Book One · Tales of the Resilient Forest

A Journey of
Brave Friends

A Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy companion — gentle, illustrated stories for children and the trusted grown-ups who walk beside them.

— a book by Joshua Fisherkeller

Read the Book Begin the Journey

Step into the forest

The Story

A path through the forest, hand in hand.

Deep in the Resilient Forest, a small band of animal friends meets the kinds of feelings every child knows: the sudden storm, the shadow that won’t quite name itself, the breath that goes missing for a moment. There is Timothy the Turtle, who hides in his shell after a big storm. Rex the Rabbit, whose heart races faster than his paws. Kiki the Koala, who knows the still place inside. Bella the Bear, who carries a storm of feelings she doesn’t yet have words for. And Olive the Owl, with her wise eyes for the dark hours.

Each story is built around a foundational PRAC skill from Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy — Psychoeducation, Relaxation, Affective expression, and Cognitive coping. The friends meet a challenge, try a skill, and learn it the way children learn most things: through a story they want to hear again.

“To therapists, child welfare professionals, and foster parents who stand as steadfast oaks in the Resilient Forest, offering shelter and guidance to children on their healing journey — this book is a tribute to your unwavering spirit.” — Dedication

Designed to be read together by a child and a trusted adult, each chapter opens with Notes for Trusted Adults — guidance and discussion prompts so the conversation around the story can be as nourishing as the story itself.

Book cover — a painterly forest, mountain, and lake

The PRAC Skills

Four foundational skills, told as four small stories.

Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy begins with PRAC — the gentle, grounding work that prepares a child for everything that comes after. A Journey of Brave Friends walks each of these four skills, one chapter at a time.

Psychoeducation

A brave friend learns that what happened wasn’t their fault — and that the way a small body reacts to big things is something every creature in the forest carries.

Relaxation

Timothy the Turtle moves slowly on purpose. The friends learn his slow-lake breath: in for the mountain, out for the moon — a body that knows how to soften.

Affective expression & modulation

Naming feelings in colors and weather, until even the biggest ones become small enough to hold — and the body learns it can ride them out.

Cognitive coping

Olive the Owl helps the friends notice their thoughts — the ones that are true, and the ones that only pretend to be — and tell the gentle difference between them.

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Book One of a longer journey. The full TF-CBT arc — Trauma narrative, In vivo mastery, Conjoint sessions, and Enhancing safety — unfolds across future books in Tales of the Resilient Forest. Strengthening the PRAC skills first lets a child arrive at the harder chapters of their own story already steadied.

Built on the pioneering work of

Judith A. Cohen, MD· Esther Deblinger, PhD· Anthony Mannarino, PhD

Meet the Brave Friends

Five small hearts. One wide forest.

Five animal friends, each carrying a different feeling through the Resilient Forest. Together they learn that being brave doesn’t mean going it alone.

Timothy

the Turtle

A brave little turtle who lives in a peaceful pond. After a big storm, the world outside his shell feels a lot scarier than before — and he begins to learn that what he feels is okay.

Rex

the Rabbit

Quick on his feet, but sometimes his heart races faster than his paws can carry him. Rex learns that a big breath can be braver than a big leap.

Kiki

the Koala

High in the eucalyptus trees, Kiki is known for her peacefulness no matter what is happening around her. She teaches her friends to find the still place inside.

Bella

the Bear

Strong and brave on the outside, with a storm of feelings inside. Bella learns that naming a feeling — in words, drawings, or even a slow, heavy dance — makes it easier to carry.

Olive

the Owl

Wise eyes for the dark hours. Olive helps the friends notice their thoughts — the ones that are true and the ones that only pretend to be — and gently tell the difference.

A Look Inside

Four chapters. Four small acts of courage.

Each chapter follows one friend through one feeling — with painted, full-page illustrations and a gentle voice that meets a child where they are. Below, a glimpse of what waits between the pages.

1 Chapter One · Psychoeducation

Timothy the Turtle and the Big Storm

— the day the world got loud

“Timothy, you went through something really scary, and feeling scared is okay. It’s normal to feel different after something like that. But remember, it’s okay to talk about it, and it’s okay to ask for help.”

A brave little turtle hides inside his shell after a big storm shakes the pond. With help from Olive the Owl, he begins to understand his feelings — and learns that being brave doesn’t mean not being scared, but facing his fears anyway.

2 Chapter Two · Relaxation

Rex the Rabbit and Kiki the Koala Take a Big Breath

— in for the trees, out for the sky

In the heart of the forest, high up in the eucalyptus trees, lived a calm koala bear named Kiki. She was known for her peacefulness no matter what was happening around her.

When Rex’s heart races faster than his paws can carry him, Kiki teaches him the slow, deep breath of the canopy. A chapter about bodies that remember how to soften — and the gentle work of trying again.

3 Chapter Three · Affective Expression

Bella the Bear and the Storm Inside

— a feeling, named, becomes a friend

“Olive,” Bella started, “sometimes I feel like there’s a storm inside me, but I don’t know how to share it. Sometimes I even say mean things, and I don’t know why!”

Bella is strong and brave — and carrying feelings she doesn’t yet have words for. With Olive’s patient help, she learns to share what she feels through words, drawings, and even a slow, heavy dance.

4 Chapter Four · Cognitive Coping

Olive the Owl and the Helpful Thoughts

— just because you think it doesn’t make it true

“Just because I didn’t do it the first time doesn’t mean I can’t do it at all.”

Even the wise need a wise friend sometimes. When Olive can’t reach the top of the tallest tree, her friends gather around her — and she learns to notice the unkind thoughts she tells herself, and to replace them with kinder, truer ones.

For the Grown-Ups

A companion you can hold in both hands.

Written for the people who walk beside the child — parents and caregivers, therapists and counselors, teachers and the quiet aunt who always knows.

For parents & caregivers

A bedtime-soft entry into a hard conversation. The book is written to be read aloud, in small pieces, on the days a child has the room for it — and to be left on a shelf the rest of the time.

Gentle, age-appropriate language for ages 5–10
Each chapter opens with Notes for Trusted Adults
Discussion prompts to guide meaningful conversation
Never asks a child to disclose; only to feel accompanied

For therapists & clinicians

A session-friendly companion that maps cleanly onto the eight components of TF-CBT. Use it as a primer, a metaphor library, or a between-session bridge for the child and caregiver to share.

Chapter-by-chapter PRAC skill alignment
Clinician notes printable and ready to use
Caregiver handouts in plain language
Designed for individual, group, and conjoint settings

The Author

Joshua Fisherkeller

MSW · helping children & families · Kentucky

Joshua Fisherkeller holds a master’s degree in Social Work and enjoys helping children and families and working with systems of care in Kentucky. He is also the author of Maximilian’s Cosmic Adventure, a story about sleeping in your own bed.

Beyond his books, he has created a resource platform, skillsforchildren.com, where readers can find all his books, videos, and curated resources. With A Journey of Brave Friends, he hopes to provide a valuable tool for those caring for and working with young children who have experienced trauma.

In his free time, he spends time in the Resilient Forest with his son, Maximilian, and his wife, Julia.

Bring the Book Home

Read it together.

Only available on Amazon in hardcover and paperback.

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