Nurse Dorothea presents Why Coping Skills Work and What are Some That Can Be Done Anytime and Anywhere by Michael Dow

Michael Dow

Author

Nurse Dorothea presents Why Coping Skills Work and What are Some That Can Be Done Anytime and Anywhere

We are starting the process of removing stigma about mental health issues. Let’s share ideas of the journey to well-being and seek to understand others as they are instead of how we wish them to be. By learning to know ourselves and trying different coping skills that are specific to the situation that we find ourselves in, we can achieve balance and peace. As we deepen our self-awareness and harness tailored coping mechanisms for diverse situations, we pave the path to equilibrium and serenity. Let’s foster an environment conducive to both individual and collective growth within our society. By doing this, we unlock potentials previously unattainable, empowering us to fully cultivate our knowledge, skills, and abilities. With gratitude in our heart, peace in our mind, and confidence in our capabilities, we can face the future with bravery, courage, and determination to help make the best lives for ourselves and others that we possibly can. If society wants something we have never had, we’re going to have to do something that has never been done. Dow Creative Enterprises® Help Civilization Reach Its Potential®

Reviews

Dow (author of the Nurse Florence series) returns to the realm of informative picture books with this first installment in his Nurse Dorothea series, inspired by Dorothea Dix, a champion for individuals with mental illness in the 1800s. Tackling the weighty topic of mental health, Nurse Dorothea teaches younger readers coping mechanisms to regulate emotions and lower stress levels, discussing, in the process, how harmful stress can be on the body—from increasing heart rate to elevating blood pressure to causing headaches. Throughout the book, Nurse Dorothea encourages her class to take journaling breaks for self-reflection, a strategy that audiences can put to good use as they follow along.

"Every coping skill you learn is like a tool in a toolbox," Nurse Dorothea shares with her class, touching on different mental health conditions such as Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, anxiety, and depression, while encouraging her students to share life events that can trigger stress—and exploring the role genetics may play in who develops mental health disorders. The story stays upbeat and positive, as Nurse Dorothea teaches readers different coping styles—emotion focused, problem focused, meaning focused, social coping, and avoidance coping—alongside personal examples from her students, analyzing how each style works, what could be improved on, and how to develop new skills for mental wellness.

The information may be dense to wade through, but Dow presents it in an entertaining way, breaking up the more complex topics with Lindsay Roberts’s bright, engaging illustrations. Nurse Dorothea makes the information relatable for a student audience, addressing stressors like bad grades, relationship struggles, and bullying, resulting in an engaging resource for dealing with life’s more challenging moments. The book’s strategies for reducing stress, including mindfulness, positive affirmations, and physical exercise, are both actionable and rewarding, and Nurse Dorothea closes with a call to action to “help others on their journey to good mental health.”

Takeaway: Middle grade resource teaching coping strategies for mental health.

Comparable Titles: The School of Life's What Are You Feeling?, Elizabeth Cole's I Am Stronger Than Anxiety.

Production grades
Cover: C+
Design and typography: A-
Illustrations: B
Editing: B
Marketing copy: A-

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