[This book was created for the age group of about 4 to 8 years old. It shows, simply,
how a child’s grief can be handled appropriately. It includes two basic concepts: The
normal aspects of grief and an introduction to psychotherapy. (Showing how “talking
therapy” can help even a child.) Additionally, it shows how family, friends, teachers
and doctors can all contribute positively during the normal evolution of grief to help
the child suffering a loss pull through it more smoothly.]
(I’m publishing this manuscript with the expectation that a children’s book publisher
will be interested in purchasing it. A publisher, that is, who has an on-staff illustrator
who can bring the visual aspects of this important story to life for kids who need it.)
[The markets for my book include: Pediatricians, Child Psychiatrists, Family
Doctors, Parents of young children, Teachers of young children, Social
Workers, Psychologists, Psychotherapists, Aunts, Uncles, Grandparents,
the clergy...anyone who needs to explain once-taboo topics of loss, grief and
handling ones feelings to a young child. I’m open to edit to perfection this manuscript
which has been lying in my files for years.]
Danny Teller Goes to Therapy:
A Book to Read to Grieving Children by Helen Borel
( page 1, left page) (pix: a bedroom full of toys, a hobby horse, etc.; a boychild in bed)
Danny Teller can’t play today.
(page 2, right page) (pix: Danny looks sad, could be 5 or 7 years old)
Danny Teller is sad.
(page 3) (pix: Danny’s dad is bedridden in hospital, med’l paraphernalia + nurse)
Danny’s Daddy, Mr. Joe Teller is very sick.
(page 4) (pix: Joe Teller on Exam table in MD’s Office)
Last Tuesday, Dr. Cardillo told Danny’s Dad that he must go to the hospital
for an operation.
(page 5) (pix: Danny playing and laughing; Mommy’s on the phone)
Danny’s Mommy got a phone call from Dr.Cardillo.
(page 6) (pix: Danny’s Mommy is Crying; Danny looks puzzled at Mommy’s side,
toys on floor, hand on Mommy’s arm)
Danny’s Mommy Mary is crying.
(page 7) (pix: Danny looks, sadly, out window; dog playing, bright outside day;
Inside dim, toys now have empty and ominous look)
Danny Teller was sad his Daddy was not home to play with him.
(page 8) (pix: Danny’s mom embraces her little boy on her lap, he looks at her sadly
as just one tear rolls down her cheek)
Danny’s Mommy holds Danny tight. For she is about to tell him something very sad.
(page 9) (pix: artist, please use your imagination for this one)
“Daddy went to heaven today,” Mommy said softly to Danny.
(page 10) (pix: mommy cries but tries to keep it, somehow from her son)
Mommy Mary cries and cries.
(page 11) (pix: Danny sees food on the dinner table, but he won’t eat)
Danny is not hungry.
(page 12) (pix: Danny sits on floor by his bed; bedcovers disheveled from tossing...)
Danny cannot sleep.
(page 13) (pix: Danny is distracted, sad, at School)
Danny cannot pay attention in school.
(page 14) (pix: Another boy and his daddy are playing ball)
Danny sees his friend Benny playing catch with his Daddy Bill.
(page 15) (pix: Danny has lost his childhood abandon; he’s so sad.)
Danny’s heart hurts.
(page 16) (pix: Danny is sitting in the teacher’s office; Teacher talking softly to Mommy)
Mr. Miller, Danny’s teacher, talks to Mommy about Danny’s Sadness.
(page 17) (pix: Mr. Miller and Mommy look concerned at sad Danny in chair)
Mr. Miller tells Mommy, “Danny needs help from a special person...
called a THERAPIST to help him with his sad feelings. So he can remember
the good times and love he had with his Daddy Joe...even though it’s okay to cry too.
(page 18) (pix: Therapist’s waiting room; wall pix of Sigmund Freud, but friendly
and comfortable)
Mommy Mary brings Danny to visit Dr. Sam Gorsky, a Talking Therapy Doctor.
(page 19) (pix: Pediatric Psychiatrist-MD office with play therapy area, desk and chairs,
takes Danny by the hand and smiles)
Dr. Gorsky is going to help Danny to not feel so bad.
(page 20) (pix: Danny in patient’s chair [child’s chair] looking down at floor)
“Mommy says you hurt too much to eat,” Dr. Gorsky gently says to Danny.
(page 21) (pix: Dr. Gorsky, a man about 50, chin rests in right hand, elbow on
desk; waiting for Danny to talk)
Danny is shy and quiet and sad.
(page 22) (pix: On Doctor’s desk is a happy photo of doc with his son)
Danny sees the photo of Dr. Gorsky hugging his son Tommy.
(page 23) (pix: Still looking at the photo, Danny cries openly)
Danny bursts into tears.
(page 24) (pix: kindly middle-aged doc pats boy’s hand, looking plaintively at boy)
“You miss your daddy so much,” says the nice Therapist.
