With Star Ship Reviews, our goal is to bring attention to some of the wonderful independent authors and illustrators out there. For this week's entry, we'll be looking at "River and the Pain Monster" Written by Maureen Bellavia and Illustrated by Robyn Lightwalker.
River and the Pain Monster Maureen Bellavia
The Artists:
Maureen Bellavia is a Physiotherapist, retiring in 2024, who resides with her family in Ontario, Canada. She has always been fascinated with pain and the variables that influence it, on both a personal and professional level. Using Acceptance and Commitment therapy (ACT) along with other lifestyle modifications (diet, yoga, deep breathing, counseling, various outpatient therapies) has helped her manage painful experiences and helped her become a better clinician. In her spare time, she enjoys doing yoga, working out, hiking, playing pickleball, dabbling in photography and spending time with friends and family.
Robyn Lightwalker as a full time artist for the past decade, Robyn has fully dedicated herself to her art. Everywhere she goes she is inspired by the world around her and the beings she meets. Illustration is just one of her numerous artistic pursuits. She has illustrated children’s books, comics, board games, album covers and more. She also paints large murals and sculptures. Robyn struggles with her own pain monster- in the form of wrist pain- which makes it difficult to make art sometimes, so she relates closely with the themes in the book. Robyn worked for over a year on the detailed illustrations in the book. She hopes this book can inspire people to come to terms with their own monsters in whatever form they take and find beauty in the world around them.
The Story:
"This heartwarming tale, based on Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) principles, is perfect for young readers, especially those with chronic pain. Join River, the once cheerful otter, on a whirlwind adventure in “River and the Pain Monster.” Once an adventurous otter, River’s world is turned upside down when visited by the mysterious Pain Monster. In time, River learns to stop fighting the “Tug of War” game, face their fears, and stand up to the Pain Monster. Using mindfulness and acceptance, River realizes they can live a happy, active life, even with the Pain Monster nearby. This heartwarming tale, based on Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) principles, is perfect for young readers, especially those with chronic pain."
The Review:
River and the Pain Monster is a really fun story with a strong educational element built into it.
It begins by introducing us to River, an otter who loves to run and hide, and even slide. That is until an unexpected visitor arrives, the Pain Monster. It starts to have an impact on River's life, keeping them from doing all of the things they love. Finally, River stands up to the Pain Monster in a Tug of War. River explains that they're no longer scared, and refuses to let the Pain Monster control their life. They ultimately decide to go back to living their life of fun in the sun. I feel like the story will serve as a wonderful inspiration to children dealing with chronic pain and an effective tool for those learning about the different ways they can battle the Pain Monster in their own lives. The book also provides a number of resources at the back that Maureen found useful in crafting the story.
Robyn's illustrations are rich and full of detail. They really help keep the audience engaged and add so much to the story.
The Mini Interview:
To wrap things up, we've asked Maureen to answer three quick questions for us!
What was your inspiration for the story?
The inspiration came from a health scare I had a few years ago. I had to take time off as a physiotherapist, and I was not feeling well mentally or physically. I had taken an Acceptance and Commitment therapy (ACT) course for chronic pain prior to this event (for my patients) and started using these concepts to help me cope with what I was going through. It really hit me how scary it must be for young people going through painful experiences and chronic pain. My goal was to write a story that could help children open up about their painful experiences with adults who are familiar with ACT principles.
What was your favorite book growing up?
My favorite book when I was young was "A Wrinkle in Time" by Madeleine L'Engle. It was amazing to read about Meg, Charles Wallace, and Calvin's adventures through time, overcoming so many obstacles. It was magical. I should probably read it again!
What piece of advice would you give to aspiring children’s authors?
My advice is to talk about your ideas with as many people as you can and don't overthink it! I was pleasantly surprised to discover that many of my friends, family, and acquaintances knew people in the publishing industry or had written a book themselves! Their knowledge and resources were invaluable, so don't be afraid to ask for help.
The Links:
If you'd like to grab your own copy of the book, it can be purchased here:
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Cheers,
-JE
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