Silly Gillee®: A Playful Card Game with a Powerful Purpose

A Unique Game with a Heartfelt Mission

Silly Gillee® isn’t just a fun card game for children ages three to ten—it’s also a tool for fostering communication and emotional expression. Created in loving memory of Gilbert Lee Johnson, the game is designed to encourage children to share their thoughts and feelings, opening the door to meaningful conversations.

While many of the 160 open-ended questions in the deck are lighthearted and playful, some gently encourage children to express emotions—happy, sad, scared, or mad—giving parents and caregivers a chance to engage and understand their child’s experiences on a deeper level.

The game was inspired by the painful reality that Gilbert faced as a child, suffering in silence from abuse. Had someone playfully asked him similar questions when he was young, his story may have taken a different path. Silly Gillee® was created with the hope that it can help protect and support children by making open communication a natural and fun experience.

From a Research Project to a Game That Could Save Lives

Silly Gillee® was born out of research for the book Wounded Wings: One Man’s Secret Struggle, a deeply personal story that sheds light on childhood trauma. In the process, author Jeanne Donovan studied Kenneth V. Lanning’s Child Molesters: A Behavioral Analysis, which outlines the tactics predators use to manipulate children. With this knowledge, she designed Silly Gillee® to be both an entertaining game and a subtle way to identify when something might be wrong.

The ultimate goal? To help children find their voices and, in doing so, protect them from harm. If Silly Gillee® saves even one child, it will have fulfilled its purpose.

Bringing Silly Gillee® to Life

The creation of Silly Gillee® was both a labor of love and a learning experience. Jeanne Donovan used Pages on her Mac to design the cards, incorporating a charming cartoon illustration from VectorStock.com to make the game visually engaging for children.

When Jeanne introduced the game to her nearly four-year-old granddaughter, the excitement was undeniable. Watching her eyes light up as she answered questions, made up stories, and took turns handling the glossy deck confirmed that Silly Gillee® had the power to spark creativity and meaningful interactions.

Challenges & Lessons Learned

Like any creative endeavor, the process came with challenges. The biggest obstacle? Overcomplicating the rules. Moving forward, Jeanne plans to simplify future instructions to make the game as easy and accessible as possible for parents and children alike.

Her advice to new card creators and designers: Dream big and follow your creative instincts.

Where to Buy & What’s Next

Silly Gillee® is available now at sillygillee.etsy.com, with orders shipping out promptly. The game is also featured as a Helpful Resource in Wounded Wings: One Man’s Secret Struggle.

Looking ahead to 2025, Jeanne plans to spread the word about Silly Gillee® through her Facebook page, Jeanne Donovan – Author, and continue raising awareness about the importance of communication in childhood development.

Why Shuffled Ink?

When it came time to bring Silly Gillee® to life, Jeanne chose Shuffled Ink as her manufacturer, citing their professional website and high-quality production. The end result? A beautifully printed deck that children love to handle and play with.

A Game That’s More Than Just Fun

Silly Gillee® is more than just a silly card game—it’s an opportunity to open up conversations, build trust, and potentially protect children from harm. Whether played in a group or one-on-one, it encourages kids to express themselves in a way that’s fun, safe, and engaging.

Because sometimes, all it takes is a simple question to change a life.

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