Books published by publisher Magination Press

Imagine you are a hot air balloon pilot flying high in the sky. Where would you want to go? What do you think the view would be like from up high? Hot air balloon pilots have wonderful adventures, where they get to see things they have never seen before and learn all about the world outside. Flying a hot air balloon sounds like a lot of fun to some kids. But for other kids, the idea of flying off on their own, away from their parents or homes, doesn’t sound like fun at all.What to Do When You Don’t Want to Be Apart guides children and their parents through the emotions underlying separation anxiety using strategies and techniques based on cognitive-behavioral principles. This interactive self-help book is the complete resource for educating, motivating, and empowering children to overcome separation anxiety—so they can become the confident pilots of their very own hot air balloons! Includes an Introduction to Parents and Caregivers. This book is part of the Magination Press What-to-Do Guides for Kids® series and includes an “Introduction to Parents and Caregivers.” What-to-Guides for Kids® are interactive self-help books designed to guide 6–12 year olds and their parents through the cognitive-behavioral techniques most often used in the treatment of various psychological concerns. Engaging, encouraging, and easy to follow, these books educate, motivate, and empower children to work towards change.

Second Place Winner for Best Educational Children’s Picture Book in the 2019 International Latino Book AwardsNCSS-CBC 2019 Notable Social Science Trade Book for Young People2018 National Parenting Product Award Winner (NAPPA)The world is full of different colors...hundreds of colors, everywhere. People are different colors too. Our colors make us beautiful and unique. Mommy says it is part of our culture and the big word diversity — diversidad.Marvelous Maravilloso follows a young girl as she finds joy in the colors of the world all around her. Her vantage point is particularly special as she comes from a bi-cultural family, and is able to appreciate the differences between her parents, as well as her own unique and beautiful color. As she is coming into her own identity and exploring what this means for her, she comes to appreciate how all families are uniquely beautiful. Includes a Note to Parents and Caregivers about celebrating the different kinds of people and families there are in the world.

This is the story of Zane, a zebra with autism, who worries that his differences make him stand out from his peers. With careful guidance from his mother, Zane learns that autism is only one of many qualities that make him special. Contains a Note to Parents by Drew Coman, PhD, and Ellen Braaten, PhD, as well as a Foreword by Alison Singer, President of the Autism Science Foundation.

Gerbert the gosling is strong and brave and has fun times with his family and friends but knows that, one day soon, he won’t be able to keep up with them anymore. As Gerbert prepares for his final migration, he finds a way to show his flock that he will always be with them. Includes a one-page Note to Readers and an online Note with additional information useful for parents, caregivers, grandparents, siblings, and teachers.

ForeWord Book of the Year Bronze MedalistWhat can you hear when you are completely silent? Is that the wind blowing? Birds chirping? Sun shining? World whirling? Maybe a car engine or faraway plane? Maybe kids laughing or playing tag? Be still. Listen. Focus on the now. What do you hear? By paying attention to what is otherwise lost in our noisy world, you can develop your imagination and curiosity and learn a lot more about yourself. Beautifully illustrated and gently written, Silence encourages children to stop, listen, and reflect on their experiences and the world around them. Using qualities of mindfulness and peaceful meditation, readers are asked to pay attention to what otherwise gets lost in our noisy environment. By centering oneself in the present and listening to those sounds, children can learn to become more self-aware and comfortable with their own thoughts and feelings, and use all this as a means to develop imagination and curiosity. Silence may even help children learn a little more about themselves.

