Ellinor Burke, author of "Susana Worrywart and the Magical Teddy Bear Balloon" reads to Clara Barton Elementary School students.
By: Eve Collins
BORDENTOWN CITY Winding down with their events for Read Across America last week, children at the Clara Barton Elementary School heard a story by a local author who used one of their peers as the model for her new book.
Dr. Ellinor Burke, a psychologist who has a practice in Medford and works with children, wrote "Susana Worrywart and the Magical Teddy Bear Balloon," a story about a young girl who worries too much, but learns the art of relaxation.
The book includes a compact disc that helps real-life children with similar problems to put their worries away, Dr. Burke said. The technique is similar to what is used for adults and takes children through visualization, distraction and relaxation periods.
Dr. Burke said the reaction to the book, which is available at www.comforttales.com, has been favorable from parents and teachers who have used it.
"Kids don’t have the tools," to deal with worries, Dr. Burke explained after reading to a group of youngsters at the school. "Ninety percent of the reason I wrote this is because there is nothing out there."
The book describes Susana, a typical youngster who worries about everything from soccer and ballet to the safety of her family and what her parents are watching on the news.
Dr. Burke said she wrote the book after seeing the events of Sept. 11 and the war in Iraq and how they were affecting children here who watch the news with their parents.
"It took a year to put it all together so parents and kids can talk about it," she said. "There is always scary stuff on the news and on TV."
Dr. Burke told the kids that she used one of their friends, first-grader Maddie Gerike, as the model for Susana’s look. "Maddie is not a worrier, but I thought she looked just like Susana," she said.
Maddie said she got her picture taken so the illustrator could draw her for the book. She said her parents and little sister, Emma, got their pictures taken too. "I feel like a star," Maddie said. "I was very proud to be in the book."
In speaking with the children at Clara Barton, Dr. Burke said they also had plenty of worries, from spiders to the weather. But, she said, she was surprised and delighted to hear that some parents practice relaxation techniques such as tai chi and yoga with kids.
"It’s so great when parents introduce that," she said.
Meanwhile, Dr. Burke said, she will continue to promote her book to try to give kids a resolution. "It’s hard to market your writing and I’ve put my heart and soul into it, so when someone likes it, it’s all worthwhile," she said.