For effective use, this book should be purchased alongside the accompanying storybook, Maya’s ACE Adventures!: A Story to Celebrate Children’s Resilience following Adverse Childhood Experiences [9781032368177]. Both books can be purchased together as a set, Helping Children to Thrive After Adverse Childhood Experiences: ‘Maya’s ACE Adventures!’ Storybook and Adult Guide [9781032367934].

Alongside the accompanying storybook, Maya’s ACE Adventures!, this guide provides adults with much-needed resources to talk to children about their traumatic experiences in ways that are non-threatening, safe, and can build a child’s confidence in speaking about their fears with a trusted adult.

Designed to be read by an adult before they read the story together with a child, the guide provides practical tools, such as scene-by-scene discussion prompts and strategies for co-regulation, to facilitate conversations that are informed, relaxed and allow for healing from grief and trauma. These tools are contextualised by a detailed examination and critique of the Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) framework, in addition to an overview of the neurobiology involved in the stress response, to support adults and alleviate their anxiety about asking the right questions and having the rights answers for the children they support.

Together with the storybook, this guide is essential reading for teachers, parents, foster carers, social workers, and other professionals who are supporting children, by giving them the resources they need to foster hope and resilience among children who have survived traumatic experiences.