Former Harvard and Stanford Sleep Doctor Releases Picture Book

By: Christina Mancuso Feb. 19, 2014

Nighttime fears are extremely common in children and yet most parents are unaware. Fear of the dark is among the most frequent of those fears listed by kids. Dr. Roger S. Smith, a board certified physician and sleep doctor, announced today the release of a beautifully illustrated story that may help in a playful and adventurous way.

The Story of The Dark is a picture book about two young children who accidently discover The Dark, a benevolent and rather shy entity, while searching for their dog. The children's exploration, creative thinking and bravery are rewarded with accomplishment, confidence, and a greater comfort about the world around them. Although the story happens to weave many years of knowledge about childhood fears into its pages, this picture book is designed to be entertaining for kids of all ages.

Childhood nighttime fears like fear of the dark are often considered to be a normal part of child development. However, the effects of persistent fear are less certain and may not be harmless. At the very least, fear is clearly uncomfortable.

Research also shows that parents are most often unaware of their child's nighttime fears. It's not the parents' fault. Very little has been done to educate parents about nighttime fears. Then add the relatively common occurrence of bedtime struggles that happen in childhood and it can make falling asleep a nightly challenge for many youngsters. This beautifully illustrated picture book adventure may help in a playful way. Several points in the book promote critical thinking and discussion. But kids just seem to like the story.

A portion of each book sale goes directly to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital in Memphis, TN, and/or to Packard Children's Hospital at Stanford University in Palo Alto, CA. Why? -because these institutions are leading by example in the world of research and patient care for sick children, and these kids need all the love they can get.

Ages: 4-8 y/o (approx.)

Pages: 42 (similar to a Dr. Seuss picture book)

Now Available: Amazon, US and European bookstores, iPad, Kindle, in soft and hard cover.

iPad: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/the-story-of-the-dark/id791334814?mt=11

Amazon:http://www.amazon.com/Story-Dark-Roger-S-Smith/dp/149374125X/ref

For more information: www.thestoryofthedark.com

About the Author:

Roger S. Smith is a board certified physician and sleep doctor who has practiced clinical medicine for 25 years in multiple specialty areas. He has held simultaneous medical staff positions at Stanford and Harvard universities teaching other doctors about sleep disorders and entrepreneurship.

About the Illustrator:

Chris Beatrice's award winning artwork has earned a well known client list including Simon and Schuster, MacMillan, Scholastic, Disney/Hyperion, Penguin, Random House, and many others. More about Chris can be found at chrisbeatrice.com.


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