Reviewed by Emily:

I have two little girls who are complete opposites when it comes to socializing. My oldest who is five, is an extrovert, a little social butterfly who adapts wonderfully and gets excited for play dates, preschool and now, kindergarten. My two year old on the other hand is the introvert and has clung to my side since day she was born. She plays wonderfully alone at home, but won’t explore in a group setting. As we begin to think about preschool for my youngest, I am a bit anxious for her since I’m afraid the transition will not be an easy one. In the meantime, I am trying my best to expose her to other kids at play dates and local activities. I am also trying to find reading material on the subject of separation at this age; not just for me, but with story books she understands as well. One book we’ve recently read, Cooper and Me, relates well to the fear and anxiety little kids experience with separation.

Through rhythmic verses, Cooper and Me tells the story of a young girl who is nervous as her first day of school approaches.  She is frightened about leaving home and doesn’t want to go without her best friend, her dog Cooper. Fortunately her mother finds the perfect solution to help the little girl overcome her fears – a small replica of her beloved pet she can take to school with her.  In Cooper and Me, the story of a child’s worries about starting school has evolved into a timeless tale about overcoming separation anxiety and trying new things – basic emotions all people experience throughout their lives – but this time, written by a child, for children.

Cooper and Me was illustrated by 11-year-old Alexa Peters and co-written with her mother, Monique Peters.  The idea was inspired by Alexa’s own experiences on her first day of school.  A talented young artist and writer, Alexa wanted to give back to others in a meaningful way through her art.  Starting at a very young age, Alexa created illustrated stories about her daily experiences, and from the pages of her sketchbooks came the idea for her first book, Cooper and Me. Cooper and Me, is the first in a series of books that invite children to explore life the lovable Labrador Retriever, Cooper.

My older daughter thought it was pretty amazing that a young girl had created this book. She assumed all books were written by grown-ups and this opened up a nice bedtime discussion about all the things she can do even as a kid. Cooper and Me also includes some discussion tools at the end of the book to help relate the story with real life situations.

What I thought was great about the book was that in addition to helping young children gain emotional resilience and confidence through their books, Alexa and mom Monique wanted to go beyond that to help less fortunate kids.  Their search for an organization to which they could donate a portion of the proceeds from the Cooper and Me book led to a charitable alliance with the Happy Hearts Fund. Happy Hearts improves children’s lives through education and sustainable programs in areas devastated by natural disasters.

My only negative review about the book is that the rhyming of the words didn’t quite flow smoothly. Each page had a different rhyme scheme which made it difficult for me to read the story aloud. But I don’t think my kids noticed at all, they both liked the story and the pictures even if Mom couldn’t make the rhymes flow correctly.

Cooper and Me is available for purchase at www.cooperandme.com. The book sells for $12.99 and includes a free download of the Cooper and Me theme song, which extends the fun and learning. For more information about the Cooper and Me brand, please visit the website at www.cooperandme.com.

Disclosure – A product was provided to me free of charge by the manufacturer or representing PR agency for the writing of this review; however, opinions expressed are my own and are NOT influenced by monetary compensation.

About Emily:

Emily is also very active in the local MOMS CLUB. She raises chickens and has 2 shih tzus. Her daughter Caitlyn attends Montessori school and she hates housecleaning, loves wine and enjoys dining out. She would love to find a cure for the depression and anxiety she has dealt with on and off over the past 10 years, just like me. She is an amazing mom and friend.