A Kitty Named Chicky

On a dark and stormy night, a tiny kitten is separated from his mother. He hides under a bush, waiting anxiously for his mother to return but she never does. He is cold, frightened, confused, and desperately calling for out in hopes of finding her again. With each lightning strike, and rumble of thunder he grows more anxious, and hopeless.When a kind stranger finds him, Chicky is brought into a world of warmth and safety... but his fear doesn’t disappear overnight. On dark stormy nights he is transported to that terrifying night, and he once again feels like a lost, frightened kitten. He hides somewhere dark in fear and prays for the storm to pass. It becomes difficult for his body to distinguish between safe sounds like a vacuum and threatening sounds like thunder. His heart beats fast and his instinct to hide once again kicks in. Despite the safety on a warm and loving home, building trust and a sense of safety takes time.A Kitty Named Chicky is a tender, deeply moving story about healing after trauma, finding safety, and learning to trust again. Through love, patience, and understanding, Chicky discovers that it’s okay to be scared, and that comfort is always close by. Through his healing process he learns to love the outdoors and even finds lightning storms to be somewhat exciting (as long as his new friend is patting his back).This true story has been adapted for children navigating anxiety, fear, or change. It reassures young readers that healing is possible, and that it is okay to not be okay. It teaches that leaning on our support network like friends and family can be a powerful way to get through difficult times.Each illustration in this book has been lovingly painted using acrylic paints, and acrylic paint pens, and the story was based on my real-life kitten named Chicky, as he navigates life with his previous trauma.