Call Me Penny Pickleberry
by Meghan Grana
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Description
Awards & Endorsements
Author(s)
Meghan Grana
Illustrator(s)
Fanny Liem
Related Titles
| Publisher | Girl Friday Books |
| Publication | Sep 06, 2022 |
| Format | Hardback |
| ISBN | 9781954854581 |
| Pages | 32 |
| Age | 7 - 11 |
| Price | $17.95 |
Call Me Penny Pickleberry
And that’s when it started . . . the inside-out squeezing, pulsing, whirly feeling in Penelope’s belly.
Meet Penelope Pickleberry, first-grader extraordinaire. Penelope can do lots of things, like pack her own snack and tie her shoelaces in under thirty seconds. But Penelope has one huge problem—Nelly, the negative voice in her head that tells her about bad things that might happen.
At the final game of the soccer season, Nelly’s I-just-can’t message is getting louder. Luckily, Penelope also has Penny, the positive, confidence-boosting voice inside her that tells her to be brave and persevere. Will Nelly win the battle? Or will Penny’s words of encouragement prove more powerful?
This fun and relatable picture book helps kids manage childhood anxiety by learning to quiet their negative self-talk and listen to their own Penny, the inner voice that fills them with the courage to conquer everyday obstacles.
Includes “A Guide for Shushing Your Nelly”—practical tips to help children overcome anxious thoughts.
Reviews, Awards & Endorsements
Review
“Call Me Penny Pickleberry is a gift for any child struggling with anxiety. Grana’s sensitive and charming story empowers children to become their own cheerleaders. And the inclusion of simple practices for reorienting negative thoughts and supporting self-confidence is invaluable. A must-have book for school libraries!” —Kitty O’Meara, author of And the People Stayed Home and The Rare, Tiny Flower
“Call Me Penny Pickleberry is an intentionally written story that provides context and explanation at a developmentally appropriate level of how some children experience anxiety. As a person who has experienced anxiety for their entire life, this would have been an extremely helpful tool to explain what was going on. By breaking down Penelope’s inner monologue into two voices (positive and negative), author Meghan Grana reinforces the idea that we are not our anxiety.” —Corrie-Locke Hardy, The Tiny Activist
Author
Meghan Grana
Meghan Grana has been advocating for students for nearly two decades. She holds a master’s degree in speech language and hearing science, and she’s served countless students with learning and language disabilities. She currently supports families in accessing school and community resources. Grana lives in Northern Virginia with her husband, two daughters, and mini Bernedoodle. This is her first book.