Are You Masking?, 1

Lala is feeling lots of different emotions because of COVID-19. Everything seems different. Lala is losing her nerve! Read how Lala works through her feelings as she gets her nerve (represented as her cat) to come back. The authors use personification of emotions to encourage children to understand and process similar feelings they may be having. Lots of children have worries about COVID-19 and may behave in lots of different ways. Darby has lots of different feelings - sad, happy, worried, angry, and excited that her parents are with home with her - until they have to work! Ava and Asher's house becomes a zoo when they don't have as much structure in their life. This book is designed not just to support emotions around COVID-19, but to show how processing and talking about feelings work.
About the Author: Robika Modak Mylroie is a school counselor, licensed professional counselor and a national certified counselor. She is certified in animal and equine assisted therapy and a certified trauma professional. Robika got her degree in psychology from Millsaps and her Masters and PhD in counseling from Mississippi State University. Robika lives in Madison, Mississippi with her husband Erik, her daughter, Lalita, who was the inspiration for this book along with their cat Jellybean! Robika believes strongly in self-care and practices it daily whether it's reading/writing (a hero's journey will do), journaling (she has to keep her sanity somehow), talking with friends and family (whom she loves fiercely), exercising (mainly because she likes chocolate), and taking pictures (known to her friends as the historian of the group).Rachael Whitaker currently lives in Houston Texas (Kingwood) with her husband Curtis & son Jude. She grew up in Indianola Mississippi where she attended Delta State University receiving a masters in Clinical Mental Heath and Mississippi State University for a PhD in Counselor Education. Rachael is currently the program director and Clinical Assistant Professor at the University of Houston. Training counselors to work with children and families as always been a deep passion. Writing our first children's book has been a lifelong dream. Her hope is this book reminds her and inspires others to embrace big & small emotions. Rachael can be found discovering the meaning of life through unwashed hair, Snapchat filters, tractors, Disney songs, and chocolate pudding. She is surviving most days working from home with a toddler thanks to her mother, Iya, and Curt who keeps the red wine stocked.Born and raised in Jackson MS, Anna Marsh Selby is a licensed professional counselor who works in private practice. After receiving a B.A. from Millsaps College, Anna earned an M.S. in Education from Mississippi College, and it was in the classroom that her professional journey began. In awe of the many children navigating heartbreaking circumstances without sufficient support or tools, Anna went back to school and received her M.S. in Marriage and Family Counseling. She continued her studies at Mississippi State University, where she earned her PhD in Clinical Mental Health Counseling in 2018. And while she thought 12 years of postgraduate education would equip her to raise three loving, passionate, mindful daughters, she now knows that nothing could have prepared her for parenthood. These days you can find Anna under a pile of laundry, taking deep breaths, and praying that her husband, David, is keeping things afloat in the other room.