New Book Series, KK and the Feeling Friends, Focuses on Feelings

Washington, D.C. (February 10, 2009)— A difficult task for parents just got a lot easier. That’s because a new book series, KK and the Feeling Friends™, helps children understand what feelings are and how to best communicate their feelings to others. The series encourages children to explore and express their feelings by identifying with 12 diverse Feeling Friends™ characters.

Karen Cuthrell (a.k.a. KK) co-created the Feeling Friends 15 years ago to help her daughter understand her feelings. Cuthrell came up with 12 loveable characters that personified a variety of emotions like panic, worry and shyness, which are often difficult for young children to express. Each endearing character, including Joey the Joy Bird and Griswald the Grumpy Grizzly, embodies an emotion and has a catchy theme song.

Meet the Feeling Friends is the first of thirteen books in the Feeling Friends series. Designed for pre- to beginning-readers, the book transports children to Feeling Free Island, a magical place where children are free to express their feelings in a world as vibrant as their own imaginations. Meet the Feeling Friends • MSRP $12.99

Journey to Feeling Free Island and join KK as she introduces each of the 12 Feeling Friends. Each friend reveals his or her identity through engaging rhymes and colorful illustrations.

Meet the Feeling Friends is available for purchase on Amazon.com. The remaining 12 books in the series, and a compilation audio CD of the character songs will be available in April 2009. Cuthrell will be presenting her concept at the National Head Start Association at its 36th Annual National Training Conference in Orlando, Florida April 27-May 2, 2009.

ABOUT KK AND FRIENDS
Author Karen Cuthrell (KK) co-created the Feeling Friends 15 years ago as a response to her young daughter’s challenges with expressing her feelings openly and honestly. What began as an interactive puppet show for preschoolers in the Metro DC area soon developed into a 13 book series and audio CD. KK and the Feeling Friends™ provides kids with the tools they’ll need to survive the big, wide world of unidentified and unexpressed feelings.

In its previous live show incarnation, Cuthrell has performed live concerts, Songs of The Feeling Friends, to over 5,000 children and their families. Children sang, danced, and interacted throughout the hour-long presentation. Cuthrell’s goal is to recreate those awe-inspiring moments in books, music, and a half-hour television program. That way, this breakthrough concept will be accessible to innumerable children and families. In addition, this concept has the stamp of approval from child psychiatrist Dr. Kevin Williams and educational psychologist Dr. Kathy Philyaw, both from the Washington area, who have reviewed the materials and believe that this program will truly enrich the lives of children.

For more information visit www.MeetTheFeelingFriends.com