Thanks to the awakening and shift in consciousness on our planet, today we can all enjoy a plethora of resources to enlighten, liberate and inspire us. This also includes resources for children, including numerous books that can teach children healthy habits, positive thinking, critical problem solving and self-empowerment techniques. In this essay I share with you a selection of books that are amongst some of my top picks for children's mind-body-spirit wellness.
Over the last few decades, amidst the age of information, we have had an influx of resources for every area of our life. From health and spirituality, to career and relationship topics, there is something out there for everyone to inspire positive thought and action. While it is wonderful that many of us adults, are making use of all the valuable material available to live the best life we can, we cannot forget about the youngest ones amongst us. As we continue to expand our consciousness on both an individual and collective level, we have to take into consideration the evolution of the modern-age child.
The children who are coming into this world today are often coming equipped with a heightened sense of awareness about themselves and their world. They are also being born into a day and age that is facing some of its greatest challenges, but also experiencing some of its greatest evolutionary advances. The children of today show a deeper sense of understanding when it comes to making connections between the mind, body and sprit. They are often more evolved when it comes to both spiritual maturity and physical integrity. They are more sensitive, more intuitive and more conscious of our energetic nature. There is no doubt that as our planet continues to transform on the many levels of its being, whether by force or by choice, the children of today are taking a greater initiative and role in being part of the solutions, rather than the problems.
As adults, we have the option to take advantage of the abundant amount of material for positive change, so that we can cultivate optimal wellness and quality of life. We need the same, when it comes to high quality resources, for our children. For years, we have accepted books (and other resources) for our children that illustrated and exemplified violence, fear and oppression. Just recall any famous story you grew up with. We tried to teach the children what we knew, what we thought life was like, but only because that is what was taught to us. We didn't know any better. Today we do. Life need not be hard, or riddled with diseases, challenges and insecurities. Life is also not about finding salvation, or happiness, or approval from outside. We need to start with ourselves and the power within each one of us.
Today we are making a shift in how we interact and live with each other, and all living beings on this planet. It is time to retire the bad witches, warlocks and wolves. It is time to adopt intellectually stimulating, mind expanding, heart opening and spirit evolving material for our children. Material in the form of books that inspire healthy, compassionate and positive life choices to benefit their quality of life, and that of others. What we teach our children, and how we inspire and empower them, will make all the difference when it comes to the quality of life they have and state of things on our planet. This is why it is my pleasure to share with you several high quality resources for children in the form of books that exist to do just that. Perhaps the next time you are looking for a random resource, or a special gift for a child in your life, you will consider these resources and make a positive contribution to the life of the child and our world.
Green Smoothie Magic
Green Smoothie Magic is written by Victoria Boutenko, and illustrated by Katya Korobkina. Victoria is the mother of the Raw Family. She is an author, teacher, inventor, researcher, artist and mother of three. For several decades now, she has been an active voice in the natural health and optimal nutrition movement. One of her main passions is teaching people about the unbeatable, healing and outstanding nutrition of greens (leafy greens and green vegetables). She teaches classes on healthy living and raw food all over the world, and has inspired thousands of people to drink and share green smoothies. It is from this passion that Victoria's book Green Smoothie Magic for children was born, to help cultivate positive eating habits and healthy choices for children.
We are struggling today with nutrient deficient foods and unhealthy eating habits, which are passed down to our children since they are babies. Many families however are choosing to turn things around, take back their health and create a new generation of health conscious citizens. Whether you are just starting out as a family, or are already seasoned health enthusiasts, this book can provide a fun and informative resource for children, and help them understand the power of greens.
