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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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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They are designed to open up conversations about meaning, significance, thoughts, feelings and experiences. Some speak of difficulty and challenge; some speak of possibilities and dreams.

Published by Innovative Resources 2007. Booklet authors: Linda Espie & Russell Deal, Designer: Brad Welsh. 100 laminated, full-colour cards, 105 x 105mm, full-colour tin. 48-page booklet.

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Here are 80 full-colour storytelling prompts for people of all ages. From classrooms to discussion groups; a family game to a therapeutic tool. Perfect for anyone who works with people who have a story to tell. Whatever the application, Storycatching provides opportunities to reflect upon our thoughts, feelings, memories and attitudes to life.

Published by Innovative Resources 2008, 80 full-colour, laminated cards 80mm x 110mm, 2-part cardboard box, 24-page booklet. Author: John Holton, Illustrator: Ray Bowler

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This resource acknowledges that pain and suffering (such as grief, loneliness, depression, loss and violence) often need to be ’storied’ before resolution is possible.

Published by Innovative Resources 2002, new ed: 2005. Booklet authors: Russell Deal, Fiona Gardner & John Holton. Artist: Carolyn Marrone. Designer: Tim Lane,evocative water-colour images on cards 210 x 150mm. Full-colour cardboard box, 36-page booklet.

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These 75 original, diverse and eclectic photographs offer opportunities for people of all ages to reflect on their experiences. Here is a powerful conversation – stimulant for oiling the juice of imagination, memory and emotions.

Some of these full – colour images are poignant, some are heart – warming and others are tinged with humour. This highly interpretive tool can open up conversations, storytelling and creative writing about feelings, goals, and points of view.

Published by Innovative Resources 2007, 75 laminated, full – colour cards, 170 x 125mm, full – colour polypropylene box, 48 – page booklet. Booklet author: Russell Deal, Designer: Brent Seamer.

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By Deb Western

Creative writing teachers, counsellors, educators and personal journal keepers: here is a wonderful tool for creative self-development and self-expression.

A wide range of topics, comments, thought-provoking ideas and illustrations are suitable for application across a wide range of journalling styles.

Published by Innovative Resources 2003, 32 laminated, full-colour gate-folded cards, 75 x 300mm, polypropylene box, 44-page booklet guaranteed to get the creative juices flowing! Author: Deb Western, Illustrator: Sivan Debeljakovic.

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Anyone who spends time with young people can use Deep Speak to build rich conversations about some of life’s big questions–and some of the little quirky ones as well. This is an engaging and thought-provoking resource for educators, mental health workers, chaplains, youth workers and anyone employed in the juvenile justice system. Deep Speak is a set of 120 question cards, each one pertinent to the issues that absorb young people as they deal with relationships, identity, emotions, beliefs and values. To get the ball rolling there are also ‘openers’.

Published by Innovative Resources, 2006,120 laminated, full-colour, graphically exciting cards (112 x 94mm) in a 235 x 100 x 34mm full-colour tin, plus a 32-page booklet of suggestions to explore the transformational power of simple questions.

Author: Geoff Barker and Michelle Lane Jenner. Booklet author: Russell Deal, Designer: Brad Welsh.

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Meet 52 quirky, engaging, happy, sad, afraid, shy, joyful and just plain outrageous “stone” characters – characters who wear their feelings all over their not-so-stony faces. On the back of each card are three possible words to help build a vocabulary for describing the emotion expressed. Sometimes people interpret feelings very differently. For example, is the stone “purposeful” or “bossy” or…? You decide!

Published by Innovative Resources, 2003, 52 full-colour cards laminated, full-colour cards, 150 x 100mm, 2-part cardboard box, 44 page booklet. Booklet author: Russell Deal, Illustrator: Ray Bowler.

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Here is a set of cards based on original photographs that will inspire exploration of the importance of purpose and belonging in our everyday lives. This tool is not based on a particular theology or philosophy and can be used by people from all backgrounds. Very simple, very clever!

Published by Innovative Resources 2004, 48 laminated, full-colour cards, 140 x 140 mm, full-colour polypropylene box, 28-page booklet. Booklet author: Russell Deal, Designer: Brent Seamer.

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