Books published by publisher Magination Press

Finalist, Green Earth Book Awards Selected for the New York Botanical Garden's LuEsther T. Mertz Library Included in Wordcrate’s resilience activity boxTrees hold us fast in their embrace. The Hugging Tree is about a tree that, in spite of harsh circumstances, grows until it can hold and shelter others. It is about each one of us. On a bleak and lonely rock By a vast and mighty sea Grew a lonely little tree Where no tree should ever be. Alone on a mighty cliff by the sea, a tiny tree struggles to grow and thrive. She is nurtured by the sea, sun and moon, and becomes home to a family of loons. But winter ice storms and bitter cold break her boughs and roots. Will she survive? Find out how the hugging tree grows until she can hold and shelter others. Even though childhood can be a wondrous and carefree time, children must deal with difficulties as they grow. Those range from minor disappointments like losing a game, arguing with a friend or sibling, earning a poor grade…to significant blows such as the death of a parent or loved one, abuse, or neglect. Through all her troubles, the Hugging Tree holds fast. Sustained by the natural world and the kindness and compassion of one little boy, the tree grows and grows until it can hold and shelter others under its immense green canopy. Every day, people of all ages come to rest and sit under the tree. The resilience of the Hugging Tree calls to mind the potential in all of us: to thrive, despite times of struggle and difficulty. To nurture the little spark of hope and resolve. To dream and to grow, just where we are. Psychologists use the term resilience to describe an individual’s ability to adapt successfully to challenging events. Reading this book with your child can be a way to teach resilience, self-confidence, and self-control and help you discuss challenges your child may be facing at home or school. This book has been used as an inspiration and teaching tool by teachers, librarians, pastors, rabbis, and parents around the world. There are more than two dozen read-a-louds of the book available on You Tube. Children enjoy making their own drawings of hugging trees, with words like “love” and “perseverance” alongside the branches. They enjoy outdoor read-a-louds accompanied by hugging and being hugged by trees. A “Note to Parents” by Elizabeth McCallum, PhD, provides information about resilience, and guidelines for building resilience in children. A free, downloadable teacher and parent guide with many activities is available on the publisher’s website, as well as on the author’s website.

Mom's Choice Award for Young Adult Books—College Guides (Gold)The hard truth is that not all teens who enter college may graduate on time or at all. And often it isn't academics and classwork that trip students up. Instead, transitioning to independent living can be too much or too challenging for teens and this sometimes affects the best of students! Using a readiness survey and handy worksheets, On Your Own will help teens get ready for the first years away from home. Inside, you'll find easy-to-use advice and strategies that will allow them to map out a plan and cultivate the skills they'll need to succeed in college.On Your Own is loaded with tips and resources to further assist teens in creating a personalized plan and center on developing three crucial skill areas:Self-determination skills (advocacy, management, communication)Daily living skills (self-care, organization, life balance)Academic skills (self-knowledge, study habits, time management)With this guide, teens will learn just what you need to do to succeed in college.Now is the perfect time to get ready!

Today was an important day at the little birds’ school. Today was the day they all learned how to fly! They jumped off the branch, opened their wings, and…flew! All of the little birds have learned to fly…except Little Owl. The others explain that it’s easy: all he has to do is say “abracadabra!” At first, it doesn’t work, and Little Owl thinks the “magic” word is broken! But as he gets better and better, he realizes that the real magic is in himself. This book teaches children how to face challenges and keep trying, despitesetbacks. Includes a Note to Parents and Caregivers by Ara J. Schmitt, PhD, that discusses ways to develop perseverance with your child. From the Note to Parents and Caregivers:The development of perseverance is complex and unique to each child. The child’s environment, opportunity to take on new challenges, and the presence of an encouraging support system all play a role. The development of perseverance is aided by three key psychological concepts: strategies, effortful control, and a growth-oriented mindset. These concepts are crucial whether the challenge is posed by a classroom teacher, an athletic coach, a music instructor, or you!... Some kids naturally persevere in the face of challenges, but most kids learn the skills necessary to persevere through the loving support of caregivers. By fostering task-specific strategies, effortful control, and a growth-oriented mindset, caregivers can help children become happy and successful adults!

Dear Diary,We’re getting close to WildWorld. We just passed the old gas station on the right and the little store with the red and green roof. I counted the whole way—5 of us, 5 taps on my leg, 2 kids playing in a sprinkler, 6 cars on the side of the road. Seems like I count more than ever. I can’t help it. Nobody else in the car counts stuff—I can tell. They sing songs and think about whatever they want. When Mom taps the steering wheel it’s for fun, to the beat of the song, not because she has to. I wish I could be like that, so carefree. Sometimes I ask Mom if she notices how many houses are on the block, or how many people are on the sidewalk, but she never does. So I count secretly to myself…because I know it’s weird. Do you ever feel like you have to do something over and over? Maybe you count.. Maybe you wash your hands, or check to make sure something is right. Maybe you clean, or perform certain actions with your body, or ask for reassurances. Maybe you do a combination of these things, or something completely different. Meet Sarah. Sarah feels like she has to count or something bad might happen, like her mom might die. That’s a heavy burden to carry! She counts things in order to make herself feel better, but it ends up making her feel worse. Sarah has Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, or OCD for short. With the help of her family and her therapist, Sarah learns that she can take charge of her OCD. Eventually, she is able to handle her anxious thoughts and compulsions and get out of the OCD game. Includes an extensive Reader's Note by Michael Tompkins, PhD.

