BOOKS
Dr. Sileo is a multi award-winning author of 15 children’s books. He is also the author of a parenting book for raising children with chronic medical illnesses. His children’s books and his parenting book have won prestigious book awards and have been translated into foreign languages.
When Your Child Has A Chronic Medical Illness: A Guide for the Parenting Journey
Written by: Frank J. Sileo, PhD and Carol S. Potter, MFT
Published by: APA LifeTools
For all its joys, parenting is a complex job, and when your child has a chronic illness, the stress can feel overwhelming. When your child is diagnosed, you begin a parenting journey filled with strong emotions, difficult choices, confusing words, and interactions with numerous professionals and specialists.
You’re focused on ensuring your child gets the best possible treatments for their symptoms, so it’s easy to overlook or dismiss the impact the illness can have on your relationships and emotions. This book places your psychological well-being front and center, so you can be the best caregiver possible for your child.
Along with suggestions for making laughter and mindfulness part of your daily self-care routine, it offers guidance for choosing the right therapist for your family, should extra support be needed. Every family’s journey with chronic illness is unique, but you don’t have to go it alone.
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Pride and Joy: A Story About Becoming an LGBTQIA+ Ally
Written by: Frank J. Sileo, PhD and Kate Lum-Potvin
Illustrated by: Emmi Smid
Foreword by: Vanessa Williams
Published by: Jessica Kingsley Publishers
Joy loves her big brother, Noah. He's the best brother, skateboarder and cookie baker there is! So, when Noah is teased for being gay, Joy wants to help. But how?
Joy decides to become an ally - someone who supports others through their words and actions. With her best friend, Elliott, Joy takes action, baking 'Pride and Joy' cookies to raise money for the local LGBTQIA+ center. But when the bully tries to put an end to the bake sale, Joy learns that being an ally means using your words, too.
Pride and Joy introduces children to LGBTQIA+ allyship and teaches them the value of inclusion and courage. Featuring a reading guide for adults and questions for discussion, this beautiful, uplifting picture book is a must-have for every young ally.
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The Small and Tall Ball: A Story About Diversity and Inclusion
Written by: Frank J. Sileo, PhD
Illustrated by: Katie Dwyer
Foreword by: Billie Jean King
Published by: PESI Publishing
Everyone’s family looks different―and that’s okay!
Although our world is diverse, it is not always inclusive. To raise accepting, empathic, and open-minded children, it is important to instill the idea that differences are to be celebrated within families, communities, and throughout the world.
In The Small and Tall Ball, readers will follow the heartwarming story of Oliver, a child who feels excluded from the yearly “Mother-Son & Father-Daughter Dance” because he has two dads. While planning for the dance goes on around him, Oliver learns that other kids in his class are also unable to attend because they have diverse families. “This is NOT fair!” cries one student. How can the students come together to plan a dance where all kids and families are welcome? Find out how the class thinks up a clever idea so everyone can enjoy the dance―making it a special night for those small and those tall!
Inside you’ll also find a special note for parents and caregivers that explains how to talk to kids about the importance of inclusion and the diverse families all around us.
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Zensations
Written by: Frank J. Sileo, PhD and Christopher Willard, PsyD
Illustrated by: Lily Fossett
Published by: Singing Dragon
How you feel is very important, and a lot of the time our emotions might not just live inside our heads but in our bodies too!
These are called bodily feelings, or 'Zensations', and you might find them all over your body. Come along with us as we learn how to feel our Zensations from the tips of our toes to the very top of our heads and find out all about the things our bodies are telling us.
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Blossom and Bud
Written by: Frank J. Sileo, PhD
Illustrated by: Brittany Lakin
Published by: Magination Press
Blossom and Bud live in Mr. Baxter's flower shop, among plants of every imaginable size, color, and shape. Blossom doesn’t like how tall she is and tries to hide her height. Bud doesn’t like how he looks, so he tries to force his flower to bloom. But Mr. Baxter thinks they are just right, as they are, and has a special role for each of them. This story will help kids love themselves all around, no matter their shape or size. Includes a Note to Parents and Caregivers about nurturing a positive body image in children.
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Bee Still: An Invitation to Meditation
Written by: Frank J. Sileo, PhD
Illustrated by: Claire Keay
Published by: Magination Press
Bentley is a lovable honeybee who does not participate in the frantic buzzing of other bees. Instead, he uses meditation to help calm himself and find inner peace. Soon the rest of the forest animals are joining along with Bentley as they sit, breathe, and "bee" still! Research has indicated that meditation can assist with improving concentration and focus, calming anxiety, and reducing impulsivity. A "Note to Parents and Caregivers" is included with information on how to teach children to practice meditation.
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Bee Calm: The Buzz on Yoga
Written by: Frank J. Sileo, PhD
Illustrated by: Claire Keay
Published by: Magination Press
In this companion book to Bee Still: An Invitation to Meditation, Bentley Bee loves to fly around and visit his friends in the garden. One day, he notices all of them in unusual poses. What could it bee? Bentley’s friends teach him several beginning yoga poses including Mountain, Chair, Airplane, Cobra, and more. Readers will love to follow Bentley and try the poses themselves as he gets buzzing all about yoga in this kid-friendly introduction. Includes a Note to Parents and Caregivers with suggestions for introducing children to yoga, and instructions for the poses in the story.
