Teachers, Chaplains, School Counsellors, Welfare Officers and Social Workers, here is a book that every school library should not be without! The big architect wanted only perfect stones for the new wall. All the stones put their best faces forward. But there was one stone that didn’t seem to fit. He was the “Wrong Stone” and all the others were laughing at him. Will it be the crusher for him? Exquisite full-colour illustrations bring this evocative and relevant story alive.

Author: Russell Deal. Published by Innovative Resources 2002 (now into 2nd ed.) Softcover, 280 x 210mm, 32pp.

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Ideal for Social Workers and Social Work Educators, these stories explore the sometimes heart-wrenching struggles and dilemmas of everyday lives. How do social workers and other professionals respond? The insightful questions that accompany the stories will prompt conversations about values, choices and the way society cares.

Author: Jennifer Lehmann. Published by Innovative Resources 2003.Softcover, 140 x 210mm, 126pp.

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Primary and Secondary Teachers, Art Therapists, Environmentalists and Parents; here is a poem set to paintings that follows the journey of a tear that drops into a teacup, eventually finding its way out to sea and then falling as rain over the same young boy and his beloved grandfather who cried the tear in the first place. Environmental and cyclical themes of life and death, decay and renewal, time and fear, and the gifts of one generation to another are all here in this book.

Author: Chris Townsend, Artwork: Chris Sage-Marsh, Published by Innovative Resources 2005, Includes teachers’ guide. Hardcover. 36pp.

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Grief and Loss Counsellors, Social Work Educators, Teachers and anyone in need of a reality check: here is a brave, insightful and–believe it or not–lively opportunity to enter the experiences of seven people who know they are dying. This inspiring collection is based on interviews with seven Australians who are facing death and who have had the courage to talk about what death means to them personally–and what it could mean to us.

Edited by Professors Allan Kellehear and David Ritchie. Published by Innovative Resources. Softcover, 140 x 215mm, 136pp.

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Anyone who works with children who have been sexually assaulted will find this vividly illustrated story an excellent resource for creating positive conversations with kids, building their insight and understanding about their rights, easing any guilt, creating personal confidence and offering hope.

Author: Nicole Reading. Published by Innovative Resources 2004. 36pp. Softcover.

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Primary and Pre-School Teachers, Early Childhood Workers, Psychologists and Parents: here are solution-focused approaches adapted especially for children. This radical book is based on the notion that practically all problems can be seen as skills that need to be developed. The book is buzzing with ideas, stories and suggestions to inspire adults and invite children to become active participants in skill-building and solution-finding.

Author: Ben Furman. First published by Innovative Resources in Australia 2004. Softcover, 165 x 245mm, 144pp.

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Social Workers, Community Leaders, Mental Health Professionals: here is a step-by-step blue-print for a ’strengths-based’ approach to community capacity building as developed by St Luke’s Anglicare (Bendigo, Australia). Contains a three-day workshop and 39 handouts to guide people as they create resilient, flexible, well-connected communities. Author: Wayne McCashen

Published by Innovative Resources 2004. Softcover, 214 x 278mm, 208pp.

Includes three-day workshop template and 39 handout masters to photocopy.

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Carers, Social Workers and Social Work Educators, Counsellors and Chaplains; There are hundreds of thousands of people across Australia who care for someone with a mental illness. Caring is a delicate balancing act like no other. But how many of us really know the carers’ stories and understand their particular challenges?

Compiled and edited by John Holton, Innovative Resources, 2007, softcover, 100pp.

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Teachers and Parents will find plenty to talk with primary-aged children about–on the topic of grumpiness–after they have read this book together. You see, Captain Grumpy didn’t want to be a pirate, he wanted to be an artist. But a pirate he became–and he was good at it because he was good at being grumpy. But grumpiness soon became the boss of Captain Grumpy. Use this book to explore what happens when grumpiness pushes us around, and how we can keep our most important inner treasures safe.

Author: Russell Deal, Published by Innovative Resources 2003. Softcover, 32 pages.

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Psychologists, Social Workers and Parents dealing with sibling jealousy will find this brightly illustrated book a great way to foster conversations with older children about newcomers to the family.

Published by Innovative Resources 2008. Author: Rebecca Sng softcover, 32 pages.

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