A personalised book about jealousy

Jealousy is a feeling lots of children are ashamed of, even though everyone has it. It feels unfair when a brother or sister gets more attention, when a friend has a new bike or when someone else is picked first. In a book about jealousy, your child meets a hero who feels exactly that, without being judged for it. The story can show where the feeling comes from, what it is trying to say and how it can turn into something else. That opens the door to talking about something that otherwise mostly shows up as a sulky face.

A book about jealousy can be about a sibling getting a present, a friend who is the best at football or a new child in the class everyone wants to play with. The hero might say something mean and regret it, discover that the other child is jealous of something too, think of something to do together or find something that is entirely their own. What matters is that the feeling is allowed to be there, and that it does not make the hero a bad person. Sometimes it is a grown-up who seems to have more time for someone else, and the book can hold that too.

If the jealousy at home is about a brother or sister, the book can be about the same thing, but with a twist that lifts both children. Tell us what your child is good at and loves, and who they share their days with. It can also work to make the hero the one someone else is envious of. Sharing and friendship are messages that sit close to this one. If a new baby has arrived, there is the Becoming a big brother or sister theme.

Small children understand my turn and your turn, and a short book about waiting for your turn goes a long way. For pre-schoolers it is often about toys and who gets to sit on a lap. For six-year-olds the jealousy might be about being the best or being chosen, and a ten-year-old can read about comparing yourself with others, and about how someone else's success takes nothing away from you.

In English we say someone is green with envy, and Shakespeare called jealousy the green-eyed monster. Ask your child what colour the feeling would be for them, and how it feels. Then talk about what the hero did with the feeling, and whether there is something your child has that someone else might wish for. Play a game afterwards and say well done to whoever wins, whoever that turns out to be.

You fill in the child's name, age and what they like, and upload a photo. The story about jealousy is written for your very own child, and the thirteen pictures and the cover are drawn from the photo in the style you choose. Brothers and sisters, parents, grandparents or the pet can come along, up to five characters. If you would like to include something that has happened lately, a trip or a lost tooth, just write it and it is woven in.

The eBook is ready a few minutes after payment. Read it, change the text and ask for new pictures until you are happy. Then order it as an A4 hardback book, printed and sent to your door, or straight to the child as a gift. Do add the colouring pages. Start creating the book or read more about the prices. Would you like to see a finished book before you decide? Browse our example books.