Home » How a Therapy Horse Who Survived a Hurricane Inspired my New Children’s Book Series

How a Therapy Horse Who Survived a Hurricane Inspired my New Children’s Book Series

August 25, 2025 | By Women Writers Women Books | Reply More

The inspiration for the first book in my Bella and Bird the Emotion Explorers series, Bella and Bird Explore Anger, came in the wake of Hurricane Ian; a Category 5 storm that devastated our island in Southwest Florida. Just three weeks earlier, I adopted my horse, Bella, from Southern California as my equine partner in my psychotherapy practice. After traveling across the country to her new home, Bella endured and survived the hurricane.

Her resilience amazed me. As I reflected on her journey, I thought about the children (and adults) who lived through the storm, and children everywhere who face devastating events whether hurricanes, fires, floods, tornadoes, or other traumatic experiences. I wanted to create a series that would help adults talk with children about big emotions in a way that felt both relatable and approachable.

More importantly, I wanted the books to provide practical therapeutic tools children (and adults) can carry for life. My goal is for every child to know that not only is it okay to feel big emotions, but there are also healthy ways to process and manage them.

At the heart of the series is a commitment to nurturing emotional intelligence and building emotional literacy; lifelong skills that can be developed with simple, practical tools.

Emotional intelligence is the ability to recognize, understand, manage, and respond to emotions in ourselves and in others. This involves self-awareness, self-regulation, empathy, and social skills.
Emotional literacy is the ability to identify and name emotions with words. In the series, I use the Bella and Bird Emotion Wheel (created specifically for these books and available on my website) to help children name and talk about what they feel so adults can guide and support them.

Of course, not every feeling needs to be dissected. My series offers a balanced approach; avoiding the extremes of sweeping emotions under the rug or over-coddling. Through relatable storytelling, infused with humor and research-backed therapeutic strategies, I hope to give parents, teachers, therapists, and caregivers tools they can use to foster resilience and growth.

And while the stories are written for children, the techniques are just as valuable for adults. Caregivers, educators, and parents can use these same tools to manage their own emotions and, by practicing them, role model healthy emotional skills for the children in their lives.

Come join the Emotion Explorers Club and be part of the Bella and Bird the Emotion Explorers journey! https://bellabirdbooks.com/

Education and Mental Health Expert, Deana Plaskon

Deana Plaskon is an educator, author, and mental health expert whose work guides and equips children (and adults) with social and emotional knowledge and tools to help them live healthier lives. With a PhD in Education specializing in human behavior, a Master’s in Clinical Mental Health Counseling, and a Master’s in Arts specializing in Teaching and Learning with Technology, Deana has a uniquely informed, yet fun-loving approach to children’s books. Her series, Bella and Bird the Emotion Explorers, is inspired by her real-life therapy horse Bella, and her friend Bird–the not-so-common barn swallow.

In addition to her decades of expertise, Deana is also a speaker who loves sharing the latest research, methods, and insights in education and mental health with audiences nationwide. With focus areas in child psychology, equine and talk therapy, bullying, resiliency, motivation, and emotional intelligence, she is a uniquely informed speaker, author, and expert.

Bella and Bird Explore Anger: A Children’s Book About Managing Anger and Understanding Big Feelings While Nurturing Emotional Intelligence and Emotional Literacy

Can’t you tell?” said Henry. “This is my angry face!”
When Henry storms into the pasture, Bella, the wise horse, and her wisecracking sidekick, Bird, step in to help. Together, the friends set out to explore why Henry is angry and offer better ways to cope.
By the time Henry leaves the pasture, he’s gained new insights, is in better control of his feelings, and has tools to take along with him.
Bella and Bird Explore Anger helps children understand and manage their anger, making it a valuable resource for open and honest conversations about this challenging emotion.