It may be decades since your last graduation ceremony, but September still holds a particular childlike promise: new ideas, new adventures, a new self. As the world faces massive challenges, we embrace childlike wonder and charge ever forward. In that spirit, we’re finding wit, wisdom, whimsy, and inspiration in children’s books (and the lives of their authors) this fall. Share this mix of new titles and classics with the youth in your life, or enjoy solo to lighten your spirit as you keep fighting for a better future for the next generation.
by Kobi Yamada and Gabriella Barouch
Yamada, the prolific author of many inspirational titles (including the blockbuster bestseller What Do You Do with an Idea?), teams up again with illustrator Gabriella Barouch for this sequel to 2019's Maybe. In that first title, an adorable flying pig accompanies a girl dressed in overalls and a bird hat made of leaves as the narration asks readers to consider their unique selves. This time, a rosy-cheeked boy and a friendly white fox traverse breathtaking sites and magical adventures at the Arctic circle, on a branch sprouting crystals, atop flying swans, and more. The photorealistic art and warm colors beautifully complement Yamada's inspirational prose, and that combo will give readers pause as they take in the collective beauty — which is precisely the point. What if life is even more miraculous than you've imagined? Why not find out for yourself?
by Dave Eggers and Shawn Harris
The one-time literary wunderkind — whose fourth-wall-breaking, genre-defying memoir, A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius, was published when he was still in his twenties — has become a massive force in children's fiction over the decades. Besides his acclaimed adult novels and McSweeney's empire, Eggers also co-founded 826 Valencia, a youth writing center that has branched out worldwide and includes 826NY and 826LA. Plus, he’s written several illustrated children's books like Her Right Foot, This Bridge Will Not Be Gray, and What Can a Citizen Do? His most recent work about art, friendship, and more has won the prestigious 2024 Newbery Award. (In the world of kid's books, that's like an Oscar crossed with a Pulitzer.) Anyone needing a "warm, comedic tale of interspecies friendship," according to the New York Times, will love Egger's middle-grade novel about Johannes, the free and fast dog who reports to three ancient bison in an urban park.
by James Norbury
Norbury speaks openly about how he was working odd jobs, living below the poverty line, and volunteering for Samaritans, the UK’s mental health hotline, when his self-published book, inspired by Buddhist philosophy and spirituality, was snatched up in a six-figure deal: “That’s one of the reasons I started doing the drawings. That’s perhaps why my pictures connect with people. I understand sadness.” The Journey is the second book and follows the different seasons of these two friends with all the sweetness of Winnie the Pooh and the depth of the proverbs. “The best thing to have with tea,” said Big Panda, “is a good friend.” With the proceeds from the massive success of this series, Norbury and his wife are currently opening an animal sanctuary in their hometown.
by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry
Since its first publication in 1943, this timeless masterpiece about relationships and responsibilities has been the preferred choice for bleary-eyed grown-ups on the fifth bedtime story of the night. Remember the Prince, the sole inhabitant of planet B-612? What about the narrator, who crashes into the desert in the opening chapter and was a stand-in for the extraordinary real-life writer and pilot? Saint-Exupéry actually crashed in the Libyan desert in 1935 and wandered for days before being rescued by a Bedouin and his camel. After the French armistice with Germany, he became a leading expatriate voice of the French resistance, urging the US to fight the Nazis. The Vichy government, as a result, banned all his work, and Le Petit Prince only appeared in France posthumously — after he disappeared without a trace during a reconnaissance mission for the Free French Air Force. We celebrate a man who fought fascism every way he could until his death. A true inspiration both on and off the page.
by Lupita Nyong'o and Vashti Harrison
Academy Award-winning actress Lupita Nyong'o (Black Panther, Us, 12 Years a Slave) has created a heartwarming picture book in which the titular little girl (whose name is the word for "star" in Luo, a Kenyan dialect and the author's first language) questions her beauty until "a magical journey in the night sky opens her eyes and changes everything." Nyong'o reveals in her author's note that this deeply personal story is based on her own experiences of being bullied as a child because of her dark complexion: "I wrote Sulwe to encourage children (and everyone really!) to love the skin they are in and see the beauty that radiates from within."
