Franklin Fox and The Order of Things

What if your brain told you that everything had to be just right?Franklin Fox likes things in order. His books belong in the right places. His things need to feel just right. And when a worried thought gets stuck in his mind, Franklin sometimes feels like he has to check, fix, repeat, or ask again-just to make the uncomfortable feeling go away.But the relief never seems to last.With the help of the kind and wise Mrs. Owl, Franklin begins to understand something important: his thoughts are not commands.In Franklin Fox and the Order of Things, children are introduced to obsessive-compulsive thoughts and behaviors in a gentle, age-appropriate way. As Franklin practices tolerating uncertainty, resisting the urge to make everything perfect, and allowing uncomfortable feelings to pass, he discovers that he-not OCD-gets to decide what he does.Along the way, children learn practical skills and reassuring reminders, including: - recognizing when OCD is making a rule- practicing "Maybe. Maybe not." when the brain demands certainty- understanding that uncomfortable does not mean dangerous- riding the Worry Wave- practicing "good enough" instead of perfection- asking for support without repeatedly seeking reassurance- using grounding and coping skills- learning that progress does not have to be perfectMost importantly, Franklin discovers that there is nothing wrong with enjoying order, routines, or things being neat. The goal isn't to change who he is. It's to help him recognize the difference between "I want to" and "OCD says I have to."Filled with colorful illustrations, relatable examples, therapeutic coping tools, and resource pages for continued practice, Franklin Fox and the Order of Things can be used by parents, caregivers, counselors, therapists, educators, and other helping professionals to begin conversations about OCD and anxiety with children.Because life doesn't have to feel perfectly certain to be safe, meaningful, and good.Franklin can be wonderfully imperfect-and so can you.