Abstract

Today Sophie Spikey has a very big problem. She has lost her shoes, again! There is no way she is asking her mum for help, though. I can fix it all by myself, she thought.

Sophie did not have an easy start in life and now she cannot trust grown-ups to help her. Luckily, her new mum is good at guessing when Sophie needs a helping hand.

Written by a mum who understands, and her daughter (who did not like asking for help), this is a story for children functioning at age 3-10.

Excellent books! I have recommended them to every foster carer/adopter/professional I know! Our kids love them, and enjoy the fact that Sarah and Rosie 'get it'. 5 out of 5 stars.
JS Bradley, Adopter
This set of books all deal with common emotional and behavioural difficulties of adopted and fostered children. Difficulties are introduced through characters who behave in ways that children can identify with. The text is simple, humorous and with illustrations that grab the reader's attention. The books could be used in many ways but I would see them as a springboard for adults (adoptive parents, social workers or carers) to begin to talk to children about feelings and behaviours. Read aloud, the stories may enable children to recognise that they are not alone and that other children also struggle. It is often difficult for parents or carers to know where to start in talking about these issues. This set of books provides a way of doing this without blaming the child. These books should be available in every adoption agency for use by social workers or to be lent to parents.
Professor Julie Selwyn CBE, Director of the Hadley Centre for Adoption and Foster Care Studies, University of Bristol
I love Sophie Spikey. She is so real! I can see little bits of her in several children I have fostered. The fact that she can't tell Mummy she has lost her shoes is sad - I can almost feel the feelings Sophie has myself! I bought a copy to use with future foster children and packed a copy for the 2 year old who was just leaving my care for adoption.
Gill Powney, Foster Carer
[These therapeutic parenting books] are the most valuable books on my book shelf. In my 11 years of fostering I have read many books, but these are different. They are people friendly but real - they are written by someone that has been through looking after traumatised children and who better to offer help, theories and guidance. Sarah has written her books simply which means the traumatised children respond to the characters and can express themselves through the books. I will be offering my copies to everyone that comes into my home to read...well done Sarah Naish and all involved...
Foster Carer
It is a precise and straightforward way of giving you other parenting techniques. It is written in the right amount of detail without making it complicated.
S L McCue
Sarah Naish is Director of Inspire Training Group www.inspiretraininggroup.com which delivers training to fostering agencies and local authorities on attachment and trauma-related issues. Sarah qualified as a social worker in 1991 and went on to found her own therapeutic fostering agency. She is parent to five adopted children. Her daughter, Rosie Jefferies is also a trainer at Inspire Training Group. Sarah and Rosie both live in Gloucestershire, UK.
Sophie Spikey Has a Very Big Problem has helped my foster daughter with similar issues of not wanting to ask for help. She relates to Sophie very well and I have found it very helpful. She now asks for this book to be read to her.
Sharlene, Foster Carer, Australia