by Alan Watts and Khoa Le
The only children’s book by the author, philosopher, and pivotal Esalen figure who helped introduce Eastern religions to the West. The little fish in conversation with the Great Sea is simultaneously adorable and a deep meditation on existence, which was written by the “philosophical entertainer” when he was an Anglican priest in the mid-1940s. If you find yourself anxiously spinning in circles, lost and fearful that you’ll forget how to swim, this parable from an Esalen legend will help put you right.
by Barbara Burke
For those who want to offer their children guidance and spirituality in a more "hands-on" and interactive way, this children's edition set of 32 beautifully illustrated "I Am Divine" affirmation cards can help them start a daily practice. Just as oracle decks can help adults overcome negativity, reduce stress, build self-confidence, and boost creativity, they can do the same for those on their way to adulthood — and make the path along the way a little smoother. "Each card is beautifully illustrated to reflect the inherent energy of each affirmation, and an inspiring meditation invites readers to embrace that Divine quality in their lives."
“Remembering to be as self compassionate as I can and praying to the divine that we're all a part of.”
–Aaron
“Prayer, reading, meditation, walking.”
–Karen
“Erratically — which is an ongoing stream of practice to find peace.”
–Charles
“Try on a daily basis to be kind to myself and to realize that making mistakes is a part of the human condition. Learning from our mistakes is a journey. But it starts with compassion and caring. First for oneself.”
–Steve
“Physically: aerobic exercise, volleyball, ice hockey, cycling, sailing. Emotionally: unfortunately I have to work to ‘not care’ about people or situations which may end painfully. Along the lines of ‘attachment is the source of suffering’, so best to avoid it or limit its scope. Sad though because it could also be the source of great joy. Is it worth the risk?“
–Rainer
“It's time for my heart to be nurtured on one level yet contained on another. To go easy on me and to allow my feelings to be validated, not judged harshly. On the other hand, to let the heart rule with equanimity and not lead the mind and body around like a master.”
–Suzanne
“I spend time thinking of everything I am grateful for, and I try to develop my ability to express compassion for myself and others without reservation. I take time to do the things I need to do to keep myself healthy and happy. This includes taking experiential workshops, fostering relationships, and participating within groups which have a similar interest to become a more compassionate and fulfilled being.“
–Peter
“Self-forgiveness for my own judgments. And oh yeah, coming to Esalen.”
–David B.
“Hmm, this is a tough one! I guess I take care of my heart through fostering relationships with people I feel connected to. Spending quality time with them (whether we're on the phone, through messages/letters, on Zoom, or in-person). Being there for them, listening to them, sharing what's going on with me, my struggles and my successes... like we do in the Esalen weekly Friends of Esalen Zoom sessions!”
–Lori
“I remind myself in many ways of the fact that " Love is all there is!" LOVE is the prize and this one precious life is the stage we get to learn our lessons. I get out into nature, hike, camp, river kayak, fly fish, garden, I create, I dance (not enough!), and I remain grateful for each day, each breath, each moment. Being in the moment, awake, and remembering the gift of life and my feeling of gratitude for all of creation.”
–Steven
“My physical heart by limiting stress and eating a heart-healthy diet. My emotional heart by staying in love with the world and by knowing that all disappointment and loss will pass.“
–David Z.
Today, September 29, is World Heart Day. Strike up a conversation with your own heart and as you feel comfortable, encourage others to do the same. As part of our own transformations and self-care, we sometimes ask for others to illuminate and enliven our hearts or speak our love language.
What if we could do this for ourselves too, even if just for today… or to start a heart practice, forever?
