🔍Sneak Peek
🫂 For Kids, Parents & Caregivers
💖 Open Your Heart to Possibilities
💖 Open Your Heart to Possibilities
💖 Open Your Heart to Possibilities
An Adventure of Courage & Connection
- Explores how children may protect their feelings by "guarding" their hearts.
- Encourages kids to take small steps toward trust and friendship.
- Highlights that kindness, patience, and understanding can help us feel safe enough to open up.
🌱 Nurturing Emotional Growth
💖 Open Your Heart to Possibilities
💖 Open Your Heart to Possibilities
Encourage Emotional Awareness
- Helps kids recognize when they're closing off and explore ways to express emotions.
- Gently introduces themes of trust, vulnerability, and connection.
- Reassures children that it’s okay to be cautious—but openness can lead to lasting friendships.
📘 For Teachers & Librarians
🤝 Social-Emotional Skills
🤝 Social-Emotional Skills
🤝 Social-Emotional Skills
Teach Empathy & Communication
- A strong resource for SEL, fostering emotional awareness and healthy expression.
- Encourages conversations around friendship, trust, and self-reflection.
- Supports inclusive classrooms with relatable, emotionally safe storytelling.
📚 Build Trust & Connect
🤝 Social-Emotional Skills
🤝 Social-Emotional Skills
A Thoughtful Tale for Storytime & SEL
- Invites reflection on self-protection, emotional safety, and friendship.
- Sparks deeper connections through character-driven emotional moments.
- Ideal for read-alouds, classroom discussions, and SEL book collections.
👀 Closer Look
🌻Front Cover
🌻Front Cover
🌻Front Cover
🌻Back Cover
🌻Front Cover
🌻Front Cover
Inspiration
Inspiration
Inspiration
Author Note
Inspiration
Inspiration
Unlocking the Strength of an Open Heart
"Beware The Guarded Heart" — A Thoughtful Tale of Trust, Friendship, and Emotional Growth
Austin, Texas, United States, May 2025 --- In her latest heartfelt picture book, Beware The Guarded Heart, Jaybie D. takes young readers on an emotional journey of self-discovery, trust, and connection. This touching tale explores what happens when we build walls around our hearts—and what can happen when we let someone in.
Perfect for young readers learning to navigate emotions and relationships, Beware The Guarded Heart encourages children to recognize their feelings, embrace vulnerability, and understand that true strength comes not just from protecting ourselves, but from knowing when to open up.
Key Information
- Title: Beware The Guarded Heart
- Author & Illustrator: Jaybie D.
- Genre: Children's Picture Book
- Ages: 5-8
- Page Count: 42
- 8" x 10"
- ISBN’s: Hardcover 978-1-961860-28-5, Paperback 978-1-961860-29-2, e-Book 978-1-961860-30-8
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jaybiedbooks/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100095586218357
- Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/JaybieDBooks/
Author Bio
Jaybie D. creates picture books that speak to the hearts of young readers, blending engaging storytelling with meaningful themes that resonate beyond childhood. With Beware The Guarded Heart, she explores the delicate balance between self-protection and trust, encouraging children to recognize their emotions and build connections with kindness and understanding.
Inspired by real-life moments and the emotional growth of young minds, Jaybie D. writes stories that help kids navigate their inner world with courage and compassion.
Author Quote
"It’s natural to want to guard our hearts, but true strength comes in knowing when to let someone in. This story gently encourages kids to embrace connection while honoring their own feelings." – Jaybie D.
Samples
Sample Excerpt 1:
One day, a mysterious sparkle caught Aidan's eye.
A magical fairy, floating from the sky.
He felt a whir, and in an instant – HE FLEW!
It whisked him away to a world bright and true.
In this realm, the toys came to life.
Happy and cherished, devoid of strife.
Sample Excerpt 2:
Dolls twirled gracefully with delight.
Bears shared hugs, a comforting sight.
Aidan's heart soon filled with awe.
The toys had feelings, much like us all.
Robots made block castles that reached the sky.
Laughter echoed, and birds soared high.
Sample Excerpt 2:
But as he returned to his familiar abode…
The toys he mistreated, shrunk him down.
To witness their world, to feel their frown.