Seb's Story: Understanding Parental Substance Use Through the Eyes of a Child - Paperback

by Kelly Curtis-Hughes (Author), Carol Anderson (Illustrator)

Seb's Story: A Gentle Path Through Adoption, Loss, and Healing

"Seb's Story" follows a young adopted child who bravely asks a difficult but important question: what happened to his birth mother? Through an age-appropriate and compassionate lens, Seb learns about addiction-not as something frightening or shameful, but as an illness that affected his birth mother's ability to care for him safely. He comes to understand a powerful truth: her struggles were never his fault, and her choice was rooted in love-the desire for him to be safe, nurtured, and supported by his forever family.

The story gently normalizes complex emotional experiences, validating that it is okay for children like Seb to feel love, confusion, sadness, and even longing for their birth parent, all at the same time. It creates space for honesty while prioritizing emotional safety and reassurance.

Developed from the perspective of an early childhood mental health and play therapist, this book responds to a critical gap in therapeutic children's literature. There is a significant need for developmentally appropriate resources that help clinicians, caregivers, and educators explain parental substance use to children ages three to six in a way that aligns with trauma-informed care.

In the context of the ongoing opioid crisis and the increasing number of children entering foster care and adoptive homes, "Seb's Story" offers a timely, practical, and compassionate tool. It supports healing conversations, strengthens attachment, and empowers children to make sense of their stories with clarity, security, and hope.