It may be decades since your last graduation ceremony, but September still holds a particular childlike promise: new ideas, new adventures, a new self. As the world faces massive challenges, we embrace childlike wonder and charge ever forward. In that spirit, we’re finding wit, wisdom, whimsy, and inspiration in children’s books (and the lives of their authors) this fall. Share this mix of new titles and classics with the youth in your life, or enjoy solo to lighten your spirit as you keep fighting for a better future for the next generation.
by Kobi Yamada and Gabriella Barouch
Yamada, the prolific author of many inspirational titles (including the blockbuster bestseller What Do You Do with an Idea?), teams up again with illustrator Gabriella Barouch for this sequel to 2019's Maybe. In that first title, an adorable flying pig accompanies a girl dressed in overalls and a bird hat made of leaves as the narration asks readers to consider their unique selves. This time, a rosy-cheeked boy and a friendly white fox traverse breathtaking sites and magical adventures at the Arctic circle, on a branch sprouting crystals, atop flying swans, and more. The photorealistic art and warm colors beautifully complement Yamada's inspirational prose, and that combo will give readers pause as they take in the collective beauty — which is precisely the point. What if life is even more miraculous than you've imagined? Why not find out for yourself?
by Dave Eggers and Shawn Harris
The one-time literary wunderkind — whose fourth-wall-breaking, genre-defying memoir, A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius, was published when he was still in his twenties — has become a massive force in children's fiction over the decades. Besides his acclaimed adult novels and McSweeney's empire, Eggers also co-founded 826 Valencia, a youth writing center that has branched out worldwide and includes 826NY and 826LA. Plus, he’s written several illustrated children's books like Her Right Foot, This Bridge Will Not Be Gray, and What Can a Citizen Do? His most recent work about art, friendship, and more has won the prestigious 2024 Newbery Award. (In the world of kid's books, that's like an Oscar crossed with a Pulitzer.) Anyone needing a "warm, comedic tale of interspecies friendship," according to the New York Times, will love Egger's middle-grade novel about Johannes, the free and fast dog who reports to three ancient bison in an urban park.
by James Norbury
Norbury speaks openly about how he was working odd jobs, living below the poverty line, and volunteering for Samaritans, the UK’s mental health hotline, when his self-published book, inspired by Buddhist philosophy and spirituality, was snatched up in a six-figure deal: “That’s one of the reasons I started doing the drawings. That’s perhaps why my pictures connect with people. I understand sadness.” The Journey is the second book and follows the different seasons of these two friends with all the sweetness of Winnie the Pooh and the depth of the proverbs. “The best thing to have with tea,” said Big Panda, “is a good friend.” With the proceeds from the massive success of this series, Norbury and his wife are currently opening an animal sanctuary in their hometown.
by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry
Since its first publication in 1943, this timeless masterpiece about relationships and responsibilities has been the preferred choice for bleary-eyed grown-ups on the fifth bedtime story of the night. Remember the Prince, the sole inhabitant of planet B-612? What about the narrator, who crashes into the desert in the opening chapter and was a stand-in for the extraordinary real-life writer and pilot? Saint-Exupéry actually crashed in the Libyan desert in 1935 and wandered for days before being rescued by a Bedouin and his camel. After the French armistice with Germany, he became a leading expatriate voice of the French resistance, urging the US to fight the Nazis. The Vichy government, as a result, banned all his work, and Le Petit Prince only appeared in France posthumously — after he disappeared without a trace during a reconnaissance mission for the Free French Air Force. We celebrate a man who fought fascism every way he could until his death. A true inspiration both on and off the page.
by Lupita Nyong'o and Vashti Harrison
Academy Award-winning actress Lupita Nyong'o (Black Panther, Us, 12 Years a Slave) has created a heartwarming picture book in which the titular little girl (whose name is the word for "star" in Luo, a Kenyan dialect and the author's first language) questions her beauty until "a magical journey in the night sky opens her eyes and changes everything." Nyong'o reveals in her author's note that this deeply personal story is based on her own experiences of being bullied as a child because of her dark complexion: "I wrote Sulwe to encourage children (and everyone really!) to love the skin they are in and see the beauty that radiates from within."