As an optimal health and nutrition teacher, I love the idea of this book! There is no doubt that our kids can be positively influenced for life by the nutrition choices that they are taught in childhood. Look around, we see proof of this everywhere. When kids grow up on high-sugar, high-refined-fat, high-salt processed food, it is this that they crave and later base their diets on as teens and adults. When kids are introduced to real, whole foods, and diets based on fruits and vegetables from the start, not only does their health benefit, but so do their habits later on in life. Green smoothies are some of the healthiest choices we can make when it comes to optimal nutrition. The only downside of this book is that the green smoothie recipe provided may get kids used to a very sweet drink, as it includes both fruit and conventional fruit juice, the latter of which provides too much sugar and is not needed to make a delicious, sweet and pleasant tasting green smoothie.
Tag Line: Green Smoothie Magic is a captivating story of an adventurous boy who learns how to be healthy in an enjoyable way.
Main Purpose: To introduce children to green smoothies, and have children enjoy consuming their greens for positive health and development.
Illustrations:
glossy outer cover
depict real-life people
pencil crayon and paint-like style
darker tones and Earthy colors
Age Range: 3 and up.
Strengths:
positive and empowering
educational and informative
real life scenario depiction
family oriented
encourages healthy eating
enables kids to take an active role in the creation of their health
provides a starter green smoothie recipe
Happiness Doesn't Come From Headstands
Happiness Doesn't Come from Headstands is written and illustrated by Tamara Levitt. Tamara is a writer, artist, teacher, and entrepreneur. Based on her love and passion of artistic creation and personal development, she founded Begin Within. It is a production company of transmedia content, whose mission is to help people find “the calm within the chaos” in their everyday lives, by fostering self-awareness, emotional intelligence and interpersonal development.
Inspired by Tamara's own journey of personal development, Dharma, meditation and yoga, comes Happiness Doesn't Come From Headstands. This book is a gem and full of so many valuable, practical and life enhancing lessons, not just for kids, but for adults as well. It explores themes such as acceptance, resilience and compassion while offering the message that just because we may have a failure, it does not mean that we are a failure. This book can teach and help kids to foster a positive self image, regardless of what they can or cannot do. It encourages enjoyment of the activities we engage in, rather than putting pressure on ourselves in unnatural ways, or engaging in competition, or self-depreciation. It presents a cute story in a simple way that will no doubt provide long lasting benefits for the child's present and future understanding of who they are aside from their talents or abilities, and that happiness is a choice that comes from within.
Tag Line: Happiness Doesn't Come From Headstands is a story about a girl who learns that happiness is not determined by external achievement and that even in the face of failure, peace can be found.
Main Purpose: To present the lesson that practice doesn't always make perfect, and that it is the journey, not the destination that matters most.
Illustrations:
matte outer cover with glossy text and image embossing
depict simple cartoon, stick-like people
digital pastel and paint-like style
warmer tones and vibrant colors
Age Range: 4 and up.
Strengths:
positive and empowering
helps kids cultivate a positive self-image
helps kids foster meaningful friendships
helps kids develop confidence and resilience
encourages internal, rather than external validation
teaches kids how to find peace within and honor their unique talents and personal journeys
V is For Vegan
V is for Vegan is written and illustrated by Ruby Roth. Ruby is the world's leading author and illustrator of vegan and vegetarian books for children. Her work has been featured on numerous media outlets and presents the many health, planetary and personal benefits of the vegan lifestyle. Thanks to a combination of her work with children and art, as well as her passion for compassionate living came her series of books, including V is For Vegan.
The book takes a gentle, educational and humorous approach to teaching kids the alphabet within the context of compassionate, healthy and sustainable living. Ruby presents the basics of animal rights and the vegan diet in an easy-to-understand, teachable format. Each letter of the alphabet is presented through memorable rhymes, an engaging image, along with an educational message. Kids get to not only learn the alphabet, but the major vegan food groups (grains, beans, seeds, nuts, vegetables, and fruits), as well as broader concepts like animal protection, loving actions and sustainable practices.
Aside from this book, Ruby is also the author of two other children's books, which inspire and promote a compassionate way of life. You can read my full review of her book Vegan is Love here and explore, That's Why We Don't Eat Animals on Amazon.com.
Tag Line: V is for Vegan introduces three- to seven-year-olds to the "ABCs" of a compassionate lifestyle.