(page 25) (pix: Danny bawling now, louder than before)
Danny cries louder now. His therapist, Dr. Sam says he doesn’t have to
keep it bottled inside anymore.
(page 26) (pix: play therapy child’s table and chairs, etc.; Danny with Dr.Sam)
Dr. Sam asks Danny to play-act with the toys in the room.
(page 27) (pix: note to artist, pix is evident from dialogue, below; Dad toy has
flexible arms)
Danny picks a toy boy with brown hair like himself and a Daddy toy.
(page 28) (pix: similar pix as in #27)
Danny makes the Daddy toy hug the toy boy.
(page 29) (pix: beginning faint smile on Danny’s face)
Dr. Sam picks Danny up and hugs him tight.
(page 30) (pix: Dr. Sam carries Danny to the waiting room; shakes his hand &
talks to Mommy Mary)
“See you next week, Danny,” Dr. Sam says gently.
(page 31) (pix: Younger brother of Danny’s dad visiting to comfort family)
Uncle Carl is visiting Danny for a whole month. Uncle Carl does many
things with Danny: Reads him to sleep, takes him out to lunch, plays
ball with him, helps with his homework.
(page 32) (pix: Show Mr. Miller, Danny’s teacher, with his arm around
Danny’s shoulder)
Danny’s teacher, Mr. Miller asks Danny to draw a picture of his Daddy
and to write some words about his Daddy to tell his classmates.
(page 33) (pix: Mommy has lunch on the table and Danny’s friend Benny and his
dad are there too)
It’s Saturday, no school. So Danny’s friend Benny and Benny’s Daddy Bill
come to Danny’s house for lunch.
(page 34) (pix: the two little boys with Bill in the park; sailing toy boats,
fishing, etc.)
Benny’s Daddy Bill takes the boys to the park to play and enjoy the afternoon.
(page 35) (pix: Dr. Sam’s office; doctor listens to Danny)
Danny tells Dr. Sam, “Uncle Carl and other daddies are being nice to me.”
(page 36) (pix: Danny looking semi-sad; Dr. Sam nods)
“But I still hurt for my Daddy,” Danny tells Dr. Sam.
(page 37) (pix: Dr. Sam looking understandingly at Danny, who’s toying with a toy)
It’s okay to cry. It’s okay to talk to Mommy about how you both hurt from
missing Daddy. It’s okay to remember all the happy times with Daddy.
(page 38) (pix: Mommy Mary and Danny eat and even smile a little)
Danny and Mommy are having a nice supper together. Soon they will watch
some TV.
(page 39) (pix: Mommy looking out window, dabbing eyes with handkerchief)
Sometimes Mommy still cries. When she thinks about Daddy, she misses
him too.
(page 40) (pix: Danny crying while talking with sad Mommy)
Sometimes Danny still cries when he thinks of Daddy and misses him so
much too.
(page 41) (pix: In Dr. Sam’s office at play therapy table with boy toy and
daddy toy)
When Danny is extra sad, Mommy takes him to visit Dr. Sam. Then Danny
tells Dr. Sam everything that’s hurting, again. And also about all the happy
good things that are happening in his life too.
(page 42) (pix: group of all story’s characters with dog wagging its tail)
Friends and Uncles and Teachers all sharing feelings with Mommy &
Dr. Sam about missing Daddy help Danny remember Daddy. And help
Danny hurt less and less...and not hurt so bad anymore, as time goes by.
© Copyright 2009-2015 Helen Borel. All rights reserved.
For permissions and purchases, please contact AAH PUBLISHED AT LAST
here: helenborel@earthlink.net and in the Subject line, type: DANNY TELLER
Dear Story Lover: Please read the very first post (below), “OUR READING ROOM...”
for the AAH PUBLISHED AT LAST “Mission Statement”...and that all publicatons here
are FREE TO PRINT AND KEEP.
Some readers may, however, desire to help this daring self-publishing concept grow and spread
so other writers will be encouraged to bring their works directly to readers, bypassing long delays
by entrenched publishers, editors and agents who often sideline important creative works.
Only if you can, $1.00 or more will be so very helpful..please mail to:
Helen Borel - Apt. 9L, 200 West 79th Street, New York, N.Y. 10024
...and if you want notice of upcoming stories, feel free to send along your email address.
Thank you so much for participating in this “experiment in writer emancipation”.
Caveats in relation to this Children's Book, Danny Teller Goes to Therapy: 1) You may
read and print out one copy of my manuscript FREE. However, when a publisher purchases
this story and commissions an illustrator to do the graphics, this book will belong to that
purchaser and no one but that purchaser will be free to print it out or distribute it thereafter.
2) This story can also be adapted for different age groups, tweens, teens...and the general
concept can be extrapolated for young adult readers and older adult readers. Unless ALL
rights are sold by me to a purchaser, ALL Current and Future adaptation rights
belong to me, Helen Borel.
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