Elsie Lange
Former premier league netballer and Macedon Ranges resident, Paula Jewell, has written the book she wishes she had as a kid.
Her first picture story, ‘My Body, My Friend’, gently and joyfully guides children in building healthy relationships with their bodies and emotions.
“It’s a short rhyming book aimed at young children that introduces concepts like body awareness, feelings and safe relationships in a way that is fun and open and invitational,” Ms Jewell said.
As a former sportsperson, who was also a member of the Adelaide Thunderbirds national league squad, consecutive debilitating injuries sowed the seed of her latest work.
“It was a very long and ongoing journey [befriending my body], and not something I realised was possible or something that I needed to until I realised it was something I had never done before,” Ms Jewell said.
Ms Jewell owns Sunshine Hill Equine and Nature Assisted Learning just outside of Lancefield and said it was her professional counselling training which inspired her to explore the “disconnect” between her body and her emotions.
‘My Body, My Friend’ was developed with the help of mental health professionals, early childhood educators and parents.
“I thought that if I could write that book, and put it out there into the world for young people now, then that would be a worthwhile thing to do,” Ms Jewell said.
Details: www.amazon.com.au/dp/0645448109
