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"Golden Flowers for Little Dragon," illustrated by Gareth Jones, supports children preparing for or coping with the death of a sibling. The Book Guild, October 2021. 

It is a story of love and grief as two dragon siblings, Tan and Dewi, come to terms with the loss of their younger brother. 

With thanks to public funding from the National Lottery through Arts Council England for making this project possible.

"Blodau Aur i Dreigyn," a Welsh edition of the book will also be published by the Book Guild, 2021. With thanks to  Swansea Bay University Health Board Children's Services and Wendy Bartlett, Owner of Med Team Recruitment and founder of Swansea Bay Community Knitters, Crocheters and Crafters for supporting the publication of the Welsh edition. 

Families often seek help from professionals around how to talk to other children when they are caring for a life limited child.
Stories are key to gently helping families understand and explore difficult topics together. This beautifully written story gently explores the most difficult of topics, the death of a sibling. It is clearly structured, allowing children to recognise themselves and their brother or sister at different times through expected death, immediate bereavement and into the future. The acknowledgment that it is ok to both be sad and to enjoy life as it unravels in the future is a lovely supportive message to share."
 
I look forward to recommending this story to families in the future and only wish it had been around for many families in the past."
​From  Dr Jo Griffiths  Consultant in Paediatric Palliative Medicine & Community Child Health All Wales Managed Clinical Network & Swansea Bay University Health

Reviews

A warm, insightful, and empowering story that beautifully captures the inner world of a child living with emetophobia. Through Bodie's courage, humour, and struggles, kids learn that fear can be faced one small step at a time. This book is an invaluable resource for any child who longs to feel braver and less alone. ― Anna S. Christie, Emetophobia Specialist, Author of 'Emetophobia: Understanding and Treating Fear of Vomiting in Children' and Adults' and 'Conquer Your Emetophobia: Advice from a Therapist Who Overcame Her Fear of Vomiting'

This book is incredible. Dr. Jones tells an accurate and impactful story of what it's like living with emetophobia and why overcoming it is so challenging. Parents will get a view into their child's world of emetophobia and children will feel validated and be set on the path to a life free from fear. The intuitive response to emetophobia is often the opposite of what is required for recovery and this book explains this ironic concept with an engaging and compassionate story. I only wish I had this when I was a child struggling in school. ― Willy Schaller, Fellow Emetophobic in Recovery and Founder of Bia - The Phobia Recovery App

As a lifelong sufferer of emetophobia and now a parent, I found this book brilliant in helping your child with strategies to take control of their own ghost and live life to the full. ― Laura Davis, Emetophobic and Parent of a child with emetophobia

As both a clinician who has worked with anxious children for many years and a parent who has walked this road personally, I know how profoundly the fear of getting sick can shape a child's world. Emetophobia is far more common than most people recognize. I've seen it forcefully drive school avoidance, selective eating, social withdrawal, and a level of daily distress that families struggle to handle. What often looks like 'general anxiety' is in fact a very specific, very powerful fear-and one that is frequently overlooked in professional settings.

Bodie and the Ghost Showdown captures this experience with honesty and accuracy. Dr. Jones understands the internal logic of this phobia-the hypervigilance, the physical symptoms, the cycle of avoidance-and she brings it to life in a way that is accessible to children without diminishing the seriousness of what they're facing.

What I appreciate most about this book is that it doesn't simply name the problem; it gently guides children toward the skills that lead to real change. The story reflects the core elements of treatment: facing the fear, reducing safety behaviors, tolerating discomfort, and reclaiming the parts of life the phobia has taken away. It offers children the hope that they can be braver than their fear-and it shows parents what progress can look like.

For families dealing with emetophobia, resources are surprisingly limited. This book fills a genuine gap. It is heartfelt, clinically sound, and deeply validating for the child who feels alone in this struggle. I'm grateful Dr. Jones has given them a story that can open those doors.
― Dr. David Russ, licensed psychologist, Co-Author of 'Emetophobia: Understanding and Treating Fear of Vomiting in Children and Adults' and 'Emetophobia! The Ultimate Kids' Guide'

Mindfulness can be a hard concept for young children to comprehend, using a picture book such as Whispa and the Waves is a great resource. The teaching resources linked to the book link closely to the techniques already taught in schools which again really helped. We now have the book in our mindfulness area accompanied by a basket of shells and starfish, children as young as 4 years old are independently using Whispa's techniques when they need to calm down." Catrin Parton, Reception Teacher, Swansea

"I can't sing like Whispa the mermaid but I can breathe like her to help me be calm," Reception pupil, Swansea

"Through tear filled eyes. This is the most significant and important children's book that I've ever read. I'll treasure these words for a long time. What a beautiful gift to be able to give a child. Every child should have access to this book. What a truly gorgeous read." Jemma Buntin. 

"Knowing the context and inspiration for this book, it is both heart-breaking, soul-taking but ultimately a force of positivity. Ffion Jones specialises in writing books to help children work through difficult life issues, including the challenging subject of child bereavement. But should challenging issues, especially where children are concerned, be hidden away in a dark and unspoken place? Never! Stories must be told and inspirational lives must be held up high, for all to see." Dale Neal.

"This is a beautifully written book that deals with sensitive issues and emotions in a supportive and gentle way that will help families and children cope with the loss of a loved one. The illustrations are stunning and can be used to generate conversations within families and help children to explore their feelings and emotions. We are very fortunate to have this book in our school to help pupils who are dealing with illness or loss within their family. We are using it during Thrive and Elsa sessions and will read a little at a time, allowing the child time to talk about what is happening and how they feel. It has supported children in our school to talk about their own experiences and help them to understand that it's ok to feel a range of emotions. I honestly cannot recommend this book enough and feel that every school should have it to support those children who may are dealing with illness and grief within the family." Jenny Caddy.

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