by Alan Watts and Khoa Le
The only children’s book by the author, philosopher, and pivotal Esalen figure who helped introduce Eastern religions to the West. The little fish in conversation with the Great Sea is simultaneously adorable and a deep meditation on existence, which was written by the “philosophical entertainer” when he was an Anglican priest in the mid-1940s. If you find yourself anxiously spinning in circles, lost and fearful that you’ll forget how to swim, this parable from an Esalen legend will help put you right.
by Barbara Burke
For those who want to offer their children guidance and spirituality in a more "hands-on" and interactive way, this children's edition set of 32 beautifully illustrated "I Am Divine" affirmation cards can help them start a daily practice. Just as oracle decks can help adults overcome negativity, reduce stress, build self-confidence, and boost creativity, they can do the same for those on their way to adulthood — and make the path along the way a little smoother. "Each card is beautifully illustrated to reflect the inherent energy of each affirmation, and an inspiring meditation invites readers to embrace that Divine quality in their lives."
“Remembering to be as self compassionate as I can and praying to the divine that we're all a part of.”
–Aaron
“Prayer, reading, meditation, walking.”
–Karen
“Erratically — which is an ongoing stream of practice to find peace.”
–Charles
“Try on a daily basis to be kind to myself and to realize that making mistakes is a part of the human condition. Learning from our mistakes is a journey. But it starts with compassion and caring. First for oneself.”
–Steve
“Physically: aerobic exercise, volleyball, ice hockey, cycling, sailing. Emotionally: unfortunately I have to work to ‘not care’ about people or situations which may end painfully. Along the lines of ‘attachment is the source of suffering’, so best to avoid it or limit its scope. Sad though because it could also be the source of great joy. Is it worth the risk?“
–Rainer
“It's time for my heart to be nurtured on one level yet contained on another. To go easy on me and to allow my feelings to be validated, not judged harshly. On the other hand, to let the heart rule with equanimity and not lead the mind and body around like a master.”
–Suzanne
“I spend time thinking of everything I am grateful for, and I try to develop my ability to express compassion for myself and others without reservation. I take time to do the things I need to do to keep myself healthy and happy. This includes taking experiential workshops, fostering relationships, and participating within groups which have a similar interest to become a more compassionate and fulfilled being.“
–Peter
“Self-forgiveness for my own judgments. And oh yeah, coming to Esalen.”
–David B.
“Hmm, this is a tough one! I guess I take care of my heart through fostering relationships with people I feel connected to. Spending quality time with them (whether we're on the phone, through messages/letters, on Zoom, or in-person). Being there for them, listening to them, sharing what's going on with me, my struggles and my successes... like we do in the Esalen weekly Friends of Esalen Zoom sessions!”
–Lori
“I remind myself in many ways of the fact that " Love is all there is!" LOVE is the prize and this one precious life is the stage we get to learn our lessons. I get out into nature, hike, camp, river kayak, fly fish, garden, I create, I dance (not enough!), and I remain grateful for each day, each breath, each moment. Being in the moment, awake, and remembering the gift of life and my feeling of gratitude for all of creation.”
–Steven
“My physical heart by limiting stress and eating a heart-healthy diet. My emotional heart by staying in love with the world and by knowing that all disappointment and loss will pass.“
–David Z.
Today, September 29, is World Heart Day. Strike up a conversation with your own heart and as you feel comfortable, encourage others to do the same. As part of our own transformations and self-care, we sometimes ask for others to illuminate and enliven our hearts or speak our love language.
What if we could do this for ourselves too, even if just for today… or to start a heart practice, forever?
