Adventurer’s League membership coming soon! Checkout Jack the Coastie teaching kids about safety.
NEW from BMG SAFE
Children’s Book Series
Story by: Jack T.A. Horner
Words by: Jennifer Hickok Defratis
About the Book
Jack is a boy who loves the sea and everything in it, but when his fishy friends suddenly go missing, will Jack be the hero they need? Can Jack become the Coastie and keep everyone safe?
Based on the real-life adventures of “Jack” Horner while serving over 22 years in the U.S. Coast Guard, each story in the BMG Safe Adventures of Jack the Coastie series is intended to introduce youngsters to the world of the sea. Paralleling the storyline, Jack opens the conversation about the wonders and dangers that lurk in the real world and how to avoid unsafe situations.
Applying the skills he learned during his travels, Jack started BMG SAFE and taught his daughter and her friends self-defense before they went away to college in 2014. Now he has teamed up with Jennifer DeFratis to translate these skills for young children.
Sample Pages
Jack the Coastie, and the Shark Who Wanted a Shiny
BMG KidSAFE classes are dedicated to teaching situational awareness to children ages 5–8. The first lesson is how to identify “sharks” (strangers) and “coasties” (heroes). This book is an excellent resource to start a non-threatening conversation with children of any age about potential dangers in the real world. It can also be a valuable resource for teaching problem solving, as Jack becomes a hero Coastie by finding a solution that helps both sides.
Look for more BMG Safe Adventures of Jack the Coastie
More Adventures of Jack the Coastie
Coming Soon
About the Creators of this Book Series
Story By: “Jack” T.A. Horner
A 22-year US Coast Guard veteran, he developed a class to teach anyone to defend themselves without weapons—just the proper mindset and an open hand concept. Jack spent his time in the USCG not only living and working on the east coast, but also traveling to over 31 different countries on peacekeeping missions. Over half of these countries were considered hazardous duty assignments where he and his small teams of 3 to 5 Coasties were not authorized to carry weapons.
Applying the skills he learned during his travels, Jack started BMG SAFE and taught his daughter and her friends self-defense before they went away to college in 2014. Now he has teamed up with Jennifer DeFratis to translate these skills for young children.
Words By: Jennifer Hickok DeFratis
She has been working with BMG SAFE since 2017 to reinterpret Jack Horner’s experiences and adult SAFE classes, transforming them to be shared with people under the age of 13. Having worked with children for all of her professional life—whether as an actor, certified elementary school teacher or as a museum educator—she understands where students are coming from cognitively, what needs they may have developmentally, and how Jack’s SAFE programs can be applied in the most learner-friendly way.
Illustrated By: Heather Paul
She is an LA based artist who has worked as a Production Coordinator at DreamWorks Animation Television and Disney Television Animation, respectively on SheRa and the Princesses of Power and DuckTales. Outside of her day job, she creates both indie comics and children’s books, furthering her passion for storytelling and art.
Her portfolio may be found at www.epicheather.com
Stay in Touch with Jack the Coastie