Welcome!
My name is Emma and I write therapeutic stories for children.
What I love about children’s books is that all stories have the potential to be healing or therapeutic. Whether we laugh, cry, feel empathy or relate to a character within a story we are giving ourselves the chance to connect with our inner world.
Through the use of story and metaphor I ‘feel’ my way to a good story rather than planning it in a cognitive way. By identifying with characters in a story, a child can be empowered as they overcome obstacles and a resolution is achieved.
‘Stories have the power to reconnect what we know in our heads with what we feel in our hearts’
Susan Perrow, Therapeutic Storytelling, Hawthorn Press, 2021
Ditchy’s Adventure
Formats: Paperback
First published: 28th May 2024
ISBN: 978-1915962461
Ditchy’s Adventure
The tale of a young elephant who goes on an adventure in the tropical rainforest.
Inspired by my wonderful daughter and our struggles when starting school this book explores themes of separation and individuation, trust and autonomy through the expression of story and metaphor.
I began writing this book as my eldest daughter was preparing to separate from me and begin her school journey. Through the use of story and metaphor my aim is to encapsulate the developmental stage relevant to young children who are beginning or in the process of separating from their caregivers. On his adventure Ditchy comes across things he has never done alone. He has some difficult choices to make along the way; just as all children do as they grow. Read ‘Ditchy’s Adventure’ to find out more about the trials and tribulations of his journey.
With illustrations by Natalia Logvanova
I found Ditchy’s Adventure a particular useful resource when my three year old started pre-school. He found that transition incredibly hard, and for the first few weeks would ask for Ditchy almost every night. We would then often talk about Ditchy in the mornings before school. Having that shared story helped us both navigate that challenging time and gave him something to call on when he needed some extra courage. “
Bella and her Pink Sparkly Hooves
The tale of a loveable, strong-willed donkey, who experiences struggles with change and newness.
This my second therapeutic story. The book is a light-hearted attempt to capture the ups and downs of finding your place in a group or new environment, inspired by my youngest daughter.
I believe it is essential for children to grow into independence and freedom. However, there are also times when it’s important and/or helpful for them to be part of a group (Susan Perrow, Therapeutic Storytelling, Hawthorn Press, 2012, page 232): for example, at nursery or in a school setting. The importance of children being able to see others exploring and searching for their place in a group was so essential for my daughter and her development, hence the inspiration for this book!
Through the use of rhyme and rhythm I’ve created a ‘stubborn donkey chat’ which Bella likes to show us when she doesn’t want to do something. There is then a twist in the story at the end where the words in the rhyme change. This is part of the more obvious healing element of the story.
One of the more subtle therapeutic elements is the deliberate choice of coloured bows Bella the donkey chooses to wear in her mane. The metaphor of the bows represents a rigidity in her emotions initially then with a contrasting choice of multicoloured bows she chooses at the end of the story representing an acceptance of the different emotions she is able to feel.
The rest is open to your heart, soul and imagination.
With illustrations by Natalia Logvanova
Formats: Paperback
First published: 24th February 2025
ISBN: 978-1915962768
Another 40 plus book signings today. Thank you to every single one of you who has supported me on this crazy adventure so far!!
If you’d like a copy of Bella and her Pink Sparkly Hooves please DM me or click onto my website:
www.therapeuticstoriesforchildren.co.uk
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Our first read of Bella and her Pink Sparkly Hooves with Mummy & Daddy. My littlest inspirational daughter Holly 💕
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Back in February I attended St Edwin’s Pre-School, Darlington to read my new book ‘Bella and her Pink Sparkly Hooves.’ The children were really great and engaging, even the really little ones sat and listened. They had some great questions and gave the drawing tutorial their best shot. Thank you, for having me St Edwin’s!
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And the first signed copy goes to……Holly. My wonderful daughter and my inspiration for writing this book. Thank you, my born leader, for expressing your confidence and sparkle, always!
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The big reveal!!!! I am so excited to share with you all ‘Bella and her Pink Sparkly Hooves.’ Pre-orders will be going out this week 🫏
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Order my books direct
About me
My background is in counselling and psychotherapy.
I have over 10 years experience working in private practice with children, young people, adults and couples.
I offer face to face and online therapy sessions.
Between my colleague and I we offer face to face sessions in:
- Northumberland
- Gateshead
- Darlington
- York
For more information please visit www.birchtreewellbeing.co.uk
Book me for a school visit or event
I am available for author visits and school workshops in the North East and North Yorkshire.
Author visits
Author visits are suitable for all ages and include:
- What is an author and illustrator?
- Interactive storytelling of both Ditchy’s Adventure and Bella and her Pink Sparkly hooves
- A short drawing tutorial (suitable for 4+)
- An image from one of the books to take away and colour in
- Q&A
Author visits run for 30-40 minutes and are an investment of £120.00
Workshops
The workshops are suitable for ages 4-9yrs and include some or all of the following:
- How to publish and illustrate a book
- Interactive storytelling of both Ditchy’s Adventure and Bella and her Pink Sparkly Hooves
- Comprehension and discussion of themes within the books
- A short drawing tutorial
- An image from one of the books to take away and colour in
- Q&A
- Individual books signings for any purchased books
These workshops are more specifically tailored to each age bracket or event.
Each workshop runs for 40-60 minutes at an investment of £175.00.
Please note: no more than 50 participants per author visit/workshop. It is possible to arrange more than one visit per day.
For more information or an informal chat please do not hesitate to call me or drop me an enquiry below.
“We recently had the pleasure of hosting a visit by child author Emma Yarrow at our Pre-School, and it was an incredible experience for both the children and educators. Some of the highlights were:
Engaging Storytelling: Emma captivated the children with her charming storytelling style. She read her book ‘Ditchy’s Adventure’ with enthusiasm, using expressive voices and animated gestures that kept the children fully engaged.
Interactive Activities: The author included interactive components, such as asking children to predict what would happen next in the story. This encouraged participation and sparked the children’s imaginations, making the reading experience more dynamic.
Inspiring Creativity: After the reading, Emma led a creative drawing session based on the story. The children eagerly illustrated a picture of a Toucan, allowing them to express their creativity and understand the storytelling process.
Q&A Session: The children were thrilled to ask questions about the book. Emma shared her writing journey, which inspired our preschoolers to explore their own creativity and storytelling abilities.
Positive Impact: Overall, the visit was a fantastic way to spark an interest in reading and writing among our preschoolers. The children were excited to read more books.
We highly recommend inviting child author Emma Yarrow to educational settings. It not only enriches the children’s understanding of literature but also fosters a love for reading and creativity in a fun and engaging way. We look forward to future visits like this one!”
Lyndsay Smith, St Edwin’s Pre-school.
Contact me
You can call me on 07837 332 685 or use the enquiry form to send me a message.