Paws for Calm: Managing difficult emotions
Two Authors. Two Journeys. One Shared Mission.
Join us for a special double book event featuring Jemima Shafei-Ongu and Angelika Von Sanden, two therapists and authors who met in an online forum discussing their beliefs for peace, liberation and justice for all, where they discovered they had even more than this in common.
Both had published books year, with a focus on helping people manage their fears and difficult feelings – but for different age groups!
Jemima will share a story time with fun activities for Aslan and Benny, a cleverly illustrated children’s story about a boy with the heart, and the name of a lion. Through family connection and courage, this gentle tale explores what it means to be brave. Influenced by Jemima’s rich Southwest Asian heritage, the book is a celebration of family, belonging and emotional resilience.
Angelika shares Sit, Stay, Grow: How Dogs Can Help You Worry Less and Walk Into a Better Future, an illustrated coffee table book for dog lovers and deep thinkers alike. With warmth and wisdom, Angelika invites readers to slow down, see through the eyes of their four-legged companions, and learn to hold thoughts lightly while navigating life’s challenges.
Join us for a conversation about both titles, which offer gentle guidance without overpromising—reminding readers, young and old, that emotions are not enemies. With the right tools and perspectives, we can learn to live more fully alongside our most challenging feelings to do what matters most to us. Whether you’re a parent (of a child with fears), a dog lover, a therapist, or simply curious—this event promises to be entertaining, engaging, and deeply human.
Come for the stories, stay for the conversation.
Contact
Merri-bek libraries
Glenroy library,
Glenroy Children's and Youth Services Librarian
Phone: 8311 4100
Email: glenroylibrary@merri-bek.vic.gov.au