About the author:
Lee S. Varon was born in Chicago and moved to Boston to attend college. She is a clinical social worker and a single parent. She has had personal experience with members of her own family who have substance use disorder. She wrote My Brother is Not a Monster to give voice to the many children who love someone dealing with this disease. She followed it up with her second children’s book, A Kids Book About Overdose, as a practical resource in the ongoing opioid crisis.

My Brother Is Not a Monster: A Story of Addiction and Recovery covers issues facing countless families today. It’s an illustrated narrative about a young girl who has a sibling with Substance Use Disorder.

It includes tips for parents/caregivers and young people, a glossary of terms, and resources. A workbook at the end helps children explore their thoughts and feelings about the subject and can serve as a way for their parents, caregivers, and counselors to begin having these tough conversations with young people.

About the Illustrator:
Alisha Monnin grew up in the small town of Minster, Ohio, where she read anything she could get her hands on. She now lives and works in Atlanta, Georgia, where she can often be found playing with her tailless cat named Beignet, hunting for the best cup of tea in town, and waving hello to other people’s dogs.

A Kids Book About Overdose lays out simple, digestible facts for kids to learn about drug overdoses with a trusted adult. It explains to children how a drug overdose can happen, what it may look like, and what you can do if someone you know experiences an overdose.

Many adults might want to shield kids from this difficult topic. But not talking about it may increase their confusion, worry, and anxiety. This book is an entry point to having this conversation in an age appropriate way.