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Bee Heartful: Spread Loving-Kindness
Written by: Frank J. Sileo, PhD
Illustrated by: Claire Keay
Published by: Magination Press
Readers will rejoice that Bentley the bee is back in this third book in Frank J. Sileo’s award-winning series. When compassionate Bentley sends loving-kindness thoughts to himself and others, he can feel his heart growing: May you be happy. May you be healthy. May you be safe. May you be peaceful. When Willie Wasp steals Bentley’s favorite red scarf, it really stings! Bentley has the whole garden buzzing as he works through the situation. This sweet story shows the power of strong, positive, and loving thoughts. Includes a note from the author with more information about loving-kindness and related meditation, and guidelines for how readers can practice being heartful just like Bentley!
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Snitchy Witch
Written by: Frank J. Sileo, PhD
Illustrated by: MacKenzie Haley
Published by: Magination Press
“Oh moon so full, round, and bright
We beg one favor of you tonight
For witches who tattle, witches who snitch,
Tie their tongues, zip their lips!
No witch shall squeal or tell on friends.
This spell will be broken when the snitching ends!”
Tattling is an all too familiar occurrence among children that can have harmful impacts on friends and relationships. This spellbinding story encourages children to examine the difference between snitching and telling, and the impact of their words on others. Includes a Note to Parents and Caregivers with more information about snitching versus telling and what adults can do to help.
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Did You Hear? A Story About Gossip
Written by: Frank J. Sileo, PhD
Illustrated by: Jennifer Zivoin
Published by: Magination Press
This book uses serious and silly rumors to illustrate the concept of gossip and how it spreads and transforms. While gossiping is a natural human behavior, it also describes what hurtful gossip feels like, how can be like bullying, and what to do to stop it. Illustrations take readers through a day in a little girl's life and the gossip around her as the kids around her ask "did you hear?" A "Note to Parents and Caregivers" is included that describes how gossip can have negative effects, whether intended or not, and what can be done to prevent it.
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A World of Pausabilities: A Exercise in Mindfulness
Written by: Frank J. Sileo, PhD
Illustrated by: Jennifer Zivoin
Published by: Magination Press
This is a rhyming guide that introduces children to mindfulness and shows them how to live mindfully by taking pauses in their lives. Pausabilities encourage children to take a breath and be present and pay attention to their thoughts, feelings, sensations, and the world around them. A World of Pausabilities reminds children that everyone can be mindful and that there is no wrong way to take a pause. Includes a "Note to Parents and Caregivers" by the author which explains mindfulness and provides tips for implementing pausabilities in their children's lives.
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Don't Put Yourself Down in Circus Town:
A Story about Self-Confidence
Written by: Frank J. Sileo, PhD
Illustrated by: Sue Cornelison
Published by: Magination Press
Welcome to Circus Town, where it’s okay to bumble, stumble, and fumble . But no put downs! Give yourself a break! Everyone makes mistakes! Join Ringmaster Rick, Larry the Lion Tamer, Polka Dot Patti, and world-famous trapeze artists Juan and Juanita as they practice more, ask for help, think helpful thoughts, and bounce back from mistakes and mishaps to feel more confident!
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Sally Sore Loser:
A Story About Winning and Losing
Written by: Frank J. Sileo, PhD
Illustrated by: Cary Pillo
Published by: Magination Press
Sally loves to be first at everything! She is first in line at school. She is first out the door at recess. She is first at dinner finishing her mac ‘n’ cheese! Unfortunately, Sally dislikes losing and this can lead to hot tempers and hurt feelings. She even gets the nickname “Sally Sore Loser” from her classmates at school. With the help of her teacher and her mom, Sally learns the rules for being a good winner and a good loser, and that the most important thing is having fun.
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Toilet Paper Flowers:
A Story for Children About Crohn’s Disease
Written by: Frank J. Sileo, PhD
Illustrated by: Martha Gradisher
Published by: Health Press, NA
Julia, who suffers from Crohn’s disease, explains living with this chronic and sometimes debilitating illness to her new friend. Because she uses the bathroom so often, Julia creates flowers using toilet paper. By sharing her flower creations, Julia gains support and understanding from her friend. Toilet Paper Flowers has an introduction to parents, web resources, explanations of the disease and treatments, glossary, and instructions for making the flowers. This book offers hope and validates feelings of children struggling with Crohn’s disease, as well as educating siblings and friends unfamiliar with this chronic illness. This book was written for children ages 6–12 years.
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Hold the Cheese Please!
A Story for Children About Lactose Intolerance
Written by: Frank J. Sileo, PhD
Illustrated by: Martha Gradisher
Published by: Health Press, NA
Danny is tired of feeling different because he is lactose intolerant. After being teased by a classmate at lunch, Danny reacts by eating ice cream and milk during a class party even though he knows he will have tummy troubles. With the help of the school nurse, Danny and the nurse teach others about lactose intolerance. Hold the Cheese Please! explains lactose intolerance to children between the ages of six through twelve years. The book contains an introduction to parents, a glossary, a list of non-dairy calcium rich foods and resources for more information. As Danny says, “…when you learn to accept things in your life they seem less scary….” This book offers a great message for children dealing with bullying and being different due to lactose intolerance.
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Bug Bites and Campfires:
A Story for Kids About Homesickness
Written by: Frank J. Sileo, PhD
Illustrated by: Eric Scott Fisher
Published by: Health Press, NA
Andy is going off to summer camp for the first time. Shortly after arriving at camp, he begins to struggle with homesickness. With the advice of his camp counselor, Andy learns the coping skills to help him overcome feelings of homesickness. As Counselor Mike tells Andy, "homesickness is a normal thing to happen to kids" and "homesickness doesn't last long." Bug Bites and Campfires explains homesickness to kids in a vibrantly illustrated story that also includes a foreword for parents and camp web resources. This book offers comfort and will assist the child reader in gaining a sense of confidence, security, and mastery over separating from their parents or when they are away from home.
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