Books in the Help Me Cope series

Stress is one of the largest causes of illness and unhappiness. Very few people have been taught coping strategies on how to cope with stress. In this book, Lesley talks about what causes stress and different types of stress. She then expands on how to treat each of these stressors with different techniques, some that can easily be applied on your own. She has used photos of her animals to depict the meanings of the different types of stress. This is a great book for all ages as it teaches you coping strategies to improve your life. The pictures will draw the children in to open up and share their problems and at the end, there are the "Help me Cope activities" which brings it all together and helps them understand what they need to do in their own lives to decrease their stress. Some of the things they might not even have been aware of.

In this book of the "Help me cope series", Lesley writes about the importance of learning the things that were taught in "Finishing schools". These range from the correct etiquette when setting a table, how to keep a house clean and ready for all occasions and how to ensure your body is hygienic and smells good all the time. Hair care, nail care and correct dress code are some of the items that are discussed for body hygiene. By ensuring our home and body are well cared for, we will feel better about ourselves and our environment. Having a clean house is important for your health. In the "Help me cope activities" at the end of the book one can identify the areas you need to improve and then use the book to get there. She has included photos to help clarify the teachings.

Not many people know what goal setting is or how to do it. In this book, Lesley breaks it down into eight different areas and explains each one in detail. When you know how to do goal setting, your life becomes easy and things fall into place. She has used photos of her family and animals to help depict the information. This book is a great way for young children and even adults to learn this simple tool that can transform your life forever. At the end of the book are the "help me cope activities", these help you think about what you want to do and get out of life so that you can set the wheels in motion to achieve them. Lesley has used this tool with many of her patients with great results and they have improved their lives and self-image.

In the olden days' children would leave their homes at the age of 7 to live with a Knight so that they could start their training to one-day themselves become a Knight. They learnt knightly behaviour and many other duties and activities. Today we start primary school at the age of 7, thus our primary school is the equivalent of the Page's. We learn how to read and write and play sports. We are taught sportsmanship and correct behaviour. Our high school is the equivalent of the Squire's, where we hone our skills and become proficient in a sport getting honorary colours. Finally, we graduate between the ages of 18-24 and our graduation ceremony is equivalent to a Dubbing ceremony where we are Knighted into the profession we have chosen and we agree to abide by their rules and regulations and be knightly in what we do. This book describes the similarities of the different times and why we do what we do and how we should behave in a knightly manner and what this entails. At the end of the book, there is the "Help me Cope activities" that are used to help children and those who read the book to improve their lives and those around them through awareness and correct behaviour at all times.

This book was written to help people and children understand how to care for their pets. From dogs, cats, fish to tortoises, chickens and parrots. Each animal's care is described. If you do not have space for an animal, then one can look at attracting wild birds and other creatures to your garden through indigenous gardening. Lesley has all these animals and more, as pets. She is an avid gardener and has watched how her indigenous garden has attracted many different birds, bees, snails and other creatures to her garden.It is a fascinating read and children love the pictures as they are all pictures of her own animals that she has taken.

"Animals can be bullies too" is a unique book. The way Lesley has used her Dog Paddington and her clutter of cats to describe this theme is entertaining with wonderful coloured pictures of all the animals at their best. Bullying is a global crisis and needs to be stopped in its' tracks as it is getting worse. Children do not want to attend school as they are victims of this crime and nothing seems to be done about it. We need to educate our children about what it is and who is responsible and how to stop bullies. This book describes the different bullies one gets and how to help the bullies improve their behaviour, all using the stories of her cats. It then links the animal story with their school environment through the 'Help me cope activities", where the children are encouraged to discuss situations among themselves. This is the first book in the "Help me cope" series, aiming to educate our children and improve their life-skills in a number of different areas.Children who have read this book are enamoured by the animal pictures and all love Sheriff Paddington and want to be like him. It is a must-have for all Children even if it is just for the pictures. They will want to see the animals repeatedly and will easily be able to associate with the different behaviours.