Lethbridge author pens first aid tale for kids

By Lethbridge Herald on August 22, 2022.

Lethbridge author Julia Blumel, also known as Nanny Blu, has recently launched “I Can’t Help a Big Bear!” a children’s book that is a basic first aid tale for children.

Alejandra Pulido-Guzman – LETHBRIDGE HERALD – apulido@lethbridgeherald.com

A Lethbridge author has recently launched a children’s book that is a basic first aid tale for children under 12 years old, in hopes that young children learn different ways to help. 

“I Can’t Help a Big Bear!” author Julia Blumel, also known as Nanny Blu, wrote the story 25 years ago while operating a licensed family daycare in Victoria, BC. 

Blumel said she was inspired to write the story after taking a first aid course required to continue operating her business, but life got busy and it wasn’t until four years ago when she started researching the subject matter among libraries and bookstores that she decided to publish it. 

“In the story, there are seven different ways that the small mouse, who doesn’t think that he could help this Big Bear who’s been injured, starts helping without knowing that he is,” said Blumel. 

She said at the end of the book she wrote a set of questions for the reader and the listener to see how they each interpreted the story. 

“It’s really kind of a testimony I guess, for young children to build self-esteem and to help them realize that no matter how young or how small they are, they can do something to help even if that’s asking someone else to go get help,” said Blumel. 

She said at the end of the book she encourages readers to reach out to their local first aid certification providers to learn hand in hand with their young children. 

“Four years ago, when I actually went to bookstores and libraries and asked what books they had for younger children on first aid, I came up empty. They did not have for children under the age of 11 or 12 and that was similar when I contacted St. Johns ambulance and the Canadian Red Cross,” said Blumel. 

She recently had a book launch in a local bookstore where she gave away one finger puppet of each main character among those who purchased her book. 

“My purpose now that my book is published, is to get my book into libraries, schools, hospitals, daycares and healthcare organizations,” said Blumel. 

She said in May she donated 15 paperback books each to two of the main food banks in Lethbridge, 60 paperback books to the Ronald McDonald House in Red Deer, which is distributing some to the Calgary RMH, and in June she donated 50 paperback books to the RMH in Vancouver, B.C.

“I have two other short stories that I wrote around the same time and there will be much smaller stories that I can put out a lot quicker,” said Blumel. 

She said she might also go through a smaller publisher to make the process go by quicker as well. 

“I do have someone that’s ready to do the illustrations and editing for me as soon as I can get ready to start that publishing process,” said Blumel. 

She said she is excited to continue writing but she feels that she is entering a whole new area which is daunting for her. 

“It’s scary for some of us that haven’t been writers our whole lives, so it’s just like a whole new learning curve and it’s challenging at times,” said Blumel. 

Follow @APulidoHerald on Twitter