Reg Goes Swimming (February 2024) is continuing on to a three book series featuring Reg, a curious bear whose name rhymes with Egg.
Reg Goes Swimming: A Self-Regulation Story for Kids will release across Canada in February 2024, in May 2024, it will be followed by it’s sister publication Reg Takes a Trip: A Co-Regulation Story for Kids and then the series will be completed with the October release of Reg Catches a Salmon: A Growth Mindset Story for Kids.
Written by Lori Gard and illustrated by Emma Martin, these books feature topics in high demand for kids. Each book can be read alone or together and will include a resource section for parents and educators.
Reg — short for Regulate and pronounced with a hard /g/ — is a black bear cub who likes to climb trees, eat snacks, and sleep.
At first glance, Reg Goes Swimming is a story with a simple message around feelings, but there are deeper lessons for the reader. Throughout his day, Reg moves from being emotionally dysregulated by negative stressors to thoughtful self-regulation, where he returns to a state of calm.
Reg uses three useful self-regulation techniques to regulate his emotions: positive self-talk, belly breathing, and reframing. In every situation, Reg thinks out loud to examine his feelings and comes up with easy, practical solutions for his struggles. Once the solution for each of his problems has been identified, Reg returns to a state of contentment.
Reg Takes a Trip is a book with a message that supports parents and children in learning how to co-regulate their emotions with others.
Reg—short for Regulate and pronounced with a hard /g/— is a black bear cub who doesn’t like to go to sleep. When bedtime arrives, Reg must find a way to wind down. Readying for sleep is a process of preparation that involves the body and mind. Reg’s caregiver Co-co is his big sister, who helps him co-regulate. Co-co facilitates this endeavour by helping Reg to feel his emotions, working through the big feelings of his day.
In this story, Co-co uses a relaxation tool called guided imagery or visualization to help Reg prepare his mind and body for bed. He imagines what he could see, hear, smell and touch when he takes a trip to the ocean. Co-co facilitates the trip using paced breathing to accompany the visual, to calm Reg’s agitation and resistance, as well as to help him relax and remain comfortable in preparation for sleep.
Reg’s next adventure, Reg Catches a Salmon: A Growth Mindset Story for Kids, takes Reg on an adventure into developing a growth mindset. This is the uncomfortable place between wanting to learn something and being brave enough to take that learning on— even when the risk of failure lurks around every corner.
About Lori Gard & Emma Martin
Lori Gard is a Canadian Certified Counsellor and a nationally certified Solution Focused Brief Therapist with CCPC Global with a certificate in Solution Focused Brief Therapy through OISE at University of Toronto. She is currently pursuing her Advanced Certificate in Couple and Family Therapy at The University of Guelph and has a Masters of Science degree from the University of West Alabama, and a Masters of Education from the University of Prince Edward Island. Lori specializes in working with children and their parents, as well as with youth, teenagers, couples, and families. She lives in Prince Edward Island with her husband and four children. Reg Goes Swimming is her first children’s book. Learn more about Lori and order your copy of Reg Goes Swimming at lorigard.com.
Emma Martin is an illustrator, fine artist, and appreciator of all things whimsical. When she’s not making art, you can find her working as a barista at a local coffee shop finessing her latte art skills. Learn more about Emma and her art at www.emmalouillustrations.com.
Reg Goes Swimming
ISBN: 9781738818235
$29.95 Hardback
On Sale: February 2024
Reg Takes a Trip
ISBN: 9781998129065
$24.95 Hardback
On Sale: May 2024
Reg Catches a Salmon
ISBN: 9781998129041
$24.95 Hardback
On Sale: October 2024
About Pownal Street Press:
Pownal Street Press is PEI’s newest publishing house. Women owned and women led, friendly, warm and professional: Pownal Street Press brings an approachable perspective to publishing books. With decades’ of experience, Pownal Street Press Co-Founders, Genevieve Loughlin and Mo Duffy Cobb have extensive publishing backgrounds across editorial, book design, marketing and sales. With distribution through Raincoast Books, Pownal Street Press’ titles have national reach but local heart. For more information about the Press and its books, please visit: www.pownalstreetpress.com.