What I Tell Myself FIRST: Children’s Real-World Affirmations of Self Esteem | Dedicated Review

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The Children’s Book Review

What I Tell Myself FIRST: Children’s Real-World Affirmations of Self Esteem

Written by Michael A. Brown

Illustrated by Zoe Ranucci

Age Range: 4+

Hardcover: 32 pages

Publisher: Mabma Enterprises, LLC (November 19, 2019)

ISBN-13: 978-1734184815

What to expect: Life Lessons

“I must love me FIRST.

I must be selfish before I am selfless.”

In What I Tell Myself FIRST, readers of all shapes, sizes, and colors are embraced for lessons on self-discovery, self-acceptance, and self-love. Affirmations such as I am beautiful; I like me; I respect me, are presented in bold text, followed by a short set of words to add context and understanding. Thanks to designated places for the reader to write their name and fill in some words throughout the book, they get to take a leading role in their journey toward self-actualization.

Michael Brown provides some solid building blocks from which children and their caregivers can launch directly into the vital realm of social-emotional learning. The pages are presented with clear and concise messaging, and it is evident that he has drawn from his numerous experiences working in the US Army, as a police officer, an anger management specialist, a nonviolent crisis intervention instructor, and an educator. The illustrations by Zoe Ranucci are inclusive and diverse in their representation of children of varying skin colors, as well as children with disabilities, making this a book that readers will see themselves in as well as their neighbors.

Children discovering the importance of self-love is a beautiful thing. If you’re looking for some real-world wisdom to share with the kids in your life, certainly try reading What I Tell Myself First.

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About the Author

Born in Chicago, IL, Michael A. (Mike) Brown, MA is the author of a revolutionary social-emotional children’s book, What I Tell Myself FIRST: Children’s Real-World Affirmations of Self-Esteem. Based on Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs, this book of real-world affirmations highlights the various abilities and attributes of the reader while exposing readers to realistic possibilities of rejection of difference in various forms thereby enabling readers to form mental frameworks to surmount those forms of rejection and achieve positive self-actualization. Mr. Brown is a product of the Chicago Public School system. He served in the United States Army and in various communities as a police officer. He is currently the President and Chief Executive Officer of MABMA Enterprises, LLC and the principal instructor of Security Training Concepts, a training agency specializing in collegiate/career occupational courses in multiple criminal justice and self-defense-related disciplines. Mr. Brown also serves as a nationally-certified anger management specialist and Crisis Prevention Institute-certified nonviolent crisis intervention instructor. He is the father of four beautiful children and believes in raising them into the best strong, capable, productive, responsible, and most importantly, happy human beings they can be. A former adjunct college professor and advocate of education, Mr. Brown is a graduate of Governors State University in University Park, Illinois, having been conferred a Bachelor of Arts degree in Interdisciplinary Studies (Criminal Justice, Psychology and Philosophy) in 2006 and a Master of Arts degree in Criminal Justice in 2012. He serves as an innovative and fresh approach to leadership, training, and empowerment and is a member of the International Law Enforcement Educators and Trainers Association, the National Anger Management Association, and the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators.

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