Product Description

This is a tale about a young boy named Jean Paul. He was abandoned at a tender age by uncaring relatives after his parents had died from hunger and cold. He lives alone, deep in a forest in France, depending on no one else to meet his needs.

One day, while hunting for food, Jean Paul is captured by wandering thieves and sold to some kindly villagers with good intentions. Imagine their surprise when they discover he is a snarling and ferocious creature; more animal than boy. Will there be someone who can help Jean Paul learn to be good? Will there be a family who can love him in spite of his terrible ways? Find out what happens to this angry and frightened young boy and to the well-meaning villagers who try to save him.

The tale reflects the joys and pitfalls of adopting or fostering a child with a history of early trauma. It is accompanied by a parenting guide that provides practical step-by-step help in assisting families to work through their child's negative behaviors to achieve more positive ones.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #380992 in Books
• Published on: 2003-12
• Binding: Paperback
• 27 pages

Matt, 9 yr. old boy
"This is a lot like I was......I still worry about being sent away, but not as much ."

Kathryn, Matt's mother
The child in this story is my Matt and I hope our story ends happily, with him feeling true security.

About the Author
Nancy A. Clark,MFT is a practicing licensed therapist in the state of California and a seasoned fairy tale writer. She is the co-author of The Forever Child: A Tale of Lies and Love. She is a foster parent; has 4 grown daughters and an adopted 11 year-old girl with an exposure to early trauma.

B. Bryan Post Ph.D. is an internationally acclaimed expert in the treatment of children who have experienced early trauma and neglect. In addition to having published numerous clinical/parenting articles and having produced video series on this topic, Dr. Post lectures throughout the United States and abroad on understanding and treating attachment disorders in children. He is the author of For All Things A Season and co-author of the Forever Child: A Tale of Lies and Love.

Customer Reviews

Good bbedtime reading for kids with attatchment disorders
I found this book easy to read to my 10 year old,who has adhd & attachment
disorder.Being written in fairytale format means it can deal with a lot of issues which could be difficult to approach with children of this sort of age.It certainly encouraged my son to discuss some issues from his past he had not felt able to talk about previously.The parenting guide in the the back was also useful & would have been even more so for someone who didn't
already have some knowledge of attachment issues & how they effect children.
I would certainly recommend it to anyone bringing up a traumatized child
whether fostered, adopted, or biological as my son is.

The Forever Child
The book is exceptionally well written. I deal with foster care children and parents and I plan to refer them to this book because it reallhy helps to put things in perspective and explains the behaviors of the children they take into their home. the parenting tips were wonderful. I would recommend this book to any one who adopts or fosters children.

able to relate
I read this story to my foster daughter who has RAD. I did find it was a bit long to read in one sitting, but we did it, and she was attentive. At the end she said "That's like me isnt it." "And you're like the old couple, you love me even when I'm bad." I think it is a great story that kids like this can relate to and help them to understand more why they feel what they feel and why they do what they do.