2 minute read

The Invisible String Backpack

Teaching children about their inner strength

they only remember to look for them. The story began to quickly write itself as I pondered these ideas.

Using the idea of a little girl on her first day of school and the many worries that she might face during such a monumental moment in her life, I pondered what fears she might have and what tools might she be able to use to help her feel courageous and confident, as she braved her way through this pivotal experience.

I have been beyond blessed to experience the incredible success of my book about the power of love and connection, The Invisible String, around the world, with over 1.5 million copies sold and translated into seventeen languages.

So, I am thrilled to share my newest book in The Invisible String series, The Invisible String Backpack.

All of my Invisible books have been written with the goal and vision of helping children and those that love them deal with big issues in comforting, reassuring and relatable ways. The idea of an Invisible String Backpack came to me one day as I was thinking about the concept of how everything that we really need is actually right inside of us. So many of us have heard that notion before, but what does it mean on a practical level? I wanted to write a book that would empower children to realize that they have many tools that can help them throughout their lives, in a multitude of ways and in many different situations. These tools are utterly accessible to them, if

And so, on Mila’s first day of school, many worries pop up, including: what if she can’t find her classroom? What if no one likes her? What if she’s too nervous to speak up? With some advice from her brother, she learns that she has everything she needs right in her Invisible Backpack: an Invisible Microphone to help her find her voice, an Invisible Flashlight for when she’s feeling lost, an Invisible Net to catch her if she falls, and much more. Her pack is bottomless!

What she ultimately learns is that she has the tools to confront any obstacle that may come her way and that she can hold onto her own inner strength.

The Invisible String Backpack is a book I wish I had been able to read when I was growing up and experiencing fear, uncertainty and self-doubt. Especially in these uncertain times, my hope with the book is that it will inspire children everywhere to do what Mila does, as she puts on her Invisible Wings and begins to soar!

PATRICE KARST Author www.patricekarst.com

Our brains are wonderfully unique in the way they function, work and think. Written by neurodivergent author Louise Gooding, a loud and proud advocate for neurodiversity inclusion, Wonderfully Wired Brains challenges misconceptions and shows how neurodivergent brains work a little differently. Combining neurodiverse experiences with science, history, extraordinary facts, accessible text and wonderfully colourful illustrations by Ruth Burrows, this is an informative and inclusive guide to the brain and