Iphelia: Awakening the Gift of Feeling - Children's Edition

by Erick Kenneth French

Iphelia is the story of a sensitive child who loves to draw and is really good at paying attention to her feelings and making sense of their messages. Her story illustrates the language of feelings and teaches valuable lessons of empathy, friendship, forgiveness, creativity, and the importance and power of feeling! It is a passionate exploration of the feeling-dimension of experience, inviting children and parents alike to journey toward a deeper understanding of feelings, greater self-awareness, and healthy personal empowerment.

116 pages, Hardcover

Published March 30, 2019

About the author

Erick Kenneth French is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and the founder of One Awareness Counseling in Saint Louis, Missouri. He regularly facilitates weekend personal transformation retreats that use diverse healing modalities including hypnotherapy, conscious connected breathing, kundalini meditation, and art therapy to address trauma, addiction, depression, anxiety and to cultivate self-awareness, and foster healthy relationships. Erick teaches that self-awareness begins with paying attention to and receiving the messages of feelings, emphasizing that restoring and retaining our capacity for empathy is critical to personal fulfillment and the survival of humanity.

Click here to learn even more about Erick
Or learn more about Erick's work at www.OneAwarenessCounseling.com

Reviews

[Brittany · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 Stars!!

Thank you to Tyrian Press for sending me this free digital copy for preview in return for an honest review.

This was a magical little book about how to deal with feelings. The illustrations were captivating and I loved how it showed feelings like magic. It goes into detail on a kids level and I thought it was well thought out - kids of all ages will really benefit from reading this one, regardless if they have trouble dealing with how they feel. Its colorful and will hold the audiences attention. Totally recommend.

[Sinamile · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rating: 4.75 🌟

Thank you to Tyrian Press for the free preview copy! All opinions are my own.

I really liked this book. I didn't know what to think when I got the message asking me to read and review this. To be honest, I was kind of nervous that I might not like it. But well, I loved it.

So the story basically focuses on Iphelia, a young girl who has the gift of feeling other people's emotions. From a young age Iphelia feels what others feel and slowly learns to identify all the emotions. She then starts drawing pictures to represent the emotions she feels.

I love the way the book is set out, the rhythmical rhyming of the words, the fact that the book doesn't just explore the good emotions, but also shows the bad ones too. I appreciate that it also mentioned how sometimes people show different emotions to what their feeling, as well as depression.

I also loved the art of the book. I'm not used to seeing art like this for books, but I liked it, it reminded me of The Sims (and I love The Sims)!

Overall, I enjoyed this a lot and think it would be a good book for my nieces and nephews to read because it would teach them about different people's and would likely open up communication, allowing them to be able to identify their emotions and then talk about them. Yeah, I really liked this!

[Bookish Devil · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mini Review:

Iphelia isn't a normal kid. In fact, she was born with a 'Gift'. Not just any other gift, but a key attribute of character which most of the people of today's world seem to lack.

"Empathy"

The author lays down his noble intent in the Introductory portion where he stresses upon the significance of being empathetic with each other and the positive vibes that emanate when one understands and applies the fundamental concept of it in the real life. This book is aimed at teaching the "Language of feelings" to the children so that they grow up to be more empathetic and mature citizens of tomorrow.

Iphelia, with her gift, is able to sense and understand the feelings of the people around her. Unlike us, she was able to pull down the masquerade of every person and see the true colors of an individual just by her vision. Sometimes, it becomes too much for her to handle all those emotions.

Just when you think poor little Iphelia would crumble under the stress, she does something truly extraordinary and knits all her near and dear ones together in a beautiful fashion by spreading positive vibes which uplift each and every soul around her.

"All this was possible only because Iphelia believed that her gift was never a curse but rather a blessing "

Bottom line: In a fast-moving world where we people are busily drowned in our own lives, the importance of teaching our kids about the different types of feelings and emotions, the kind of impact it has on one's life, the joy of making others feel good etc. is the need of the hour and credits to the author once again for bringing up a pressing issue which is to be dealt with utmost delicacy.

