlog of experience to draw on. Rosie and her four siblings all had negative issues from previous life experiences to confront and come to terms with. Many of these events form the basis of the books.

“These are true stories. They all suffered early childhood trauma like the children in the books.”

Sarah’s company, Inspire Training Group, where Rosie is now employed, offers specialist training in therapeutic parenting to foster carers, adopters and social workers. Therapeutic parenting promotes psychological healing in a safe environment and helping children re-connect in a more stable and nurturing home situation.

“The approaches detailed in the book are based on a therapeutic re-parenting technique, included in training delivered by myself and Rosie.”

She wanted to make the books as authentic as possible. They are witty and colourfully illustrated by Amy Farrell but Sarah was careful to ensure the illustrations reflect real body language.

“For instance, you’ll see that when the mum hugs the child, he doesn’t hug her back. When she looks at the child, he’s not making eye contact with her. These things happen,” Sarah commented.

“The books help the parents find the dialogue they need to say the right words to the child. It also helps the child connect with their own behaviours.

They first published ‘William Wobbly and the Very Bad Day: A Therapeutic Parenting Book’ in January. It has been a number-one best seller in the adoption section on Amazon, with over 500 copies bought in its first three days on sale.

The four books tell the story of a day in the life of an individual child. William Wobbly, Sophie Spikey, Rosie Rudey, and Charley Chatty have all, in one form or another, suffered behavioural and emotional issues linked to early-life trauma and attachment difficulties.

Sarah explains: “The stories describe how the children and their mum make sense of their ‘wobbly’ feelings, and link back the behaviours to early life events, helping the child to make sense of their behaviours.

“Initially I wrote a story about a particularly difficult day with William and afterwards I discussed it with Rosie” She identified with William and recalled her own ’wobbly’ feelings in the past.

After she and Rosie released their second book in the series, Sophie Spikey has a Very Bad Day, renowned independent Jessica Kingsley Publishers took over the titles. This is a company committed to covering topics in the fields of Autism, Mental health Social Work and Art Therapies amongst others.

The authors also featured on BBC’s Points West news programme and on BBC Radio Gloucestershire to discuss the books.

Online comments about the books abound on social media. ‘One happy Mummy’ from Australia wrote: 'We have just read William Wobbly to my daughter, who has responded by saying ‘I get that woo'shy feeling too.’ I wanted to shout ‘breakthrough’ from the rooftops. In fact I think I will in a minute. Thank you so much’.

For Sarah and Rosie the written word remains a powerful communication tool.

The books will be released by Jessica Kingsley Publishers on October, 21 on Amazon or direct from the publisher at www.JKP.com. To find out more about the therapeutic patenting methods in the book you can add go the Sarah’s Facebook page, Therapeutic Parents.