“Jay’s Horrible Day”: A Children’s Book Based on a True Story and Tackling Big Issues

As family travelers bring their families to various destinations around the globe, diversity, tolerance, empathy and compassion are incredibly important issues to help children comprehend. The children’s book Jay’s Horrible Day, by Stacey B. Shapiro, MSW, MLC, is part of the Big Issues for Little Children Series and “based on a true story about racism and discrimination.” It’s not always easy to handle issues as big as racism with children, but this book does so in an easily digestible manner.

The book starts by introducing Jay, a 6-year-old with a pet bearded dragon named Marcel, to readers. He starts summer camp and talks about feelings of anxiousness. The book prompts parents to discuss these issues with their own children through questions like, “Have you ever felt scared before going to a new place?” Other elements that make the tale interactive and entertaining include having child readers count how many times the beaver that befriended the kids at camp visits in the story.

© Kimberly Inlander

After befriending a bunkmate who felt alone and without friends, Jay was faced with his new friend informing him he couldn’t touch her toy because of his skin color. The story continues with more questions, definitions to help children understand topics like discrimination and illustrations to demonstrate the emotions kids may feel when confronted by these issues.

Jay’s mom helps him deal with his emotions and helps him and other readers learn about subtle energy, energy that flows with and around us to connect us with others.

Purchase your copy today.