Mark M. Bello’s “Happy Jack – Sad Jack” – Empowering Children Against Bullying and Racism

In today’s society, it is crucial to address the issues of bullying, racism, and the importance of self-advocacy and allyship, especially among young children. Mark Bello, a versatile author renowned for his thrilling novels, has ventured into a new genre with his book, “Happy Jack – Sad Jack.” This children’s book, beautifully illustrated by Melinda Falgoust, takes readers on a journey through the challenges faced by a young boy named Jack. Through this heartwarming, story-in-rhyme. Bello aims to empower young readers to stand up against bullies and embrace the power of their own voices.

“Happy Jack – Sad Jack” captures the excitement and apprehension that comes with starting kindergarten. Jack, a joyful and enthusiastic boy, quickly discovers that he is different from his classmates. The story takes a poignant turn when Jack becomes the target of bullying solely because of the color of his skin. This unfortunate experience transforms Happy Jack into Sad Jack, casting a shadow on his initial excitement for school.

As Jack’s unhappiness escalates, his parents decide to intervene and seek support from the school principal, Lou. Despite being taught not to tattle, Jack musters the courage to confide in Principal Lou, who takes immediate action. The expulsion of the bully allows Jack to reclaim his happiness and once again enjoy the wonders of kindergarten. This pivotal moment in the story highlights the importance of speaking up and making one’s voice heard in the face of bullying.

Through skillful storytelling and captivating pencil illustrations, Mark addresses the challenges of bullying and racism that children encounter in school. By portraying relatable characters and settings, Bello enables young readers to see themselves in Jack’s shoes. The story emphasizes that although seeking help from adults might initially seem daunting, support is readily available when one finds the courage to speak out. The expressive illustrations vividly depict the characters’ emotions, enabling readers to empathize and understand the struggles associated with bullying.A Lesson in Allyship:

“Happy Jack – Sad Jack” serves as a valuable tool for teaching young readers about allyship. Jack’s school community learns an important lesson through Bello’s impactful rhymes and Falgoust’s captivating illustrations. The story reinforces the idea that despite our differences in appearance, race, or religion, we are all valued members of the human race. Bello encourages children to celebrate their uniqueness while fostering an environment of respect and understanding.

To invite Mark M. Bello to speak or for a book signing, contact: [email protected] or to order “Happy Jack – Sad Jack” or learn more about Mark M. Bello, Visit:

www.MarkMBello.com

Don’t Be Mad…Riley is here!

Activities are a super way to sort out emotions! Love the characters, Illustrations by Zachary Kline and all that  Jessica Sinarski, LPCMH, Author, Speaker, Clinical Supervisor, Founder of BraveBrains includes in this book filled with games, printable masks, colorful cards, word searches, action plans, and more! Brilliant! To get this handy – anyone with children book to have at home, visit: https://www.amazon.com/Riley-Braves-Feelings-Activity-Book/dp/1839973005

Keep Summer in Check!

“David Magee: Children don’t need absolute unstructured freedom just because school is out.” David Magee nails it with one important sentence, have a safe summer from DietarySupplementNews.com!

 Things Have Changed: What Every Parent (and Educator) Should Know About the Student Mental Health and Substance Misuse Crisis(Matt Holt, August 2023, ISBN: 978-1-6377439-6-6, $22.00) and award-winning book Dear William: A Father’s Memoir of Addiction, Recovery, Love, and Loss.

Break Free and Heal!

Filled with powerful coping techniques to help you stay resilient – “Your Unconditioned Inner Magic” also explains how your brain works and the power this knowledge brings. Using the latest research from various scientific fields and holistic healing practices, Author, Kitty O’Brien helps us recognise how adverse experiences and trauma can live with us in our nervous system.

Learn more and get your copy of ‘Your Unconditioned Inner Magic’ athttps://amzn.to/3WSDDxj

ARE GUMMIES FOR DUMMIES?

Florida’s Poison Control Centers are coping with an escalation of calls from people who have become ill from overdoses of melatonin, THC and CBD gummies and emergency department visits in Florida are rising, too.

Among reactions to these popular supplements are nausea, vomiting, extreme lethargy, tremors, confusion and even trouble breathing.

During the pandemic gummy habits spiked along with an increase in gummy overdoses triggered by the abundant availability of the popular supplements.  In Florida, melatonin gummies are sold in grocery stores, drugstores and vitamin shops, while CBD gummies are available in convenience stores and smoke shops and THC products are sold in dispensaries (by prescription).

The problem stems from the supplement industry, which includes melatonin, not being strictly regulated, so the dosage on the label may not be consistent with what’s in the bottle or bag.  As a result, melatonin overdoses have increased.  A 2023 study in the Journal of the American Medical Association looked at 25 brands of over-the-counter melatonin gummy bears and found that 88% had a dosage inconsistent with their labeling.

Some were lower and some were several times higher than the labeled dose. That should give Floridians pause, especially with the increasing use of melatonin triggered by sleep-disrupting stress and anxiety during the pandemic.

The Sleep Foundation found an increasing number of parents are giving melatonin to children to help them fall asleep, unaware of the risks.  Too many milligrams can make you excessively sleepy and it can even be toxic for some children.  So far in 2023, Florida’s Poison Control Centers have tracked almost a thousand calls about melatonin-related illness, with 75% of these being for children ages 5 or younger.  There may also be a problem with exposure to melatonin combined with other substances.

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Tom Madden has been writing for a quite some time, first as a reporter for The Philadelphia Inquirer, next as speechwriter for top executive at major companies, many of which were reprinted in the New York Times and other publications, before writing his first book SPIN MAN, then four more including the most recent, WORDSHINE MAN about  how to make your writing inviting.   When he’s not writing articles, blogs and books, he’s managing the PR firm, TransMedia Group, which he started when he left NBC, where he was vice president, assistant to the president.   His blog at www.MaddenMischief.com appears weekly.

The XPO H2O Natural Hair, Mind and Body Transformation Expo June 3-4 in Fort Lauderdale – Success!!

This June we got to attend The XPO H2O Natural Hair, Mind and Body Transformation Expo…A transformational expo indeed! From beauty products, to healing experiences and beyond, XPO H2O’s event showed that culture and beauty go hand in hand, and that you can’t have one without the other.

DietarySupplementNews.com met with numerous exhibitors and witnessed firsthand the beauty industry! It was an educational and welcoming atmosphere where DSN got to learn the industry and witness the various products and services involved. It was such a sensational industry expo and DSN is thrilled to have been a part of such an event.

So much excitement at the expo, filled with African Shea Butter, the Dancing Lion Studio and more! Along with experiences offered at the Expo as well, for beauty AND health.

There was a great music selection from DJ MP that kept the flow of the convention alive and fun!

The Pink Queen Foundation was also present to support a great cause for all Queens and Kings!

Now that you have seen a glimpse of the beauty behind the pageant of a show that is the XPO H2O Expo, it’s your turn to attend the next one!

@XPOH2O @HydraVoice #xpoh2o #AdrienneMazzone #TMGsocial #XPOH2OExpo

Dietary Supplement News (DSN) is an online publication featuring topics and in-depth feature articles and reviews in a particular subject area of the dietary supplement, beauty, health and wellness industry.