Books with author Laura Lanier

What begins as a casual walk in the woods quickly becomes a make-believe adventure of discovering hidden pictures in roots, tree bark, rocks and moss, with furred and feathered friends along the way. Little “doorways” lead to speculation about what kind of faeries might live there. Short? Tall? Thinnish? Roundish? Children will delight in the magic of these colorful illustrations. Young imaginations will be encouraged to observe nature more closely to notice all there is to be seen, a practice well worth cultivating. Wolfe’s Neck Woods is an actual State Park located near Freeport, Maine, in the Greater Portland and Casco Bay Region. All of the scenes and even the particular trees with their intriguing shapes and root systems that are featured in Finding Faeries in the Woods are to be found there, and the misty-day walk portrayed in this book is based on the author’s first visit to the park in 2016. It truly is a magical place!

Piper Mae and the Purple-y Day is a charming peek into the mind of a child and her delight in a favorite color. As her day unfolds, Piper Mae encounters choices, from what outfit she will wear to what flavor she will choose. For young children, the topic of favorite color is of nearly universal interest. The text engages the reader and the child who is being read to in guessing what Piper Mae’s decisions will be. The colorful illustrations reveal the correct answers. Further dialogue as to what the child’s own choices would be may easily follow. The book ends with a question that will stimulate any child’s imagination. Fun to read any time, this book lends itself well to snuggling and sweet conversation for parent and child at bedtime.

The Arrival of Iris Tallulah is a retelling of a birth story for the purpose of healing trauma and transforming it into blessing. It employs the actual and effective practice of therapeutic writing: a fanciful re-writing of the script from a past event in order to resolve the emotions that arose at that time. As well, it is a true recording of an experience from the authentic perspective of one who observes life through the lens of grace, a believer in miracles and in magic. A highly personalized account, this story has wide application not only for parents and children who have navigated less-than-ideal birth circumstances, but for all who are interested in exploring this method of healing one's past through writing. The beauty of the tender illustrations, painted with heartfelt intention by a mother for her cherished daughter and first granddaughter, are infused with the power to convey love and healing on a soul level. This book is nothing short of a veritable treasure.

This timeless, classic counting book will take you straight to the seashore! Luscious oil-painted illustrations evoke the colors, sounds and feelings, all the delights of a day at the beach spent with someone special. Gulls wheel, waves curl, beach umbrellas flutter, children play. The rhythmical text enumerating simple seaside pleasures will charm reader and listener alike. The final illustration encompasses everything counted in the previous pages: fun to seek and find. A captivating book for any young child, or for anyone who loves a child, or indeed, for anyone who loves being near the ocean! This book will fill your heart.