A book brought to you by NW Arts & Recreation
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Written by Christine Durfee PH.D. & Illustrated by Mary Buell
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Tummy Heart Commotion is a heartwarming series of books designed to help children identify and understand their emotions when experiencing common life events. Big feelings are often felt as a commotion in the tummy and heart, leaving children confused and unsure how to name and manage them.
When Dawson Meets Dood is the first book of the Tummy Heart Commotion series. Dawson, a young Asian-American boy, navigates the anxieties and excitement of welcoming a new pet into his family. Readers will join Dawson and his Mema as they visit the local animal shelter to find the perfect furry companion.
Through this endearing journey, children can explore relatable content, such as the emotions of finding a friend, adventuring and caring for a pet, while also learning about the importance of adopting shelter animals.
This book encourages empathy and kindness towards all living beings.
Christine Durfee, Ph.D., is a licensed neurotherapist in El Paso, Texas, specializing in supporting children, families, and individuals on their mental health journeys. With
expertise in Autism, family systems, and attachment, Dr. Durfee is passionate about helping others thrive.
Known affectionately as "Mema," Dr. Durfee is a grandmother who lives far from her grandchildren. To stay connected, she created "Stories With Mema," a popular YouTube channel where she reads books to her loved ones. This heartwarming initiative gained national attention, inspiring countless viewers and leading to features in publications across the United States and around the world.
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Hardback
8.5 x 8.5 inches
52 pages
ISBN: 979-8-9924901-0-7
About the Author
Christine Durfee, Ph.D., is a licensed neurotherapist in El Paso, Texas, specializing in supporting children, families, and individuals on their mental health journeys. With expertise in Autism, family systems, and attachment, Dr. Durfee is passionate about helping others thrive. Known affectionately as "Mema," Dr. Durfee is a grandmother who lives far from her grandchildren. To stay connected, she created "Stories With Mema," a popular YouTube channel where she reads books to her loved ones. This heartwarming initiative gained national attention, inspiring countless viewers and leading to features in publications across the United States and around the world.
About the Illustrator
Mary Buell, the artist behind NW Arts & Recreation, is a passionate mother and artist who believes deeply in the power of imagination and creativity. This belief fuels her artistic endeavors, which reflect her adventurous spirit and deep connection to the Pacific Northwest. Buell's life is a vibrant tapestry woven with mountain biking, wrangling toddlers with her canine crew, coaching high school soccer, and fueling it all with a serious coffee habit. Buell's art is a vibrant reflection of her adventurous spirit, capturing the majesty of mountains, the thrill of trails, and the cozy allure of fireside nights. Today, Buell continues to nurture her own adventurous spirit while raising her own little explorers in Oregon. The outdoors remain her constant source of inspiration and creativity. Whether it's shredding powder, carving sidewalks, grinding gravel, camping under the stars, or bombing hills, Buell understands the unique energy and excitement that fuels outdoor enthusiasts. This deep-seated connection allows her to create art that resonates with adventurous spirits, capturing the shared passion for exploration and translating it into visually stunning and inspiring works.
Follow on Instagram @nwartsrecreation
Press & Reviews
"MEMA" IS NOW READING HER OWN STORIES: ABC's Danny New TV spoke with Dr. Christine Durfee, AKA "Mema," about how she went from posting YouTube videos for her grandson to becoming an author, helping families address their feelings together.
“I am absolutely blown away! I can’t thank Mema, Mark, Mary, and everyone else involved in this amazing surprise enough!!
And the best part… It’s just the first book of a series 🥰”
“Durfee, known as “Mema” to her grandchildren, draws on her expertise in autism, family systems, and attachment to create relatable content that encourages empathy and kindness.”
“Durfee, who is a Ph.D and an adult, child and family therapist specializing in autism, family systems, and most DSM diagnosis- obviously knows what she's doing- and knows that this is of a great benefit to Dawson- and now, she's helping other children get the same benefit!”
“…children in general really struggle with expressing their feelings, they know that they're feeling something and so they will demonstrate that by acting out. Her goal is to spark conversations about processing feeling between the child and the person reading the book.”