OUR BOOKS
NEW RELEASE ~ Mindful Wanders: Let Your Magic Mind Wander and Travel the World
Written to help children dream about and imagine traveling to different places through mindful wandering. A key element is that your mind can take you here, your mind can take you there, your mind can take you anywhere and everywhere. Letting the mind wonder as we wander through different cultures and dreamy highlights of exciting destinations around the world. This book is meant to be a bit of an escape from the ordinary, while in the end a reminder that the beauty and fun is always found within you no matter where you are.
Mindful Wonders: A Book About Mindfulness Using the Wonders of Nature
Written to inspire mindfulness and meditation in young children, 'Mindful Wonders' helps to calm the mind and connect kids to their breath and the beauty found in nature. Using imaginative language and illustrations, this book encourages children to connect all the wonders of the world around them to their own inner peace and love. Whether it be used as a behavior management tool for parents or teachers, or simply your child's favorite new story or bedtime read, this book is sure to bring a lot of joy to a child's heart.
THE creators
THE AUTHOR
THE ILLUSTRATOR
THE ILLUSTRATOR
Michelle Zivkov is a former elementary school teacher with a passion for mindful adventures and travel. With a master's degree in early childhood education specializing in literacy and years of experience as a classroom teacher, she has always loved children's books. Based between California and Bali, but often found in Europe or explorin
Michelle Zivkov is a former elementary school teacher with a passion for mindful adventures and travel. With a master's degree in early childhood education specializing in literacy and years of experience as a classroom teacher, she has always loved children's books. Based between California and Bali, but often found in Europe or exploring other parts of the world, she has visited 47 countries and counting. Coming from a European family, travel has been an important part of her life for as long as she can remember. Having spent extensive periods living abroad and becoming a certified yoga instructor trained in Bali and India, she is inspired to share her love of mindfulness, travel, and adventure with children everywhere.
THE ILLUSTRATOR
THE ILLUSTRATOR
THE ILLUSTRATOR
Maria Biktimirova aka Manka Kasha is a University teacher born and raised in Russia. She has a postgrad degree in English Language and Literature, and is reluctantly trying to work on her PhD in her free-from-drawing time. When she is not teaching her students (who are absolutely the best), or drawing, she prefers to read, listen to cast
Maria Biktimirova aka Manka Kasha is a University teacher born and raised in Russia. She has a postgrad degree in English Language and Literature, and is reluctantly trying to work on her PhD in her free-from-drawing time. When she is not teaching her students (who are absolutely the best), or drawing, she prefers to read, listen to cast recordings of some musicals, or binge-watch TV-shows. Also, be sure to check out her 'Small Knight' picture book series!
Why read 'Mindful Wanders'?
This new book was created to encourage children to daydream and open their minds to new places and different cultures. Planting a seed to one day inspire and manifest their own magical explorations and adventures around the world.
What is 'mindful wandering'?
Mindful wandering is recognizing that no matter where you are, you can always take your mind to different magical places and spaces using your own imagination.
What is mindfulness?
Mindfulness is a type of meditation that focuses your attention on things that help relax your body and mind.
What is meditation?
Meditation is calming your mind and quieting your thoughts to find peace in the present moment.
What are the benefits of mindfulness and meditation?
Mindfulness and meditation are known to help reduce stress, increase focus, and improve the overall health and well-being of the body and mind.
What are the benefits of connecting to nature?
Nature is known to have soothing benefits for the mind and body by releasing endorphins to help lower stress and anxiety, leading us to feel happier, energized, more creative, and calm.
Why read 'Mindful Wonders'?
'Mindful Wonders' helps to encourage and teach the benefits of meditation, mindfulness, and a connection to nature. Whether it be used as a behavior management tool for parents and teachers, a bedtime story, or simply just a daily reminder to focus on the breath, this book helps readers of all ages connect to the beauty, love, and peace found within and around us all.
~ ABOUT MINDFUL WANDERS ~
KIRKUS STARRED BOOK REVIEW
KIRKUS REVIEWS' BEST BOOKS OF 2021
Children in relaxed postures take inspiration from the natural world in this guided meditation book for young readers.
Opening with the question, “What is meditation and mindfulness?” the narrator guides readers through breath exercises and nature visualizations. The exploration begins in orbit, where the reader is said to be “beautiful like the earth,” then settles into more grounded locales, such as a beach, mountains, a forest, and near a waterfall. Like these elements of nature, readers are invited to feel calm, mighty, and alive. The narrator also invokes the sun at different times of day, rain, and a rainbow, again emphasizing qualities that readers share with each natural feature. Each page offers a short description, a guided breath (“Inhale the beauty. Exhale”), and the recurring line, “Just breathe….” Zivkov’s gentle text offers straightforward, short sentences with vivid terminology (visualize, limitless, soaring) that will challenge and empower independent readers. The work is best suited as a read-aloud, with its dreamy cadence encouraging readers to focus on their breath as they listen. Kasha’s pleasing watercolor-and-ink illustrations show a single child on each page, frequently relaxing in a cross-legged position but sometimes reaching to the sky or standing on one leg. The children are wonderfully diverse, enabling many different readers to see themselves in these pages.
A peaceful book of mindfulness exercises.
HERE's WHat people are Saying...
"I am a school psychologist at an elementary school and one of my passions is teaching kids about mindfulness. With it being the week of Earth Day and Arbor Day, I was looking for books on nature and mindfulness. I came across this book, which was just released a few days ago on Earth Day, and it is amazing! Both the text and the illustrations are inspiring, and I cannot wait to share it with my students."
~Mark A. Warner
"I use this book to calm myself, to center, and to feel connected. The illustrations are not only beautiful but evoke peace and stillness. And the words are powerful, meaningful, and calming, all at the same time.
I know it is meant primarily for children but anyone who wants an easy way to center, be still, feel at peace and yet feel joy would appreciate this book. Great bed time story!"
~Jaz
"My daughters and I absolutely love this mindfulness book! The illustrations are beautiful and inspiring. My girls and I enjoy the message- so many amazing life lessons to be talked about on each page!"
~Nicole B.
MINDFUL WONDERS MEDIA KIT
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