Main Purpose: To introduce/teach children about the alphabet, from the perspective of health, sustainability and compassion.
Illustrations:
glossy outer cover
depict simplified, real-life people and animals
digital pencil-based outlines, with marker/paint color fill-ins
a mixture of bright, Earthy and pastel colors
Age Range: 3 and up.
Strengths:
positive and empowering
humorous and fun
educational and informative
helps kids cultivate sensitivity and respect for other life forms
encourages kids to act in responsible and sustainable ways
teaches kids about healthy eating and healthy lifestyle practices
cultivates love, kindness and compassion
I Think, I Am!
I Think, I Am! is written by Louise L. Hay and Kristina Tracy, and illustrated by Manuela Schwarz. Louise Hay is known as one of the founders of the self-help movement, and to date she has written and created numerous books, videos and other resources. For more than 25 years, she has helped people throughout the world discover and implement the full potential of their own creative powers for personal growth and self-healing. She is the founder of the internationally renowned Hay House, a publishing company that today presents the material of some of the world's top authors, teachers and healers. Kristina Tracy is a children’s book author who is happy to be able to help teach children about the amazing power they have within themselves and how to use it.
Louise Hay's work has positively impacted millions of people around the world and empowered them to heal on a mind, body and spirit level. She is one of the leading authorities and teachers when it comes to positive life creation and helping each person understand how their thoughts create their reality. It is therefore a pleasure to see Louise put together valuable resources like I Think, I Am! for children, who can be empowered from an early age to take responsibility for their own happiness and satisfaction. Rather than depicting a story, this book offers many, unique teachable moments and encourages dialogue between parent and child. It offers exercises for life, and can be used on a regular basis to cultivate a positive self-image, outlook and mind-set.
Tag Line: Teaching kids the power of affirmations.
Main Purpose: To introduce children to the idea of how their thoughts create their life, and the difference negative thoughts and positive affirmations make in our lives.
Illustrations:
hard external cover
depict simplified, real-life people
paint, crayon, pastel-like style
bright, vibrant, primary colors
Age Range: 3 and up.
Strengths:
positive and empowering
teaches children to build confidence
inspires a positive self-image
enables children to take responsibility for how they feel and the source of their happiness
teachers children to transform their state of being based on internal creation, not external circumstances
offers a practical, fun and feel-good approach to learning about the self
The Little Soul and the Sun
The Little Soul and the Sun is written by Neale Donald Walsch and illustrated by Frank Riccio. Neale is a renowned author, teacher and speaker within the fields of spirituality and personal development. To date he has authored over a dozen best-selling books and today devotes his time to sharing the messages of his books through writing, lecturing, and facilitating spiritual renewal retreats. He is the creator of the School of the New Spirituality and founder of The Group of 1000, a nonprofit organization supporting global spiritual awakening.
Neale's work has had a profound impact on my life and so I can personally attest to its transformative power in our lives. It is thus an added bonus to have Neale provide resources like The Little Soul and the Sun for children to help them from an early age learn about and understand the nature of reality. This book has numerous lessons, mind expanding ideas, and concepts to deepen our understanding of ourselves, as well as the people and events in our lives. It is a simple and powerful story that brings children a very profound truth: there is no absolute good or bad. While this may seem like a hard concept for many adults to grasp, its implications are profound when we do! As Neale presents, underneath all that happens in the world, all that we call "good" and all that we call "bad," is love. Aside from empowering children about themselves and those in their lives, it also presents to children an idea of an unconditional God, whose essence is love, just as is the essence of all the Little Souls who are a part of God.
The Little Soul and the Sun presents an adventurous story about a little soul who wishes to know itself, and is thus sent into a world of contrast. It interacts with other little souls and experiences the variety of ways of being that give it the opportunity to practice compassion, forgiveness, kindness and love. This book has also been made into an animated movie for children, and you can read more about this in my full review of The Little Soul and the Sun film.
