While a myriad of childhood wellness issues are openly discussed, the adversity faced by highly-sensitive youngsters often goes unnoticed.
It’s something Josina Intrabartolo noticed and wanted to address with urgency, leading to a ground-breaking new children’s book that became a bestseller in the Netherlands.
There really was nothing ever created quite like Long Hat is a Hero.
On the outside it was an enchanting and adventure-rich children’s book but, under its cover, young readers were finding the self-esteem and confidence they needed to thrive in their own quiet and unassuming way.
Gnome Long Hat feels sad. He doesn't understand why he's more easily overwhelmed than the other gnomes.
When his friend Little Owl explains to him that he sees, hears, smells and feels more than the others, he comes up with a clever plan.
But he soon realises exactly how useful it is to be able to experience the world around him so intensely!
With its positive message and its colourful illustrations, Long Hat is a Hero is a book that appeals to all children, and highly sensitive children in particular identify with the story.
“We were so excited when we came up with the idea for the first Long Hat book and found a unique way to answer the need for support for highly-sensitive children,” explains the author.
“It’s an issue that has received little attention until now, and we saw a huge demand for a resource children could use to recognise their own trains and understand that they’re 100 percent normal, and can achieve above and beyond their peers.”
Continuing, “It’s also really struck a chord with parents and teachers who have used the book to recognise traits of children within their care. Its message is truly boundless and universal, so expanding to an English-speaking audience makes perfect sense. From here, we fully intend to go global.”
Long Hat is a Hero is published by Scrivo Media; it is available here.