Written for teen boys, Dating and Sex provides them with the knowledge they need to understand dating, relationships, and sex. It goes beyond basic descriptions of biological processes with a progressive, practical approach that relies on secular ethics and emphasizes sexual health and personal responsibility. The book addresses common questions about what’s typical, provides a framework for dating and sex that fits their values and identity, and helps boys identify what feels right for them in a variety of common situations.

Discover a world of lovable creatures in the Once Upon a Garden series. Sophie was always ponders big questions, like Why is the sky blue? Why are raindrops wet? and What are stars made of? But when Sophie starts school, there’s a wobbly feeling in her tummy and she can’t help popping back into her shell. She is left with one big question Why am I so shy? When Sophie meets Stanley, she realizes that she's not the only one who feels shy. Can she gain the confidence to help a new friend? A heart warming tale about a sensitive snail who overcomes her shyness with a little help from her new friends.

iParenting Media Award Winner Ryan is scared to use the potty. He is afraid to have a poop, because he's afraid it's going to hurt. He does NOT want to go.This story, along with Ryan's "poop program," will help young children gain the confidence they need to overcome this common problem and establish healthy habits. Includes a Note to Parents by the author, From the Note to Parents:The book includes a “poop program” that I use with children between the ages of 3 and 6. While the program is ostensibly for the main character, my hope is that your child will want to follow these steps as well. How you approach the program will vary somewhat depending on your child’s age. Most 3- to 4-year-olds do not need to do the program in a formal way. Instead, you can incorporate parts of the program into your daily routine—make the needed dietary changes, reward successful pooping with stickers, and consider reviewing how poops come out of the body. Most 5- to 6-year-olds are interested in doing the full program, though it is still important to be flexible. For example, if a 5-year-old does not want to do Potty Practice, I would adjust things accordingly.

There’s one special person you get to spend your whole life with: YOU! Which means there’s no one you should take better care of! When you cheer yourself on and cheer yourself up, you make the world a happier place. Life is amazing when you share it with the people you love: family, friends, and always with YOU!Fantastic You shows readers how to develop and nurture a loving and positive relationship with themselves. Kids will learn that self-care includes positive self-talk and self-compassion for a happy, self-empowered life.

iParenting Media Award Winner Now I have a baby sister. Her name is Abby. Now, everybody tells me, "Jake, you're a wonderful big brother!" I don't know how to be a big brother.When a new baby comes into the family, Jake's world changes! Being a big brother is hard and confusing at first and brings lots of changes to Jake's routine. On top of everything else, Jake has to be patient and share his parents and Pop-Pop. But with some time, Jake starts to like having a bigger family and all the good and fun things that come with being a big brother.A note by psychologist Jane Annunziata, PsyD, offers new parents a wealth of guidance on preparing their family for a new baby, both before and after the arrival.

Some people seem to just automatically bounce back from tough times. But the truth is that resilience is not something you are born with--it must be learned. Resilience isn't just about being tough in the face of adversity, but rather learning to make connections with others, move toward goals, maintain a positive view, and accept that change is part of life. Bounce Back will help you find your bounce using quizzes, advice, and practical strategies to build up resiliency skills.

“Oh moon so full, round, and bright We beg one favor of you tonight For witches who tattle, witches who snitch, Tie their tongues, zip their lips! No witch shall squeal or tell on friends. This spell will be broken when the snitching ends!” Tattling is an all too familiar occurrence among children that can have harmful impacts on friends and relationships. This spellbinding story encourages children to examine the difference between snitching and telling, and the impact of their words on others. Includes a Note to Parents and Caregivers with more information about snitching versus telling and what adults can do to help.

The Snappers are the toughest turtles in the pond! He felt BIG when they scattered the minnows. He felt BRAVE when they played soccer with the snails. He felt BOLD when they plucked tail feathers from the ducks.Lately, though, Sergio noticed how others quivered when the Snappers swam by. This bothered him, but when he mentioned it to one of the other Snappers, Big Clay nipped at him. When the Snappers start picking on a little minnow named Gil, Sergio gets some “squishy” feelings and has to decide what to do. It's hard to stand up to your friends! Includes a Note to Parents and Caregivers by Julia Martin Burch, PhD, on bullying, friendship, fitting in, and ways to discuss these issues with your child.