Tag Line: A children's parable adapted from Conversations with God.
Main Purpose: To help children understand why bad things happen sometimes, and how they can help us understand ourselves and our lives in positive ways
Illustrations:
hardcover, smooth external dust jacket
depict beautifully detailed people and landscapes
digital, pastel and paint-like style images
darker, vibrant, pastel colors and tones
Age Range: 6 and up.
Strengths:
positive and empowering
highly educational
offers numerous opportunities for valuable dialogue between parent and child
offers a loving, unconditional, non-dogmatic image of God
provides children with an understanding of the choices people make and events in the world
teaches children to appreciate the diversity of different people and not fear, negate, or hate them
cultivates compassion, forgiveness and love
helps children and parents remember who they really are
Milton's Secret
Milton's Secret is written by Eckhart Tolle and Robert S. Friedman. Eckhart Tolle is a renowned author, teacher and speaker within the fields of spirituality and personal development. In 2008 The New York Times called Tolle “the most popular spiritual author in the United States”. In 2012, he was listed by the Watkins Review as the most spiritually influential person in the world and shortly after became the top selling author in this history of Oprah's Book Club. He is best known for his books, The Power of Now and A New Earth. Robert Friedman is president and co-founder of Hampton Roads Publishing Company, Inc., which has published in the genres of metaphysics/spirituality, fiction, children’s books, health and wellness, and philosophy/new thought, including the world-famous Conversations with God series of books by Neale Donald Walsch.
Milton's Secret is a story about a boy named Milton, who is about eight years old, and is experiencing bullying on the school playground at the hands of a boy named Carter. Since he is being picked on, Milton no longer enjoys going to school and dreads each morning because of his fear of Carter. By discovering the difference between Then, When, and the Now, Milton is able to shed his fear of being bullied. Living in the Now, he no longer dreads encountering Carter, which changes everything.
Given the challenges children face today, especially when it comes to bullying, this book is a treasure and valuable addition to any home. It provides children with a sense of control and understanding over how they feel, and the events in their life. It empowers them to make smart, loving and healthy choices that can improve the quality of their life. Milton's Secret is also being made into a feature film, which will offer a slightly modified version of the story that can teach both parents and children alike the valuable lessons featured in this book. To learn more or support the project, visit the film site: Milton's Secret
Tag Line: An adventure of discovery through then, when and the power of now.
Main Purpose: To teach children that living in the Now is the quickest path to ending fear and suffering.
Illustrations:
hardcover book
depict beautiful and detailed real-life people
pencil crayon, pastel and paint style
warm and dark tones, with Earthy and bright colors
Age Range: 7 and up.
Strengths:
positive and empowering
educational and informative
enables children to become responsible for their personal state of being, regardless of external events
teaches children the difference between actual events and events generated by our mind, which can reduce the quality of our life
teaches children the difference between living in the past, present and future
family oriented and encourages honest, open communication to enable help and guidance
Conclusion
I hope you enjoy these delightful and valuable resources with any kids in your life. They can make a very meaningful gift for that special child in your life, and provide outstanding teachable moments about many aspects of life when it comes to our body, mind and spirit. They encourage growth and evolution in these areas for optimal well-being. And to top it off, they each have a colorful and fun component that is sure to delight kids of many ages.
Today, we have a new generation of highly gifted and more evolved children coming through who are more sensitive to issues dealing with the mind, body, spirit, and the world as a whole. We can honor them, their development and the role they will play as the future generations on this planet by providing them with the right resources. Resources that promote love, instead of fear. Resources that encourage compassion, as opposed to ignorance. Resources that exemplify positive habits, instead of destructive ones. Resources that empower, as opposed to disempower.
Let us therefore be mindful of the choices we make daily as adults, including the type of material and resources we subject any children in our care to. Remember that we are creating our society, one person at a time based on the type of thinking, behavior and values we promote and support. So let's make them the most positive ones possible for all!
As this is a living page, more high quality children's books will be added as they become known to me.
