Amazon www.bentrim.info Category:  Children Publisher: Bearly Tolerable Publications ISBN-10:  1451547927 Pages: 26 Copyright: April 8, 2010 ISBN-13: 978145154792 What About Me? This book looks at the feelings that siblings of injured or sick children face daily. Often parents overlook the impact on all their children of overt focusing on a child that may be injured or ill. Older children can normally deal with this through logical thought, younger children frequently react emotionally. Hopefully this book will help the younger child understand and deal with their feelings. ISBN-10:1451547927 EAN-13: 9781451547924 What About Me?  A sick or injured child can disrupt the best of families. Parents are frequently so focused on the sick child that well siblings may feel abandoned. In spite of the love they feel for their sibling, a well child may be annoyed with all the attention their sick sibling receives. The well child may feel guilty about their anger or annoyance. Conflicting emotions can overwhelm the healthiest child. This book hopes to demonstrate to the healthy child that their feelings are normal, acceptable and guilt is not necessary. The book also hopes to alleviate any of the well child's feelings of alienation and loneliness by reassuring them of their parents love.       Excerpt Bradley was depressed. Ever since Bonnie fell off the swing and broke her leg, things had been bad. He felt like he had a dark cloud over his head all of the time.

A great book with a good message
William G. Bentrim's latest book "What About Me?" really hits the mark in dealing with a child's mixed emotions when a sibling is ill or hurt. Most children have experienced the feeling of being left out but it's doubly hard when they're left out by their own family. This can happen when there's illness within a family and it's very upsetting and confusing for the child. Often beyond the child's control, jealousy and anger may result, causing more problems for the family unit already under stress.
"What About Me?" deals with this situation beautifully. As parents we're so involved with the child who is ill or has been hurt that we tend to spend less time with the well child. We try to explain what's happening but we're already stressed so don't have the time our healthy child needs. And, of course, we assume the child understands since his or her brother or sister is ill. It's difficult for the parents to juggle the different types of needs of both the ill and well child.
The well child loves his or her sibling but feels alone and possibly some guilt about the ill sister or brother. Besides the "neglect" the child is feeling the phone calls, cards, gifts and attention keep pouring in - for sister or brother. It can be a lonely and sad time for any child. This book helps children understand that parents still love their child even if they don't have the time to show it the way they normally do.
The story is enjoyable for children to read but it also teaches a good lesson - for both child and parent. The illustrations beautifully show the emotions that Bradley is going through as he deals with his feelings over Bonnie's broken leg. This adorable book is good for any child as he or she will most likely experience this at some time during childhood. I highly recommend William G. Bentrim's "What About Me?"


Overlooked No More
Bill Bentrim continues his trend of finding unfilled or little addressed niches. With his latest, "What About Me?" he addresses overlooked siblings who inadvertently fall under shadows cast by sick or injured siblings.

The book is straightforward in its presentation but will make a welcome tool to parents who may have been more caught up in a crisis than they realize. Also, children suffering from unintended neglect will appreciate the simple acknowledgement of their less severe but no less important pain.



William G. Bentrim creates special books for children
William G. Bentrim creates special books for children. He uses kindness and sensitivity to create stories for children going through difficult times. Using the same type of bear characters from some of his previous books, Mr. Bentrim shows much wisdom in his approach to difficult subjects that cause stress in children.


What About Me? is for children with a sibling with a sickness or injury and explores the feelings of guilt, neglect, or jealously they may experience when the parents are busy caring for the sibling. As he did in his previous books, the author has resources and coping tools for the parent to use. What I appreciate most about Mr. Bentrims books and parental helps is that he always encourages the help of grandparents and other relatives. Family - that is what is important in his books.