This week I was introduced to a new children’s book, Cooper & Me.
ABOUT COOPER & ME
Cooper and Me was illustrated by 11-year-old Alexa Peters and co-written with her mother, Monique Peters. The idea was inspired by Alexa’s own experiences on her first day of school. A talented young artist and writer, Alexa wanted to give back to others in a meaningful way through her art. Starting at a very young age, Alexa created illustrated stories about her daily experiences, and from the pages of her sketchbooks came the idea for her first book, Cooper and Me.
Through rhythmic verses, Cooper and Me tells the story of a young girl who is nervous as her first day of school approaches. She is frightened about leaving home and doesn’t want to go without her best friend, her dog Cooper. Fortunately her mother finds the perfect solution to help the little girl overcome her fears – a small replica of her beloved pet she can take to school with her. In Cooper and Me, the story of a child’s fears about starting school has evolved into a timeless tale about overcoming separation anxiety and trying new things – basic emotions all people experience throughout their lives – but this time, written by a child, for children.
The story behind Cooper and Me also offers an inspiring example of families working together to help others. In addition to helping young children gain emotional resilience and confidence through their books, Alexa and mom Monique wanted to go beyond that to help less fortunate kids. Their search for an organization to which they could donate a portion of the proceeds from the Cooper and Me book led to a charitable alliance with the Happy Hearts Fund, founded and run by Petra Nemcova, the supermodel who was directly affected by the tsunami in Thailand. Happy Hearts improves children’s lives through education and sustainable programs in natural disaster areas.
MY THOUGHTS
I received a copy of Cooper & Me. I liked the bright, colorful illustrations throughout the book. I enjoyed reading the story, written with a simple rhyming pattern. The rhyming made it interesting to read, and also seemed to make it more fun to listen to as well. I love that the story was written by a mother and child together. The back of the book contained a section where a child’s own information on the first day of school could be written, which would make for an interesting family heirloom of sorts.The back also contained an explanation of the message the book tries to send, in this case one about anxiety, providing a way to open communication on this subject with your child in a way they can relate.
MORE INFO
Cooper And Me on Facebook
Cooper And Me on Twitter
The product(s) featured in this review was provided free of cost to me for the sole purpose of product testing and review. This review has not been monetarily compensated and is based on the views and opinions of my family and/or self. Please note that the opinions reflected in this post have not been influenced by the sponsor in any way.