Source: Save the Children
A book that empowers the “brave voices” of children by encouraging them to speak out and find help if they experience abuse will be distributed to all primary schools in Aotearoa New Zealand, thanks to funding from the Wright Family Foundation.
Supported by Life Education Trust and Save the Children, ‘The Wolf and the Hocus Pocus’ is the latest story from Avril McDonald, the award-winning author of the Feel Brave series of books (little stories about big feelings for 4-7-year-olds) and founder of ‘Feel Brave’, which aims to give all children access to tools that help them manage tough emotions and reach their creative potential. Each book tells a story about a real-life situation that children may face, while offering a simple strategy to cope.
The picture book will be sent to all primary schools with students up to Year 8, accompanied by a guide to help teachers use the story to support children.
“I am delighted that tamariki across the motu will have the chance to read and hear this important story thanks to this generous grant from the Wright Family Foundation,” says Avril.
“Sometimes a story or one simple strategy can change people’s lives. ‘The Wolf and the Hocus Pocus’ offers a safe space for children and adults to explore what speaking out might look like and what to do if a child needs help.”
Launched earlier this year at Government House Wellington, hosted by Her Excellency Dame Cindy Kiro, who has also written the book’s foreword, the book was part of a wider campaign supported by Life Education Trust, Women’s Refuge and Save the Children aimed at breaking the culture of silence that traditionally surrounds sexual and other forms of abuse in Aotearoa New Zealand and delivering children a vital message: ‘To seek out a trusted adult until they find one who believes them and will act on their behalf to help keep them safe and secure’.
“The Feel Brave stories are a great asset to our teaching,” says Life Education Trust Chief Executive Mark Weatherall.
“With their engaging characters and storylines, they’re popular with tamariki right through the primary school years and aid conversations about sensitive topics. The Wolf and the Hocus Pocus lets children know it’s OK to stand up for themselves and others and will be welcomed by classroom teachers.”
Save the Children Chief Executive Heidi Coetzee says every child has the right to feel physically and emotionally safe, but for too many children, this is not the case.
“‘The Wolf and the Hocus Pocus’ helps teach children to trust their instincts and to speak out if something is wrong and highlights adults’ responsibility to listen to children and act to support them when they ask for help.
“We are so pleased that children across the country will be able to hear this important message.”
Kylie Wright from the Wright Family Foundation says ‘The Wolf and the Hocus Pocus’ is a wonderful children’s book that aims to empower tamariki to use their own voice.
“Avril has done a beautiful job of artistically delivering a powerful message to children that it is okay to speak up if they feel something is wrong, and to seek out a trusted adult. Child Education is a key focus area for the Wright Family Foundation, and our team are so proud to be supporting the distribution of this delightful book into every primary school across Aotearoa.”
The book is available from feelbrave.com, while a digital storybook version can be purchased from the App Store, Google Play and Amazon.
More about the author
Avril McDonald is the best-selling award-winning New Zealand author of the Feel Brave Series of books and founder of ‘Feel Brave’ which aims to give all children access to tools that help them manage tough emotions and reach their creative potential. The Feel Brave books are currently in eight languages and are read and loved by children all over the world. Her UK edition of ‘The Wolf was Not Sleeping’ has a special foreword written by HRH Prince William and the Texan editions of the same book were recently given to 56,000 First Responders across Texas. Avril continues to work on new Feel Brave projects and with large organisations where she creates entertainment-driven well-being content for children (and adults alike). Avril is an ambassador of the Life Education Trust (which uses her books as part of their mobile classroom programme) and a patron of the Westminster Children’s University in London.
Life Education Trust has been educating New Zealand children for 35 years. Today, they are New Zealand’s largest health education provider in schools.
Known for their fleet of mobile classrooms, specialist educators travel throughout the country using technology and individualised lessons to engage children, creating a unique and memorable learning experience. Every year through the Healthy Harold programme they teach over 250,000 children to embrace healthy choices – learning about their body, friendships, their identity, food and nutrition and helpful and harmful substances. In secondary schools they support youth through three Theatre-in-Education programmes.
Save the Children works in 120 countries across the world. The organisation responds to emergencies and works with children and their communities to ensure they survive, learn and are protected.
Save the Children New Zealand currently supports international programmes in Fiji, Cambodia, Bangladesh, Laos, Nepal, Vanuatu, Solomon Islands and Papua New Guinea. Areas of work include child protection, education and literacy, disaster risk reduction and climate adaptation, and alleviating child poverty.
