DECEMBER 2 • 2021 | 25

E

ver since the pandemic began and
lives have been uprooted in almost
every area, many people’s anxiety
has reached unprecedented levels, includ-
ing children.
Children now have one more resource
to help them combat anxiety, with Julie
Binder Reynolds’ new picture book, The
Warrior Backpack.
The book is about a boy named Alex
who feels nervous about going to school.
His mother helps identify his anxiety and
pull outs four anxiety-busting strategies
from an invisible backpack. The methods
are all rooted in cognitive behavioral ther-
apy.
“Reading books about characters that
face the same challenges is especially help-
ful for children. It’s called bibliotherapy. It’s
not as personal as when kids are talking
about themselves,” Reynolds said.
The book also contains a resource sec-
tion for parents and a workbook journal
and daily check in for kids to keep track of
their thoughts and feelings.
As a child, Reynolds grew up in

Birmingham, attended Groves High School
and University of Michigan. Her family
attended Temple Beth El and she spent
summers at Camp Tanuga.
“I did the whole Detroit thing … My
mom, Linda Deutsch, and siblings still live
there, and I visit frequently,” Reynolds said.
“I still consider it home.”
After graduation, Reynolds relocated
to Denver, Colorado, equipped with a
bachelor’s degree in elementary educa-
tion, a master’s in school counseling and
post-master’s degree in counseling. A
certified licensed professional counselor,
Reynolds worked in schools for 15 years
before starting her own small private prac-
tice.
“This provided me with a very deep
understanding of the struggles kids face
today,” said Reynolds.
During the pandemic, Reynolds, who
has a passion for helping kids live their
best life and who missed working with stu-
dents in schools, took her knowledge and
experience to online marketing and social
media. She began making TikTok videos.

“It sounds weird, but it’s true; TikTok
made me do this book!” She’s only
half-joking; it was through her TikTok vid-
eos that she saw what was most needed.
“I was doing a lot of TikTok videos and
whenever I did one on anxiety tips and
strategies, I got tremendous feedback.
Everyone loved it,” Reynolds said. She
decided to write her tips in an easy-to-read
book kids could refer to whenever they
needed it.
She didn’t know how to make a book,
though. TikTok came to the rescue again!
Reynolds watched a TikTok video on how
easy it was to make a book on Amazon
and decided to forge ahead.
Her own education and real-life expe-
rience with the many students she had
counseled over the years served as the
writing backdrop. As for an illustrator,
Reynolds turned to her daughter, Sophia,
now 11, who was eager to be part of what
was quickly becoming a family project.
Sophia, then 10, used the Procreate App,
an iPad app that allows even a young artist
to sketch, paint and edit with professional
results.
Reynolds’ youngest daughter, Sloane,
now 9, also wanted to contribute. She
added a small hidden animal on each page
for kids to find, adding a dimension and
turning the book into a game. Reynolds’
husband, Steve, also offered advice and
support.
“The writing and art didn’t take long.
The complicated part was figuring out the
logistics of publishing, getting it format-
ted and all the behind-the-scenes issues,”
Reynolds said.
The book was published in August 2021
and quickly received rave reviews. Within
just one week, it earned “No. 1 new release
best seller” in three different categories.
Most heartwarming is the effusive
praise the book has received from parents
and school therapists alike. One woman’s
review on Amazon said she bought the
book for her daughter, but admitted she
was planning to use the simple strategies
herself, too. Parents have stopped Reynolds
in the street to share how The Warrior
Backpack helped reduce their children’s
anxiety about attending school.
Reynolds is thrilled to hear that her
book is helping kids. “That’s exactly why I
created it,” she said.

New picture book helps kids battle anxiety.
‘The Warrior Backpack’

ROCHEL BURSTYN CONTRIBUTING WRITER

COURTESY OF JULIE REYNOLDS

Julie Reynolds
and her daughters
Sophie and Sloane