The Official Joy Berry Website
Helping Kids Help Themselves
become responsible, happy, and successful
NONGRADED
(Scroll down for additional information about the Nongraded series and books.)
THE CLASSIC STATUS OF THE NONGRADED BOOKS
The NONGRADED books include the GOOD ANSWERS TO TOUGH QUESTIONS 10-book series, the DANGER ZONES 3-book series, the EVERY KID’S GUIDE TO SAVING THE EARTH individual title, and the TAKING THE SCARY OUT OF HALLOWEEN individual title.
These NONGRADED books are a part of the collection of kids’ self-help books and other materials called THE JOY BERRY CLASSICS.
The purpose of the JOY BERRY CLASSICS is to help children, from the beginning of their lives through pre-adolescence, become responsible:
for themselves,
in their relationships with others, and
in the way that they relate to the things in their environment.
The classic look and feel of the NONGRADED books is due to the restoration of the vintage artwork from the original publications that is now featured in the current NONGRADED books.
THE GOOD ANSWERS TO TOUGH QUESTIONS
THE PURPOSE
The 10 GOOD ANSWERS TO TOUGH QUESTIONS nongraded books help turn traumatic experiences into positive experiences that can help children grow and become better people.
No matter how hard one tries to shield a child from trauma, it is a given that every child will encounter traumatic experiences sometime during childhood. Whether experienced directly or indirectly, children need to be equipped to relate to trauma appropriately to ensure that it will not cause permanent emotional damage. Each GOOD ANSWERS TO TOUGH QUESTIONS book teaches children everything they need to know about a particular trauma in order to survive and grow from it. The GOOD ANSWERS TO TOUGH QUESTIONS books also teach that, in and of itself, trauma is not positive or negative. Instead, it is how one handles trauma that makes it positive or negative.
THE GUIDELINES FOR USE
It is recommended that the NONGRADED books be presented on an as-needed basis.
However, In order to derive the maximum benefits from the NONGRADED books it is recommended that adults use the books in the following ways:
Phase One
Adult Resource: The adult reads the books for information, insights, and encouragement.
Phase Two
Adult-Child Activity: The adult reads the books with the child and encourages the child to question or comment on the subject matter.
Phase Three
Independent Activity: The child is encouraged to use the books independently of the adult.
Phase Four
Reference Material: The books are placed in the child’s library along with other resource materials and used whenever specific situations need to be addressed.
THE GOOD ANSWERS TO TOUGH QUESTIONS BOOKS
Good Answers to Tough Questions About Dependence and Separation discusses dependency and explains how to handle separation anxiety.
Good Answers to Tough Questions About Divorce defines many of the common terms associated with divorce and teaches what can be done to minimize and overcome the negative effects of divorce.
Good Answers to Tough Questions About Stepfamilies discusses the challenges encountered while being part of a stepfamily and shows how these challenges can be turned into opportunities for personal, as well as social, growth.
Good Answers to Tough Questions About Change and Moving discusses the discomfort often caused by life changes, such as moving, and teaches how these changes, if processed properly, can have a positive, rather than a negative effect.
Good Answers to Tough Questions About Weight Problems and Eating Disorders discusses weight problems and how they can be resolved sensibly without succumbing to eating disorders.
Good Answers to Tough Questions About Substance Abuse discusses the motivations for using illegal substances, what risks are inherent in using them, and what needs to be done to avoid substance abuse.
Good Answers to Tough Questions About Physical Disabilities defines physical disabilities and explains how they can help determine a disabled individual’s uniqueness and special purpose in life.
Good Answers to Tough Questions About Traumatic Experiences distinguishes the difference between self-inflicted trauma and no-fault trauma and teaches how to handle both so that they can lead to positive outcomes.
Good Answers to Tough Questions About Disasters discusses both natural and manmade disasters and teaches how to prepare for and respond to specific disasters.
Good Answers to Tough Questions About Death defines the most common terms and rituals associated with death and discusses the spectrum of beliefs about dying, death, and life after death.
DANGER ZONES
PURPOSE
The 3 DANGER ZONES nongraded books equip and empower children to help keep themselves safe.
Every child’s best defense against being neglected and abused, sexually abused, or kidnapped is himself or herself. However, in order to keep themselves safe from these dangers, children must learn about them and learn how to avoid them. They must also learn exactly what they should do in the event they encounter a danger. The more a child knows about the DANGER ZONES, the less likely he or she is to become a victim of them.
