MEET THE
KIDS BOOK SERIES
ten books, ten little friends
Evidence-based books for children aged 6 to 12 and their grown-ups
for growing minds
2
Worries and bravery
Nina shows that worries can shrink, one small step at a time.
3
Big feelings, calm days
Spark helps the whole family swap shouting for calm.
4
Sticky thoughts
Pio keeps the family company while OCD is treated.
5
My own way
Nino celebrates every child’s way of being in the world.
Every brain grows in its own way
7
Missing someone
Elô helps children keep the memories of people they love.
8
A big move
Lila knows what it feels like to start again somewhere new.
9
Words and talking
Tuca has a beak full of ideas and teaches the rescue phrases.
10
Sounds, touch and senses
Teca knows when to tuck into her shell and breathe slowly.
Each book pairs a friendly animal with one topic. Children get games, drawings and activities. Grown-ups get clear steps, every claim linked to research, and sheets to print at home or in school.
pick the one your child needs
Each book works on its own. They are PDFs in British English, ready to read on screen and print as many times as you like.
ADHD
with Lola the otter
Twelve missions with games, mazes, drawings and challenges about attention, memory, feelings, time and friendship. Plus a research-based guide for grown-ups and 25 printable sheets.
Anxiety
with Nina the sheep
A journey with Nina through the meadow, learning what worry is, how the body reacts and how to face fears in small, brave steps.
Challenging behaviour
with Spark the dragon
A parents’ guide to oppositional and challenging behaviour, based on the parenting programmes with the strongest evidence.
OCD
with Pio the owl
Explains childhood OCD in plain words and shows how families can support treatment, without setting up exposures on their own.
Autism
with Nino the octopus
A neuroaffirming guide to emotional regulation, routines and friendships for autistic children aged 6 to 12.
Low mood
with Lia the lotus flower
For mild to moderate low mood in children, built around behavioural activation, with clear warning signs and where to get help.
Grief
with Elô the elephant
How children of different ages understand death, how to talk about it honestly and how to support them at home and at school.
Moving home
with Lila the swallow
For families who have moved to a new country or a new city. Emotional adjustment shown as a timeline, from the first weeks to putting down roots.
DLD
with Tuca the toucan
Developmental Language Disorder explained for the people who live with the child, at home, at school and in bilingual families.
Sensory
with Teca the turtle
Why noises, clothes, smells or movement weigh so much on some children, what helps day to day and what the research says.
the grown-up bit
The guidance for grown-ups follows systematic reviews, clinical trials and guidelines such as NICE. Each claim shows its source and how strong the evidence is.
Step-by-step plans, “instead of this, try this” phrases, and printable sheets for home and school. Activities come in two levels for younger and older children.
The books do not diagnose or replace professional care. Each one says when to seek help and lists helplines for the UK, Ireland, the US, Canada, Australia and New Zealand.
Maria Maddalon is a psychotherapist with a degree in Psychology. She studied psychology in Brazil and in England, specialising in cognitive behavioural therapy, with training from the Beck Institute. She is a member of the British Psychological Society (BPS) and lives in England.
She wrote the Mind in Motion Kids series so that what research says about children’s mental health reaches the kitchen table and the classroom.
what families ask
No. The books are educational support material. They do not diagnose and do not replace assessment, therapy or medical care. Every book explains, in its first pages, when to seek professional help, with helpline numbers for the UK, Ireland, the US, Canada, Australia and New Zealand.
The activities are designed for children aged 6 to 12. The grown-up sections are written for parents, carers, teachers and therapists.
No. Each book covers one topic and works on its own. Choose the one that fits what your family is going through.
PDF, in British English. You can read on screen and print the activity pages and sheets as many times as you need.
Yes. The activity books on ADHD and anxiety work well in sessions, and Elephant Memory has pages written for schools and therapists.
In the grown-up guides, each statement shows the research it comes from, with a simple marker for the strength of the evidence. Studies were checked on PubMed and in guidance from bodies such as NICE and the NHS.
It can help you understand what is going on and organise everyday life. Only a qualified professional can say whether a child has a condition.
The books will be available to buy here very soon.