I have an amazing story to share! I am a child psychiatrist, poet and artist. The story I wrote at a Therapeutic Arts Alliance of Manhattan workshop for my own healing from early childhood trauma, has become a beautifully illustrated book, Bird That Wants to Fly, and has inspired a children's opera!
As if this were not amazing enough, the story is narrated by actor Danny Glover! The book is a featured resource of Trauma Informed Oregon and SMART (Start Making a Reader Today). There is also an educational curriculum companion guide.
The story is about a sad bird who, because of adverse childhood experiences ("snowstorms, rainstorms, blizzards, freezing rain, children with rocks, men with shotguns and birds crashing into each other"), has decided to walk instead of fly. The bird is depressed, isolated, hopeless and also has PTSD symptoms.
She meets a magical horse who takes the time to truly care and listen and, in doing so, helps the bird remember who she truly is, and to spread her wings and fly again.
The opera was composed by Michael Raphael and is performed by Trilogy: An Opera Company. The score's sound and lyric is just beautiful! The story narration and full opera have been picked up by Roven Records and the distributor is Naxos.
Hear Bird singing at http://www.audible.com/pd/Self...Audiobook/B0193PKJD0.
Danny Glover's poignant and inspiring narration of the complete story is at http://www.rovenrecords.com/#!BIRD TITLE/zoom/ci6c/dataItem-ik8ew4r5. If the page does not open, google Roven Records and click on the book cover under children's music. This will take you to a link where you can hear the story and sample music.
You can view the full opera on my webpage: http://www.artsmedicineforheal...nd-more.html or on the Arts Medicine for Health and Healing YouTube channel, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rFZt69uBpnc.
The book ends with a writing and drawing prompt and encourages the reader to spread their wings and fly! The book is available on Amazon and other venues in print, and there is also a Kindle version. The narration and opera are available at Audible.com, iTunes and other sites.
The book and opera easily lend themselves to arts and healing workshops. The book is being translated into Spanish, German and Japanese.
If you would like to receive a donated book, please email Dr. Kaufman at artsmedicine@hotmail.com and indicate your organization and mailing address. If you have ideas on how to utilize the book, music and/or opera at your agency and/or within your community, please let me know. I very much enjoy collaborating. The opera can also be done as a children's musical theater piece or puppet show.
Bird That Wants to Fly is such a creative way to bring attention to ACES and offer healing to children and adults who have experienced trauma. Please contact Dr. Kaufman at artsmedicine@hotmail.com for more information.
Thank you!
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