[Jennie Schutt · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to Tyrian Press for the advanced reader copy! Being a teacher, I am always looking for books that can help me teach about mental health and awareness. This is a book that I think I could use in almost all grades. The way that this book explained feeling emotions was very accurate for me because I tend to feel the emotions of others and even as an adult, it can get confusing.
The words on each page would make it easy to follow for young children, and the pictures would be enough to keep young children interested. Even if children do not understand the meeting of some of the words, the illustrations provided an easy to understand definition of the words. With older students, I would recommend this also because emotions can be a challenging thing to master. Even my older students could benefit from re-experiencing different emotions that they may not feel every day.
The other aspect of this book that I really enjoyed was how Iphelia made a change in her classroom. It started with just her creating a rhyme about her emotions and sharing it with one friend on the playground. By the time recess was over, most children were singing along. At the end of recess, the children on the playground were still chanting the rhyme and the rest of the school day (and probably the rest of the day) was positively impacted.

[Barbara · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am privileged to have read the advanced publication of Iphelia: Awakening the Gift of Feeling-Children's Edition. This is a story that is both timeless and timely. In the fast paced modern world of television and screens of all types, fast food, and fast living Iphelia reminds us of the value of human emotions. She reminds us that it is only through the vehicle of feelings that we can know ourselves and connect to others. As a practicing psycho-therapist in clinical practice I plan to utilize this book to inform children of all ages of the gift of feelings. It is a "must have" resource for anyone helping children to understand themselves, their world and their role in improving that world through empathy and compassion.

[April Gray · Rating 5 out of 5]

A sweet book about feelings, and the idea of taking control of them, and choosing the feelings you want to feel. I liked the part about finishing your feelings to get the message of them, and to be able to get through and past them. The book also helps kids think about other people's feelings, which more people, young and old, need to do. I also liked the idea of drawing one's feelings, something I think can help work through them. The graphics in the book are lovely- bright and colorful, inviting. While there is a bit of a new age-y feel to the book, I don't think it's obtrusive. I enjoyed it :)
I was given an e-copy of the book by the publisher; a review was requested but not required. Opinions are my own.

[MarylineD · Rating 5 out of 5]

A good children's book about feelings and emotions.
Wow! Amazing graphics and illustrations! Really bright and full of colors. Easy to understand and follow. Enjoyable. Well done!

Kids will love it! It can lead to interesting discussions with their family. Would also be good to use in schools. A good way to learn about different emotions and talk about feelings.

[Cibele · Rating 5 out of 5]

"May all the children sing out loud,
may praise be the sound!
In the East, the North, the West and South,
Let Mother Nature be proud"

Iphelia tells the tale of, well, Iphelia, as she grows and learns about all our feelings, and how to deal with them.

Made with 3d art drawings, which may call the attention to the kids, the book is about teaching kids how we all feel happy, glee, angry and all, but how we can try and focus all in the good things. It's a very good book about teaching empathy for kids!

[Bridgett Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very cute children’s book. It’s a story about feelings. My 9 year old daughter read it and liked it a lot. This is what she said.

I really liked that book. Sometimes I feel a lot too. Maybe I can be like her and help my friends with their feelings.
-Symira 9 years old

[Tammy Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

First, I wanted to say thank you to Tyrian Press for sending me a copy of the book for an honest review. To start off, I wanted to say the graphics for the book is beautiful and done amazingly. A children's book should have wonderful graphics and this book is what will bring you to the book to find out what it's about and why you should read it. I think that a lot of kid will love this book because at the age that they are at, they don't think anyone else knows how they feel about don't want to talk to anyone about it but when they see this book and read it with their parents, they will understand they aren't alone when it comes to having all these feelings that they can't explain. Erick did a wonderful job when he decided to do this book and I give him my full support for children's book because it's one book that I would get for my niece and nephews so they can read it.

