This #1 Amazon Best Seller book and award-winning in cultural diversity, bullies, peer pressure, self-esteem & self-respect, and prejudice & racism is about a sunflower, Suzy, that blows into a perennial garden. Mr. Gardener considers anything that the has not planted, a weed. This story is about “welcoming” something or someone new or different into your garden. When something new is added or happens, it can add more love n joy. This is a story of inclusion and acceptance.
Sonja Lange Wendt is an award-winning author of the Cultivating Compassion in Children books series. Her books are intergenerational and address important and sometimes difficult topics with children on inclusion, acceptance, disabilities, bullying and aging. Serina and Seymour Seed kick off and end each story. Seymour and Serina are the seeds of compassion children have, but sometimes they need planting and nurturing to cultivate the best in them. Through increasing awareness, understanding and discussion, these books teach that using compassion in different situations shows kindness in the greatest way in this sometimes difficult to navigate world.
Sonja uses a variety of setting and characters from grandparents, little girl, little boy, and bugs to engage children in the stories. The settings all include nature and the outdoors. Each story ends with thought provoking questions to be asked by the adult and discussed with the child.
These books are generally fitting for children ages 4-8 but as C.S. Lewis states, “A children’s story that can only be enjoyed by children is not a good children’s story in the slightest.” Her books are brilliantly illustrated with vivid colors and scenery.
Welcoming the unplanned, whether it’s an event or people, like new friends or siblings, enriches our lives in unexpected ways. Unplanned events may seem chaotic at first, and not at all wanted, like a pesky weed popping up in our garden. But as it flows it often can become a heartwarming experience, like an unplanned shower on an outdoor event. It may seem like a disaster at first but as you work through it to overcome the inconvenience, it can ultimately become a good memory of working together to solve a problem. As far as people, there is always room for one more in our hearts. Love is not a finite resource; it expands and grows with each new person we include. Adding someone to our lives doesn't take away our love for someone else; instead, it can enhance it. Each new relationship brings unique joys and strengthens and broadens the bonds we share with existing loved ones. Welcome a new kid into your circle of friends. Embracing the unplanned teaches us adaptability, resilience, and the beauty of abounding love, showing that our hearts have an infinite supply and the capacity to grow and expand, showing kindness and compassion to many.
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