My Big Fat Secret: How Jenna Takes Control of Her Emotions and Eating

This is a book for overweight children, especially girls, who engage in emotional eating. Its message is that they CAN change this habit and learn new ways to deal with their feelings besides relying on food.

Key Points:
-Uses a realistic fictional character—a pre-teen overweight girl who relies on emotional eating—to present realistic emotional issues.
-Written in a journal format that helps readers relate to the struggles and feelings of the main character.
-Provides information about different strategies that young people can use to cope with their feelings and stress instead of emotional eating.

Features:
-Deals with the real-life issues that overweight children face (their inner struggles as well as difficulties with peers and others).
-Includes tips for parents and professionals.
-Written by a practicing school counselor who could not find a suitable book for her clients.

Audience:
-Girls ages 8–12, parents of girls who are emotional eaters; school psychologists; counselors/therapists; teachers; nutritionists; and all libraries and bookstores.

Market Notes:
-The market for this book is vast. Child obesity is a national epidemic in the U.S. This book is written specifically for pre-adolescent girls who are “emotionally overeating.”