It may be decades since your last graduation ceremony, but September still holds a particular childlike promise: new ideas, new adventures, a new self. As the world faces massive challenges, we embrace childlike wonder and charge ever forward. In that spirit, we’re finding wit, wisdom, whimsy, and inspiration in children’s books (and the lives of their authors) this fall. Share this mix of new titles and classics with the youth in your life, or enjoy solo to lighten your spirit as you keep fighting for a better future for the next generation.
by Kobi Yamada and Gabriella Barouch
Yamada, the prolific author of many inspirational titles (including the blockbuster bestseller What Do You Do with an Idea?), teams up again with illustrator Gabriella Barouch for this sequel to 2019's Maybe. In that first title, an adorable flying pig accompanies a girl dressed in overalls and a bird hat made of leaves as the narration asks readers to consider their unique selves. This time, a rosy-cheeked boy and a friendly white fox traverse breathtaking sites and magical adventures at the Arctic circle, on a branch sprouting crystals, atop flying swans, and more. The photorealistic art and warm colors beautifully complement Yamada's inspirational prose, and that combo will give readers pause as they take in the collective beauty — which is precisely the point. What if life is even more miraculous than you've imagined? Why not find out for yourself?
by Dave Eggers and Shawn Harris
The one-time literary wunderkind — whose fourth-wall-breaking, genre-defying memoir, A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius, was published when he was still in his twenties — has become a massive force in children's fiction over the decades. Besides his acclaimed adult novels and McSweeney's empire, Eggers also co-founded 826 Valencia, a youth writing center that has branched out worldwide and includes 826NY and 826LA. Plus, he’s written several illustrated children's books like Her Right Foot, This Bridge Will Not Be Gray, and What Can a Citizen Do? His most recent work about art, friendship, and more has won the prestigious 2024 Newbery Award. (In the world of kid's books, that's like an Oscar crossed with a Pulitzer.) Anyone needing a "warm, comedic tale of interspecies friendship," according to the New York Times, will love Egger's middle-grade novel about Johannes, the free and fast dog who reports to three ancient bison in an urban park.
by James Norbury
Norbury speaks openly about how he was working odd jobs, living below the poverty line, and volunteering for Samaritans, the UK’s mental health hotline, when his self-published book, inspired by Buddhist philosophy and spirituality, was snatched up in a six-figure deal: “That’s one of the reasons I started doing the drawings. That’s perhaps why my pictures connect with people. I understand sadness.” The Journey is the second book and follows the different seasons of these two friends with all the sweetness of Winnie the Pooh and the depth of the proverbs. “The best thing to have with tea,” said Big Panda, “is a good friend.” With the proceeds from the massive success of this series, Norbury and his wife are currently opening an animal sanctuary in their hometown.
by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry
Since its first publication in 1943, this timeless masterpiece about relationships and responsibilities has been the preferred choice for bleary-eyed grown-ups on the fifth bedtime story of the night. Remember the Prince, the sole inhabitant of planet B-612? What about the narrator, who crashes into the desert in the opening chapter and was a stand-in for the extraordinary real-life writer and pilot? Saint-Exupéry actually crashed in the Libyan desert in 1935 and wandered for days before being rescued by a Bedouin and his camel. After the French armistice with Germany, he became a leading expatriate voice of the French resistance, urging the US to fight the Nazis. The Vichy government, as a result, banned all his work, and Le Petit Prince only appeared in France posthumously — after he disappeared without a trace during a reconnaissance mission for the Free French Air Force. We celebrate a man who fought fascism every way he could until his death. A true inspiration both on and off the page.
by Lupita Nyong'o and Vashti Harrison
Academy Award-winning actress Lupita Nyong'o (Black Panther, Us, 12 Years a Slave) has created a heartwarming picture book in which the titular little girl (whose name is the word for "star" in Luo, a Kenyan dialect and the author's first language) questions her beauty until "a magical journey in the night sky opens her eyes and changes everything." Nyong'o reveals in her author's note that this deeply personal story is based on her own experiences of being bullied as a child because of her dark complexion: "I wrote Sulwe to encourage children (and everyone really!) to love the skin they are in and see the beauty that radiates from within."