DANGER ZONES BOOKS
Abuse and Neglect defines what constitutes abuse and neglect and explains what children can do when they or others are being abused or neglected.
Sexual Abuse defines sexual abuse and explains how it can be avoided or how it can be handled if it should occur.
Kidnapping explains how kidnapping can occur and explains how it can be avoided or how it can be handled if it should occur.
THE EVERY KIDS GUIDE TO SAVING THE EARTH
PURPOSE
The EVERY KIDS GUIDE TO SAVING THE EARTH nongraded book educates children about the environment and conservation and encourages them to become responsible inhabitants of the earth.
EVERY KIDS GUIDE TO SAVING THE EARTH teaches children about the perils that threaten the earth’s survival and well-being. It also provides concrete ways, including many fun and exciting activities, in which every child can help prevent the earth’s demise.
MINE & YOURS
PURPOSE
In 1946, the United Nations Commission on Human Rights, headed by Eleanor Roosevelt, created the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The ideals compiled by the commission became beacons of dignity and hope for people all over the world.
Years later, a declaration that pertains specifically to the human rights of children was codified in the 1989 Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC or UNCRC). The CRC is a human rights treaty which sets out the civil, political, economic, social, health, and cultural rights of children. The Convention defines a child as any human being under the age of eighteen, unless the age of majority is attained earlier under national legislation.
Because the CRC is a compilation of contributions from many individuals and committees, it is thought to be “a convoluted document that is inaccessible to lay people.” Consequently, Amnesty International and the United Nations asked Joy Berry to translate the CRC into a self-help book that could be easily read and understood by children.
Joy responded to the request by thoroughly researching the CRC and presenting the thirteen human rights for children in a self-help book for kids titled MINE & YOURS.
Later, on behalf of Amnesty International and the United Nations, Joy created Kids for Global Peace (KFGP), a nonprofit organization dedicated to teaching children about their human rights as put forth in the CRC. Additional materials that support MINE & YOURS can be found at www.kidsforglobalpeace.com.
Among these resources is The Junk Room Band’s Gig Goes Global, a graphic novel that presents the thirteen human rights for kids in a fun and entertaining way.
THE JUNKROOM BAND'S GIG GOES GLOBAL
PURPOSE
After completing the MINE & YOURS project, Joy Berry, on behalf of Amnesty International and the United Nations, created Kids for Global Peace (aka KFGP) a non-profit organization dedicated to teaching children about their human rights as put forth in the CRC. This organization produced the website www.kidsforglobalpeace.com and other materials that support the MINE & YOURS book.
Among the materials created by KFGP is “The Junkroom Band’s Gig Goes Global, a graphic novel featuring the JRB that puts forth the 13 Human Rights for Kids in a fun and entertaining way. The graphic novel’s storyline is as follows:
When the JRB is offered $2,000 to headline the Community Center’s final day of its Celebration of Human Rights Week, they are over the moon. But they come crashing back to earth when they discover that they will need to write all of the songs they will be performing. Will they be able to get enough songs ready in time for the big show? Or will they lose out on the highest paying gig that they have ever been offered?
In the end, the band members embark on an unpredictable up-and-down journey that brings them into a personal understanding of human rights and leads to an unexpected turn of events that will catapult them into success beyond their wildest dreams.
(A TV network executive was at the performance and was so impressed that he offered to turn the band’s songs into 2-minute TV interstitials.)
Actual photographs depicting the various human rights abuses are interspersed among the cartoon art in the graphic novel in order to ensure that the seriousness of the subject matter does not get lost in all of the fun and humor that makes the graphic novel entertaining and engaging.
A concise summary of the important information regarding Human Rights for Kids is included on the inside and back covers of the graphic novel.
TAKING THE SCARY OUT OF HALLOWEEN
PURPOSE
The TAKING THE SCARY OUT OF HALLOWEEN nongraded book is designed to ensure that Halloween is a fun and safe holiday in every way.
TAKING THE SCARY OUT OF HALLOWEEN features safety tips that are fun to implement while keeping kids safe. The books also includes myriad fun and engaging activities related to costumes, masks, party ideas, yummy treats and much more.
