I have recently discovered a treasure… Annie Fox, an educator and award winning author. She has amazing insight and wisdom on raising teens to be healthy responsible human beings. She has so many resources for parents and educators as well.

Do you need some Christmas gifts?

Anne’s books would make great gifts. I am adding them to my list!

Check out her website too. Annie Fox.com

Teaching Kids to Be Good People

Progressive Parenting for the 21st Century

Authored by Annie Fox M.Ed.

“Not all teachers are parents, but all parents are teachers. When we teach kids to be good people who possess the social courage to do the right thing, we help to make the world a safer, saner, more accepting place for all of us.”
—Annie Fox, M.Ed.

Raymond Alligator is a super smart, super shy 5-year-old who feels left out when big sister Sheila has a friend over. He and his teddy bear are tighter than tight, but lately Raymond’s wondering if he needs someone else to be his friend. Making a new friend sounds like a great idea but, well, it can also be kinda scary.

Are You My Friend? is a spot-on, funny picture book sure to draw in every kid (and adult) who has ever longed to peek over the neighbor’s fence and bust out of their comfort zone. Are You My Friend? is a story for the heart and the funny bone, sure to resonate with typical 4-8 year olds, kids with special needs as well as reluctant readers. Whimsically illustrated, the story features music and sound effects with Read-It-To-Me audio narration. It also includes a unique guide for parents to help their kids increase friendship skills and social and emotional learning

Middle School Confidential is a fantastic series for tween/teens!

A one of a kind fiction/non-fiction hybrid, Middle School Confidential™ is part full-color graphic novel and part smart talk life skills. Each book focuses on a common stumbling block on the road to high school and beyond. And in each one, readers follow the adventures of a group of 7th graders who are just trying to navigate through the ever-changing drama taking place in their friendships, their families and, of course, at good old Milldale Middle School.

Both guys and girls are sure to get hooked into the lives of the characters, perhaps not even realizing they’re learning solutions to challenges in their own lives. In addition to comic-strip narratives illustrated by Harvey award-winner Matt Kindt, each book contains quizzes, quotes from real teens, insider tips, tools, and plenty of online and real world resources.

And Educators!! There is a free Leader’s Guide you can download for free!

Educators, download the free Leader’s Guide to the Middle School Confidential Series.

Here’s the lineup:

Book 1: “Be Confident in Who You Are”
Book 2: “Real Friends vs. The Other Kind”
Book 3: “What’s Up With My Family?”

Too Stressed to Think?

A Teen Guide to Staying Sane
When Life Makes You CRAZY

by Annie Fox, M.Ed. and Ruth Kirschner
Free Spirit Publishing

When stress has the “survival brain” on overdrive, what happens to the “thinking brain”? How can teens learn to use the mind-body connection to stay cool and make smart choices when the pressure’s on?

This book is packed with practical information and stress-lessening tools teens can use every day. Dozens of realistic scenarios describe stressful situations teen readers can relate to. Each scenario is followed by a clear, understandable process for reducing or stopping the stress and making decisions that won’t leave a teen lamenting, “What was I thinking?”

Too Stressed to Think? is definitely worth reading. The book won’t eliminate all the problems in your life, but it will help you reduce how often you get stressed and help you deal with the things that annoy you.

—Scholastic Choices
April/May 2009

Throughout, quotes from real teens remind readers that they’re not alone—that stress affects everyone, but it doesn’t have to ruin your life. Includes resources.