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What can a five-year-old's letter to the tooth fairy teach us about trust, forgiveness, and connection?
Jennifer Ballow is a social worker and children's book author in Austin, Texas. Her picture book, Under My Pillow, follows five-year-old Sam as she investigates who really took her tooth, and learns to forgive along the way. The book was inspired by the real letters Jennifer's twin daughters once wrote to the tooth fairy.
In this episode, Jennifer shares how her decades of experience as a social worker shaped her belief that stories are one of the most powerful tools for social and emotional learning in children, why she chose to reimagine the tooth fairy as a woman of color for a more diverse main cast, and how Under My Pillow helps kids find language for their emotions. She also talks about the supplemental activities designed to help kids and caregivers connect more meaningfully.
WHAT WE TALKED ABOUT:
- The real letters that inspired Under My Pillow
- Why stories are central to healthy childhood development
- Reimagining the tooth fairy to reflect a more diverse world
- Helping kids build language for problem-solving and forgiveness
- Bringing social work experience into children's book writing
- Connecting kids and caregivers through shared stories
CONNECT WITH JENNIFER BALLOW:
Website: linked on her profile
Facebook, Instagram & LinkedIn: linked on her profile