by Alan Watts and Khoa Le
The only children’s book by the author, philosopher, and pivotal Esalen figure who helped introduce Eastern religions to the West. The little fish in conversation with the Great Sea is simultaneously adorable and a deep meditation on existence, which was written by the “philosophical entertainer” when he was an Anglican priest in the mid-1940s. If you find yourself anxiously spinning in circles, lost and fearful that you’ll forget how to swim, this parable from an Esalen legend will help put you right.
by Barbara Burke
For those who want to offer their children guidance and spirituality in a more "hands-on" and interactive way, this children's edition set of 32 beautifully illustrated "I Am Divine" affirmation cards can help them start a daily practice. Just as oracle decks can help adults overcome negativity, reduce stress, build self-confidence, and boost creativity, they can do the same for those on their way to adulthood — and make the path along the way a little smoother. "Each card is beautifully illustrated to reflect the inherent energy of each affirmation, and an inspiring meditation invites readers to embrace that Divine quality in their lives."
“Remembering to be as self compassionate as I can and praying to the divine that we're all a part of.”
–Aaron
“Prayer, reading, meditation, walking.”
–Karen
“Erratically — which is an ongoing stream of practice to find peace.”
–Charles
“Try on a daily basis to be kind to myself and to realize that making mistakes is a part of the human condition. Learning from our mistakes is a journey. But it starts with compassion and caring. First for oneself.”
–Steve
“Physically: aerobic exercise, volleyball, ice hockey, cycling, sailing. Emotionally: unfortunately I have to work to ‘not care’ about people or situations which may end painfully. Along the lines of ‘attachment is the source of suffering’, so best to avoid it or limit its scope. Sad though because it could also be the source of great joy. Is it worth the risk?“
–Rainer
“It's time for my heart to be nurtured on one level yet contained on another. To go easy on me and to allow my feelings to be validated, not judged harshly. On the other hand, to let the heart rule with equanimity and not lead the mind and body around like a master.”
–Suzanne
“I spend time thinking of everything I am grateful for, and I try to develop my ability to express compassion for myself and others without reservation. I take time to do the things I need to do to keep myself healthy and happy. This includes taking experiential workshops, fostering relationships, and participating within groups which have a similar interest to become a more compassionate and fulfilled being.“
–Peter
“Self-forgiveness for my own judgments. And oh yeah, coming to Esalen.”
–David B.
“Hmm, this is a tough one! I guess I take care of my heart through fostering relationships with people I feel connected to. Spending quality time with them (whether we're on the phone, through messages/letters, on Zoom, or in-person). Being there for them, listening to them, sharing what's going on with me, my struggles and my successes... like we do in the Esalen weekly Friends of Esalen Zoom sessions!”
–Lori
“I remind myself in many ways of the fact that " Love is all there is!" LOVE is the prize and this one precious life is the stage we get to learn our lessons. I get out into nature, hike, camp, river kayak, fly fish, garden, I create, I dance (not enough!), and I remain grateful for each day, each breath, each moment. Being in the moment, awake, and remembering the gift of life and my feeling of gratitude for all of creation.”
–Steven
“My physical heart by limiting stress and eating a heart-healthy diet. My emotional heart by staying in love with the world and by knowing that all disappointment and loss will pass.“
–David Z.
Today, September 29, is World Heart Day. Strike up a conversation with your own heart and as you feel comfortable, encourage others to do the same. As part of our own transformations and self-care, we sometimes ask for others to illuminate and enliven our hearts or speak our love language.
What if we could do this for ourselves too, even if just for today… or to start a heart practice, forever?
Esalen Institute
55000 Highway 1
Big Sur, CA 93920
US: 1-831-667-3000
info@esalen.org