[Jimmy Leritz · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have received a digital review copy from the publisher because of my involvement in a home schooling group. We have used the adult version of Iphelia with the kids and they have absolutely loved the book. I am super excited to get a copy of this children’s edition in my hands and use it in our group. I would say the adult edition’s concepts are appropriate to start introducing to children of about 11-12 years of age. That’s the time I think they can really start grasping the concepts of SUMA and LOOK for example(maybe a bit earlier like 10 years old) and I think around 12-13 they would be ready to start out on there own with this material. I definitely wish I had this book (the adult edition) when I was 15, I could have really used it to get through some ruff patches in high school. Iphelia really lays a healthy foundation of understanding of our emotions and how to deal with them when they come up and when situations arise that call on us to be strong and set barriers and personal boundaries in life. Really it’s invaluable information condensed and laid out in such a simple to understand way and information we can really use in life. I would also like to mention I have a seven month old daughter who loves picture books already! For clarification this Children’s edition takes out the heavier reading material and focuses on just the story line and beautiful pictures from the graphic novel portion of the adult edition, making it super easy to present to younger people. She may not understand what’s all going on in the books we read but it’s never to early too get your child or the little ones in your life in the habit of sitting down and reading with you. I can’t wait until she starts to understand the concepts in this set off books and other conscious children’s books such as A Course in Miracles: The Children’s Material. These books will surely set her in a path of self exploration and wholeness. The pictures in Iphelia are so immersive and she loved looking at the pictures in the adult version. When she’s sees this edition I expect her to have that same smile as she showed for the first edition we own. Kids watching Iphelia’s journey of emotional growth can only bring confidence on an individual level and a cohesiveness in the group setting, which I have witnessed in my home schooling group. Sooo excited to get this edition and try it out with the younger kids, I hope you check it out and get just as much out of Iphelia’s books as I am right now.

[Carrie Templeton · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received a free advanced reader copy of Iphelia from Tyrian Press in exchange for my honest review.

While I very much appreciate the idea of helping children, especially empaths, to understand and be comfortable with feelings, this graphic novel fell a little short for me. The concept of hard feelings was a bit overly simplified. The cgi style illustrations were unsettling, and the laser like depictions of feelings was quite the stretch.

Overall, great concept, but I won’t be in a rush to send copies of this one to my nieces and nephews.

[Linsey Stevens · Rating 5 out of 5]

While Iphelia is a book for children of all ages, I’m so excited by the prospect of this story and Iphelia’s unique illustrations being welcomed into the homes of young children. The rich colors and emphasis French puts on imagery are part of Iphelia’s medicine, and even as intimately as I know the book (full disclosure: I’ve had the pleasure of working with Iphelia’s author and illustrator since early 2017), I find some new detail each time I flip through it, without fail. Every time a child enjoys their copy of Iphelia—whether that means having it narrated by a caregiver, reading it on their own, or just looking at the pictures without fussing over the words—they’ll find something they can relate to, which is personally affirming to the child and ensures Iphelia isn’t a one-and-done read. How many books can we really say that about? And how many books are so detailed that they can serve as an I Spy not only for everyday encounters that encourage empathy, but also our most vulnerable and energizing emotions? From tots to teenagers, there is something compelling for all in Iphelia’s three acts.

I envision children remembering Iphelia and her powerful chant with the same fondness and gratitude with which I remember Miss Rumphius, A Wrinkle In Time, and The Giving Tree. Iphelia, in addition to being an uplifting story of creativity and awareness, is a teacher who invites children, families, and communities to honor the empathy we’re born into. This book will be celebrated by parents, educators, and caregivers who are striving to create environments in which integrity, self-expression, healthy spirituality, great rhymes, and dragons prove that, as Sia says, “it's a magical, magical life, life, life.”

[Billy Buttons · Rating 5 out of 5]

Title: Iphelia: Awakening the Gift of Feeling
Author: Erick Kenneth French

Star Rating: 5 Stars
Number of Readers: 19
Stats
Editing: 9/10
Writing Style: 9/10
Content: 9/10
Cover: 8/10
Of the 19 readers:
18 would read another book by this author.
15 thought the cover was good or excellent.
19 felt it was easy to follow.
19 would recommend this story to another reader to try.
Of all the readers, 10 felt the author’s strongest skill was ‘subject knowledge’.
Of all the readers, 9 felt the author’s strongest skill was ‘writing style’.
18 felt the pacing was good or excellent.
19 thought the author understood the readership and what they wanted.

