From Children To Red Hatters

"Once upon a time, high atop the world, there lived a boy named Billy Hightower and the wind. When a new neighbor appears--a girl in a red hat--Billy Hightower can hardly wait to meet her and introduce himself. But the wind has other ideas"--

It is a beautiful spring day, and Luna is having a picnic in the park with her family, wearing her Mum's red hat. Luna's Mum died one year ago and she still finds it difficult to understand why. She feels that it may have been her fault and worries that her Dad might leave her in the same way. Her Dad talks to her to explain what happened and together they think about all the happy memories they have of Mum. This beautifully-illustrated storybook is designed as a tool to be read with children aged 6+ who have experienced the loss of a loved one by suicide. Suicide always causes shock, not just for the family members but for everyone around them, and children also have to deal with these feelings. The book approaches the subject sensitively and includes a guide for parents and professionals by bereavement expert, Dr Riet Fiddelaers-Jaspers. It will be of interest to anyone working with, or caring for, children bereaved by suicide, including bereavement counsellors, social workers and school staff, as well as parents, carers and other family members.

A series of exuberant read-aloud sound effects perfectly capture the whimsy and joy of a springtime frolic in this companion to Red Sled. In this almost wordless springtime picture book, an adorable crew of baby animals borrows a familiar-looking red hat (last seen on the head of Red Sled’s unsuspecting protagonist) and embarks on a joy-filled escapade—until all that is left is a long piece of red string! Their playful romp is gorgeously depicted in bold watercolor and complemented by humorous expressions and pitch-perfect sound effects. With a timeless tone and classic characters, Red Hat promises to be an instant favorite.

The Association for the Study of Play (TASP) is the sponsor of this eighth volume in the Play & Culture Studies series. TASP is a professional group of researchers who study play. The focus of this eighth volume of the Play & Culture Studies series is on how play takes many forms as it cuts across species, ages, and cultures. The articles in this volume present current theoretical and empirical research on play and culture from a variety of disciplines including psychology, education, animal studies, and sociology. Applications to practice and policy implications are presented as well. Volume 8 continues the tradition of the Play & Culture series by presenting a view of play that is broad in scope both in terms of the subjects of study and the ways in which researchers approach the study of these diverse forms of play.

Meet Alma, a mother and wife, who’s brutally honest and bitter—disappointment and heartbreak have left the once vital and joyful woman so cynical and self-protecting that she has forgotten how to love anyone, including herself. Alma has become so accustomed to being resentful of her husband, James, that even when she wants to show him love she doesn’t know how. He made some mistakes over the course of their decades-long marriage, but she made some mistakes, too, which alienated not only her husband, but friends and neighbors as well. Deep down she is sorry for what happened and still loves Harold, but stubborn pride eats away the short time they have left to make amends. When she finds herself widowed with grown children in far-off places, a deep loneliness sets in and she starts to give up on life. That is until a group of red hat ladies—whom she once thought of as belonging to a cult—extend hands of friendship and reintroduce her to herself and, possibly, a new love. In this debut novel, Wayans has crafted unforgettable characters in Alma, her family, and friends, and a charming story that stays with the reader long after the last page is read and reminds us of the enduring power of love and friendship.

Who knew wearing a red hat could cause such trouble? "My Red Hat" is a modern anti-bullying story with a twist. For Piper and her father Rick, what was a fun-filled day, and an ordinary trip to the store changes quickly when a bully is triggered by the sight of matching hats. They have to think fast and act smart. Else, they stand a chance of being the subject of the latest viral video to be passed around online. Intended to be a work of fiction, this type of behavior between adults bullying children is an increasingly modern reality. Using a layered approach to storytelling, "My Red Hat" is designed to provide discussion opportunities between children and parents. As serious as it is entertaining, this anti-bullying children's book serves as an early detection if a child is being bullied, has been a witness to others being bullied, or if the child has been taking on the role of a bully. We live in a very digital world, and the rules have changed. One wrong move in public can be a big problem, edited down to a few seconds of video, with no context of what happened before or after. We owe it to children to teach smart approaches to navigate the world. We owe it to adults to remind them to take the high road, control their impulses, and be a role model. Too many adults are seeking their 15 minutes of fame, even if it's at the expense of a child. We hope this type of behavior between adults bullying children is a modern fade. Until that changes, it is essential to ensure kids are equipped with the skills to recognize bullies living in bubbles, along with acquiring the confidence to make smart decisions on what to do next. Using a layered approach to storytelling, "My Red Hat" is an entertaining take, on a serious topic. Designed to provide discussion opportunities between children and adults, this anti-bullying children's book serves as an early detection if a child is being bullied, has been a witness to others being bullied, or if the child has been taking on the role of a bully. We owe it to children to teach smart approaches to navigate the world. We owe it to adults to remind them to take the high road, control their impulses, and be a role model. Too many adults are seeking their 15 minutes of fame, even if it's at the expense of a child. The bully in our story is a work of fiction. However, stories of adult bullies trying to trap and record others in an effort to shame and post a video online seem to be a modern trend that repeats itself every few weeks. One wrong move in public can be a big problem, edited down to a few seconds of video, with no context of what happened before or after. The way the story uses imagery is covert. Some will see this as political humor. That's not the intent. Regardless of your political affiliation, most adults can find value in using a red hat as an example. They either view the red hat as a metaphor to not bully a person because of his/her appearance or as a more direct example that highlights modern concerns that parents have towards bullies in the digital age. While many adults will enjoy the storyline, ultimately children are the audience. Young children are taught about the importance of tolerance towards others different than them. In early reviews, children have universally seen the bully as a villain with behavior that is inappropriate. And while parents and other family members of these children may have a very different view of the bully, and at the extreme end some will believe the young girl was 'asking for it,' it gives us great hope that children reject the bully, and side with Piper for her freedom to wear the red hat of her choice. Children see Piper's choice to wear a red hat as something that should be respected. We agree 100%.

A New York Times Best Illustrated Children's Book of 2011! A picture-book delight by a rising talent tells a cumulative tale with a mischievous twist. Features an audio read-along! The bear’s hat is gone, and he wants it back. Patiently and politely, he asks the animals he comes across, one by one, whether they have seen it. Each animal says no, some more elaborately than others. But just as the bear begins to despond, a deer comes by and asks a simple question that sparks the bear’s memory and renews his search with a vengeance. Told completely in dialogue, this delicious take on the classic repetitive tale plays out in sly illustrations laced with visual humor-- and winks at the reader with a wry irreverence that will have kids of all ages thrilled to be in on the joke.

Georgia, SuSu, Teeny, Diane, and Linda are back in a warm, sassy Southern novel from the New York Times bestselling author of QUEEN BEE OF MIMOSA BRANCH and RED HAT CLUB. Georgia, SuSu, Teeny, Linda and Diane have been friends for more than thirty years. But when Pru Bonner, black sheep of the group, falls off the wagon so hard it shakes their world, "the girls" stage a hilarious kidnapping in Vegas to help their childhood friend clean up her act. As the women confront their pasts along with their hazardous adventure, they discover surprising strength in themselves and their friendships. Laughter is spiced with secrets, surprises, and pitfalls aplenty, including a midlife pregnancy test, the perils of internet dating, an all-expense-paid plastic surgery cruise, and a surprise celebration that proves it's never too late for love. As in THE RED HAT CLUB, these irrepressible heroines face the challenges of friendship in sickness and in health, with heart and indomitable humor. So join The Red Hats and remember that age is all in your head, calories should always be in chewable form (Diet Coke with chocolate éclairs!), and that when all else fails, your Red Hats will see you through.