Oscar’s Odyssey

By Lyndy Marais

Now more than ever, children need tools to help build the resilience and self-confidence necessary to cope with our ever-changing world.

Join seven-year-old Oscar, a likable, relatable, and honest character, as he enjoys an adventure-filled odyssey, learning important life lessons on the way. Come along on his journey as he visits the aquarium, deals with a bully, rides a horse for the first time and hunts for Grandma’s missing llama.

During weekly visits with his wise Grandma, they discuss, explore, and find practical answers to some of the challenges he is facing growing up. Through heart-to-heart conversation, Grandma shares the importance of showing gratitude and kindness, and helps him acquire the skills necessary to cope when faced with difficult circumstances. In so doing, she helps Oscar discover helpful tools to store in his toolbox of life.

These interactive stories are written to make suggestions, invite investigation, and encourage discussion.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Austin Macauley Publishers
• Release date: Jan 5, 2024
• ISBN: 9781035821075

Lyndy Marais

Lyndy Marais was born in Zimbabwe and raised in South Africa, where she studied education, majoring in English and drama. She taught in primary schools for more than 20 years. Lyndy has four children and four grandchildren with her husband, Richard. She attended several counselling and parenting courses, which in part provided the inspiration for her writing. Lyndy currently lives in a coastal suburb in Sydney with her husband, making frequent visits to her daughters and grandchildren in New Zealand.

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About the Author

Lyndy Marais was born in Zimbabwe and raised in South Africa, where she studied education, majoring in English and drama. She taught in primary schools for more than 20 years. Lyndy has four children and four grandchildren with her husband, Richard. She attended several counselling and parenting courses, which in part provided the inspiration for her writing. Lyndy currently lives in a coastal suburb in Sydney with her husband, making frequent visits to her daughters and grandchildren in New Zealand.

Dedication

My precious family, who are my inspiration.

Copyright Information ©

Lyndy Marais 2024

The right of Lyndy Marais to be identified as author of this work has been asserted by the author in accordance with sections 77 and 78 of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the prior permission of the publishers.

Any person who commits any unauthorised act in relation to this publication may be liable to criminal prosecution and civil claims for damages.

A CIP catalogue record for this title is available from the British Library.

ISBN 9781035821051 (Paperback)

ISBN 9781035821068 (Hardback)

ISBN 9781035821075 (ePub e-book)

www.austinmacauley.co.uk

First Published 2024

Austin Macauley Publishers Ltd®

1 Canada Square

Canary Wharf

London

E14 5AA

Acknowledgment

I would like to thank my dear mum for encouraging my love of literature, as well as my beloved husband for his ongoing enthusiastic support and for being my most helpful critic. My heartfelt gratitude goes to my wonderful children for their generous feedback and encouragement, as well as to my grandchildren, who inspired me to write these stories.

I am hugely grateful to Austin Macauley for believing in the value of these stories and for their encouragement and help in bringing Oscar to life.

Story Motivation

Growing up in today’s world can be tough. Children must deal with the usual challenges of coping with schoolwork, sport, navigating the complex world of friendships, peer pressure and bullies. Add to that increased use of technology (including social media), the aftereffects of COVID restrictions, rising rates of family issues such as divorce, and many children are left struggling to cope without the necessary life skills to deal with these threatening and unpredictable issues.

Now more than ever, they need the tools to build the resilience and self-confidence necessary to cope with our ever-changing world.

By dealing with self-esteem issues in young children, it is hoped that skills mastered and lessons learned will continue to provide help in the challenging teenage years.

With this in mind, Oscar has been introduced – a likable, relatable, and honest character, and the everyday events in his life. Oscar is a typical 7-year-old boy who lives at home with his mum and dad.

Each Tuesday and Thursday afternoon, he visits his wise, loving grandma. Scenarios and situations arise where important life lessons can be learned, explored and applied. Issues such as bullying, sibling rivalry and others common to children in their early years of schooling (7–10 years of age) have been introduced. Appropriate, helpful life skills are then recommended in the form of wise advice given by Grandma towards the end of each story.

It is suggested that children read the stories together with a parent or other close adult. Because they are interactive, with parental prompt questions or questions for discussion supplied at the end of each story, a platform is provided for open discussion. Each story can be read and discussed in one sitting. The stories can be reread, later, when the need arises, particularly once readers know the content and relevant tool.

Suggested activities and projects encouraging gratitude, resilience and the building of self-esteem are recommended as ongoing reinforcement.

Stories are written with many details to encourage young readers to visualise not only the characters and their surroundings but also the feelings