Second Graders in Three Communities to Receive Free Children’s Book
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Creston, IOWA–Author Terri Stephens-Higgins and Dr. Karen Krogstad, both of Creston, have teamed up to provide a copy of Stephens-Higgins’s children’s book, Bella Bean on Blueberry Lane – The Puppy Wonder, to every second-grade student in Creston, Diagonal, and Mount Ayr. This week, the two will begin delivery to the schools in these communities.
Stephens-Higgins, who recently shared her mental and physical health battles as part of the debut of Bella Bean on Blueberry Lane, the author’s first published children’s book, has vowed to advocate and educate children and adults alike about the topic of brain health. She approached Krogstad, who is Stephens-Higgins’s personal physician, in late-summer about her idea of getting the message in the hands of children to educate and encourage discussion between children and adults.
“When physical battles become too intense, they can quickly escalate into mental battles as well,” said Stephens-Higgins. “It is so important we educate children in their early years, so they can learn to communicate about their day-to-day worries. I was not well-versed on these topics until adulthood and that is not nearly soon enough.”
Stephens-Higgins said, when approached, Krogstad was immediately receptive to the idea and after a few conversations, even offered to fund the project.
“The character, Dr. Doggy, in my book is strongly based on many of the early conversations I had with Dr. Krogstad on topics that were so unfamiliar to me,” Stephens-Higgins explained. “Sometimes, the most difficult step is opening a conversation and admitting you might need help. These conversations are still assisting me tremendously today, as I maneuver my most recent physical health struggles, a brain tumor journey [Higgins, who has now endured two craniotomies, was diagnosed with seven brain tumors in 2024].”
Krogstad felt this partnership was an opportunity for her to be proactive in her career as well, teaching youth about important topics before they become patients in her waiting room.
“Every day in my job as a family physician, I talk to patients and tell them they deserve to feel better,” Krogstad stated. “Mental health is such an important part of who each of us is as a human being.”
Throughout the years, Krogstad and Stephens-Higgins’s lives have intersected many times in the Creston community. They now share their professional relationship, as well as a friendship.
“Being a part of Terri Higgins’s medical journey has been awe-inspiring,” Krogstad said. “I wanted to share her book with second graders to help them understand their feelings matter.”
Stephens-Higgins’s hope is that other potential donors might see Krogstad’s generosity and feel inclined to donate so children in their districts might receive the book as well.
“We’re starting in these three communities because these are the communities that raised me, bringing Bella Bean’s story to life to help others,” Stephens-Higgins stated. “If you see a second grader positively reacting to the message of Bella Bean and want to see the same response in your community, please reach out to me and we will make it happen.”
According to the Iowa Child Health Report Card, approximately 19.9 percent of children aged 3-17 are diagnosed with ADHD, depression, or anxiety. As of 2021, approximately one-third of Iowa youth reported persistent sadness or hopelessness for at least two weeks straight, a figure that was higher than ever before. Source: Georgetown University Center for Children and Families analysis of the U.S. Census Bureau 2024 American Community Survey (ACS).
Follow Stephens-Higgins’s author page, @terristephens-higgins, on Facebook, where you can contact her as well.
Friday, Nov. 21 – 8:45 a.m., Diagonal Elementary School; 10:30 a.m., Mount Ayr Elementary School
