Q&A with Deana Plaskon

 

 

 

 

 

 

Deana Plaskon is the author of the new children's picture book Bella and Bird Explore Anger. She is also an educator and a mental health expert. 

 

Q: What inspired you to write Bella and Bird Explore Anger, and how did you create your characters Bella, Bird, and Henry?

 

A: My book series, Bella and Bird the Emotion Explorers, was inspired by my real-life horse, Bella, who survived Hurricane Ian in 2022, and Bird, her wisecracking sidekick. Bird was inspired by the barn swallows who make their homes in Bella’s stall, weaving bits of her long, beautiful hair into their nests.

 

Bella’s journey was remarkable. She was transported from Southern California to our tiny island in Southwest Florida just one week before Hurricane Ian hit; arriving earlier than expected! I adopted her to be a partner in my therapy practice; never imagining that a hurricane and a horse would spark a children’s book series about emotional intelligence!

 

In the aftermath of the storm, as I reflected on my own emotions and the challenges, I started thinking about the children and adults around me and wanted to write about Bella’s journey and survival.

 

The story originally centered on Bella’s cross-country journey and her courage during the hurricane. But after conversations with my editor, the focus shifted from Bella’s physical travels to the emotional journeys we all face, whether in the wake of a storm or in the everyday “storms of life.”

 

Bella became the gentle, grounding guide; Bird became the wisecracking comic relief, and Henry came to life as a reflection of all children (and adults) who wrestle with anger. After all, everyone feels angry sometimes and Henry shows us not just the messy, sometimes unhelpful ways we express it, but also the healthier paths we can take.

 

I wrote four books in the series - starting with Bella and Bird Explore Anger - with each book exploring one core emotion (anger, sadness, happiness and fear), weaving a fun, relatable storyline with lifelong skills and tools children can use to build emotional intelligence and resilience.

 

Q: How would you describe the dynamic among the three characters?

 

A: The dynamic among Bella, Bird, and Henry is in blending fun, relatable storytelling with research-based therapeutic tools. As a mom, educator, and licensed clinical mental health counselor, I draw on my experiences and expertise to create stories that not only entertain but also teach children how to understand and manage their emotions and feelings in healthy ways.

 

Bella takes on the role of the calm, wise guide (inspired by my work as an equine psychotherapist), gently helping Henry explore his feelings while offering practical tools to manage them. Bird, her wisecracking sidekick, keeps things lighthearted with humor because laughter makes even tough conversations easier.

 

And then there’s Henry, the 8-year-old boy in Bella and Bird Explore Anger. He storms into the pasture furious because he can’t have his favorite pie (I’d be upset, too, though for me, it would be brownies!). Kids and adults see themselves in Henry when his frustration boils over, like when he throws his truck, nearly missing his sister, only to land it in the dog’s bowl. Oh, Henry!

 

What makes their dynamic so powerful is the balance: Henry shows us the real, messy side of big feelings, while Bella and Bird model how to talk about those feelings openly and honestly (sprinkled with humor, too!). Together, they create a safe, playful space where children can see emotional intelligence in action. It’s like having trusted friends come alive on the pages of a book.

 

Q: What do you think Lea Marie Ravotti’s illustrations add to the book?

 

A: Lea’s illustrations add an inviting sense of peaceful calm to my books. In the anger book, the pastel greens bring a gentle, tranquil calm to the story while inviting readers into the story. 

 

The beauty behind the creation of the books is how Lea and my art director, Semadar, worked tirelessly by meshing a big horse, Bella, a very tiny bird, Bird, and an 8-year-old boy along with the wide pasture views. This takes tremendous effort and insight into the story and drawings.

 

And wait until you see the next book in the series, Bella and Bird Explore Sadness! This book introduces 8-year-old Molly, who is sitting under a tree in the pasture sad and feeling gloomy. Bella and Bird teach Molly how to tend to sadness. The book’s scenes are done in Fall and beautifully capture the orange, reds, greens, and browns that decorate each page. Available late November 2025!

 

Q: What do you hope kids take away from the books?

 

A: My hope is that each time children (and even grown-ups) read the Bella and Bird the Emotion Explorers series, a seed of emotional intelligence is planted. Through simple, practical skills woven into the stories, I want kids to gain skills they can use throughout their lives to better understand and manage their emotions.

 

I also hope they learn that feeling angry, or any big emotion, isn’t “bad.” What matters is how we respond to those feelings, and that’s something we can practice and improve.

 

Most of all, I want kids to see that it’s okay to talk openly and honestly about emotions. We don’t need to hide or ignore them. We also don’t want to over-coddle kids or sweep emotions and feelings under the rug; we can face them together and grow stronger and more resilient.

 

Q: What are you working on now? 

 

A: I’m currently working with Lea on the illustrations for the third book in the series, Bella and Bird Explore Happiness. The story is already written and now coming to life through her art. In this book, readers will meet Piper, an 8-year-old girl who discovers that while we can’t be happy all the time, we can learn how to cultivate happiness in our daily lives. Available Winter 2026.

 

The fourth book, Bella and Bird Explore Fear, is also written and in the editing stage. In this powerful story, readers will meet Charlie, an 8-year-old boy who experiences the very common emotion of fear. Bella and Bird gently guide Charlie in learning how to understand, face, and navigate fear. There’s so much good stuff in this one! Available Spring 2026.

 

Beyond the books, I’m also developing my SOAR with Emotional Intelligence awareness campaign. At the heart of my series is the belief that emotional intelligence should be nurtured in children from an early age. SOAR is a simple, yet impactful initiative designed for homes, schools, libraries, and communities to foster emotional intelligence while uniting people around awareness, kindness, and resilience.

 

What Does SOAR Mean?

 

S – Self: understanding yourself and your emotions

O – Others: recognizing and respecting the feelings of others

A – Awareness: paying attention to what we feel and why

R – Resilience: bouncing back when life gets hard

 

Together, these four pillars give children a strong foundation in emotional intelligence with skills that will support them for a lifetime.

 

Q: Anything else we should know?

 

A: My book series stands apart from other books on emotions and feelings because it weaves open, honest conversations into each story while equipping both children and adults with practical skills to build emotional intelligence.

 

The greatest gift grown-ups can give children is to read and reread these stories together while modeling the skills they teach. In many ways, these books are just as much for parents, teachers, and caregivers as they are for kids.

 

By planting seeds of emotional intelligence, we empower children with meaningful skills to understand and manage their emotions. And when children grow in this way, it creates the foundation for a kinder, healthier world for all of us.

 

--Interview with Deborah Kalb. This Q&A was conducted in partnership with Bella and Bird Books. Enter this giveaway for a chance to win one of 10 signed hardcover editions of Bella and Bird Explore Anger! One grand prize winner will also take home a unique, handcrafted Bella and Bird book pillow.