Sophie Spikey Has a Very Big Problem

Sarah Naish is Director of Inspire Training Group www.inspiretraininggroup.com which delivers training to fostering agencies and local authorities on attachment and trauma-related issues. Sarah qualified as a social worker in 1991 and went on to found her own therapeutic fostering agency. She is parent to five adopted children. Her daughter, Rosie Jefferies is also a trainer at Inspire Training Group. Sarah and Rosie both live in Gloucestershire, UK.

• Sophie Spikey Has a Very Big Problem. A note for parents and carers, from the authors.

This set of books all deal with common emotional and behavioural difficulties of adopted and fostered children. Difficulties are introduced through characters who behave in ways that children can identify with. The text is simple, humorous and with illustrations that grab the reader's attention. The books could be used in many ways but I would see them as a springboard for adults (adoptive parents, social workers or carers) to begin to talk to children about feelings and behaviours. Read aloud, the stories may enable children to recognise that they are not alone and that other children also struggle. It is often difficult for parents or carers to know where to start in talking about these issues. This set of books provides a way of doing this without blaming the child. These books should be available in every adoption agency for use by social workers or to be lent to parents.