Readers’ Comments
‘A cleverly written book divided into two parts. First, there’s the animated novel of a girl who can feel other’s feelings. The second part is a study of feelings and how we can live a healthy life. This seemed well-written and interesting. I wasn’t a big fan of the illustrations but they did a good job, adding to the story in a visual way.’ Female reader, aged 64
‘In a world of ‘Go! Go! Go!’ this book has a welcome message. I was totally enthralled.’ Male reader, aged 43
‘A graphic novel that’s also a self-help book. How unusual. Well done to the author for coming up with such a clever way of putting across an important message regarding lifestyle.’ Male reader, aged 55
‘This book might just help you to connect with your feelings. There’s a lot to take in but it’s worth going back to from time to time to refresh your memory.’ Female reader, aged 61
‘Designed to help the reader understand feelings and how they affect the way we act. A huge amount of work must have gone into producing the computer illustrations at the front of the book. I thought they were interesting and added value to the girl’s story. Overall, I would recommend this to anybody who is feeling uncomfortable or even confused by how they feel towards another person or to a problem facing them.’ Female reader, aged 70

To Sum It Up:
‘A cleverly designed self-help book, perfect for anybody who wants to understand feelings and how it can influence them. A FINALIST and highly recommended.’ The Wishing Shelf Book Awards

[Eshana Ranasinghe · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was an experience. I haven't read many children's picture books so take my review with a grain of salt.
I didn't really get it if I'm honest. While the message of the book, i.e. being empathetic, learning to identify and deal with the emotions is a great thing for children to learn. But I, was just very confused. There was a sky laser at one point (like from a super hero movie) which left me a bit baffled.

The story is about Iphelia who is an empath (she can feel other peoples' emotions) and this details her growing up and learning about the different emotions people around her feel, how she learns to identify which them and understand them.

The art was in a 3D CG style which was pretty well done but was a bit unsettling at times (a bit of a uncanny valley vibe). A child probably wouldn't mind it but some of the pages were cluttered which I found a bit irksome.

This book would probably be great if you want to teach a child about various types of emotion and to be empathetic. But (and maybe I am mistaken, because I found this a bit confusing) I think it is suggested that people have a choice to feel happy or sad. Which I don't think is correct. Usually, when someone is sad there is a cause for it and surely it's better to deal with cause rather than choosing to deny/ignore those negative feelings.

I was sent a review copy of this, thank you Tyrian Press.

[Megan · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thank you to Tyrian Press for sending me this free digital copy for preview in return for an honest review.

I really appreciate the fact that kids books are trying to tackle big emotions - and that this one specifically tries to visually give name to empathy. However, I think it was a tall order- I didn't find the art engaging, and there were several times when I thought that the emotion expressed was not clear (frustration was one that was not obvious based on the image). Also, the inclusion of 'repressed resentment' seemed like too much for young children, and the emotion of 'pure' completely unnecessary. It definitely feels like it has a religious bent to it and the ending few pages make me uncomfortable in that it seems to indicate a white savior type of behavior. I think there are other books that do a much better job of sending the same message in a more subtle, nuanced way - kids don't need things to be 100% spelled out for them any more than adults do.

[amber · Rating 2 out of 5]

this book was a lovely attempt at sharing big feelings with kids, but for me, it fell short. i think that was in large part due to the art style. it's got a sort of...3D vibe, which is honestly something i see in a lot of kids media these days, but it's too uncanny valley for me. when i got to the end, the appendix discussed many supposed nuances in there that i simply hadn't caught, and i think it's because the art style did not inspire me to linger on the pages the way i might've.

i did appreciate the theme of feeling fully, and of allowing children to embrace all their varied emotions, instead of just the classic positive ones. i believe children feel things far more authentically than we do, and we do them a great injustice when we stifle those feelings - even if it's with good intentions.

while i embrace that narrative, i'm not sure the book truly displays that. i appreciate the attempt in iphelia but, unfortunately, it's not something i'd rush to share with my students.

[Gail Mayer · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found this book fascinating. I believe that a parent or guardian who has had their dose of therapy or self help can relay and fill in any blanks the child might have while reading and exploring this book. The colors are beautiful and the message is clear. Being authentic is so important. I also love that her dog has a glow. Animals can be so healing.
Gail M.

[Helena#bookdreamer · Rating 3 out of 5]

While I loved the beautiful, magical pictures, I wasn’t crazy about the writing. The rhyming felt forced and the story was too lengthy . Other than that it was enjoyable and I am grateful for the opportunity to have received and review a free copy.