The Flying Penguin

About the Book

The Flying Penguin is a delightful story about a penguin developing inner strength and confidence to manage adversity. The author utilizes architypes commonly associated with Jungian philosophy to represent trauma, strength, and perseverance. The story centers around Petya the penguin who is found abandoned and is forced to live in a foster tree. Petya is bullied and constantly reminded he does not fit in with the other birds. Masha is the evil villain who is attempting to harm Petya, but Petya has a secret skill unknown even to him that can save him. Children have enjoyed the story and parents, teachers, and mental health professionals have utilized the metaphor for entertainment and therapy.

About the Author

Mr. Bell earned an Educational Specialist degree in Agency Counseling and has extensive experience as a therapist and clinical supervisor. Working as a Licensed Professional Counselor and a Registered Play Therapist with children and families coping with trauma and abuse for over 40 years inspired the development of this story emphasizing strength and self-reliance. Working in rural Alabama with limited resources required creativity to form connections with children, and Mr. Bell began utilizing strategies that included interactive play and storytelling. These interventions were developed further during his work as a therapist at an acute inpatient children and adolescent mental health facility. In order to expand his world view and work with different cultures, he moved to rural Alaska where he lived and worked in a small, remote, Yupiik fishing village where the language of play was vital working with a dual language population. He has collectively served as the director of outpatient community behavioral health services in Alabama and Alaska, as well as the director of an adult, substance abuse facility for veterans recovering from PTSD.