Luna the Tuna, with glasses on her nose…It's bad enough having a weird name — now, to make matters worse, Luna has to wear glasses! But what happens if she doesn't? Find out as Luna discovers to appreciate herself and her glasses after a day of silly mishaps. Many kids have to wear glasses to see properly. For most kids, the realization that their eyesight isn’t perfect is a blow to their self-esteem—and they feel different from other kids who don’t have to wear glasses. On top of that, getting used to wearing glasses can be challenging. Glasses may feel uncomfortable at first. It may also be hard for kids to figure our how or when to use them for certain fun activities like swimming or playing softball. Even when kids choose their own glasses, the frames can still feel like a huge obstacle in their daily lives.Luna and the Big Blur acknowledges kids’ feelings of sadness, discomfort, and being different while reminding them of the importance of wearing their glasses. They’ll laugh and have fun with Luna as she sets out on her adventures. And they will learn, as Luna does, that they are very special, with or without their glasses. This updated edition has a Note to Parents by ophthalmologist David F. Plotsky, MD, filled with psychological, practical, and medical information on how to help kids cope with wearing glasses.

5th-6th grade Finalist in 2019 Children’s Choice Book Awards 2019 ALA GLBT Round Table Rainbow Book ListNational Parenting Product Award Winner (NAPPA)Gilbert loved visiting his grandmother’s clothing store. He’d sit next to her while she sewed and draw beautiful gowns and costumes. Gilbert dreamed of someday bringing these drawings to life. But one day, his father took away his art supplies and tore up his drawings. Surrounded by building blocks and Erector sets, sports gear and slingshots, Gilbert’s colorful, sparkly, glittery personality started to fade, and he, too, became gray and dull and flat, just like the Kansas landscape. “When I grow up,” he dreamed, “I’ll go somewhere that’s filled with color.” Gilbert Baker always knew he wanted a life full of color and sparkle. In his small, gray, flat Kansas hometown, he helped his grandma sew and created his own art whenever he could. It wasn’t easy; life tried over and over again to make Gilbert conform. But his sparkle always shone through. He dreamed of someday going somewhere as vibrant and colorful as he was. Set against the backdrop of San Francisco during the gay rights movement of the 1970s, Gilbert’s story unfolds just like the flag he created: in a riot of color, joy, and pride. Today the flag is everywhere, even in the small town where Gilbert grew up! Includes a Reader Note that provides more in-depth discussion of the beginnings of the gay rights movement and a more detailed look into Gilbert Baker's place in our shared history.

Mom's Choice Award for Children’s Picture Books (Gold) Sally loves to be first at everything! She is first in line at school. She is first out the door at recess. She is first at dinner finishing her mac 'n' cheese! Unfortunately, Sally dislikes losing and this can lead to hot tempers and hurt feelings. She even gets the nickname "Sally Sore Loser" from her classmates at school.With the help of her teacher and her mom, Sally learns the rules for being a good winner and a good loser. She learns to say to herself, "I've won if I had fun!"A Note to Parents is included, with practical tips for teaching children to be good winners and good losers.From the Note to Parents: Good sportsmanship and learning how to play well with others are important skills to teach children on and off the field. “Being a good sport” is not an innate skill. Beginning in early childhood, children need to learn how to share, follow rules, handle emotions, try their best, and win and lose with respect, dignity, and graciousness.

iParenting Media Award Winner Samantha Jane hasn't been smiling much lately. She lost her smile about a month ago. That was when her dad died.Samantha Jane misses her father very much. Sometimes the sadness feels so big she is afraid to let herself feel it. Sammy Jane is also worried about her mother, and whether they are all going to be happy again someday. But then she feels guilty. Is it right to feel happy when her father can't be here to enjoy life, too?The loss of a parent is a profound event for a child. In the aftermath of the death, children face great emotional vulnerability and distress and need help from their surviving parent and other supportive adults around them. Reassurance and support, as well as practical coping tools, are key to the child’s ability to recover and lead a full and happy life. Samantha Jane’s Missing Smile is the story of one child’s loss. When her father dies, Sammy Jane doesn’t know how to express her grief. She fears that her sadness will overwhelm her if she faces it. She worries that her sadness will overburden her mother, too, and that her mother won’t be available for her. She is angry at the unfairness of her loss. And she feels guilty about the prospect of smiling ever again. In this gentle story, Sammy Jane learns to face her feelings and to realize that they won’t go away if she ignores them. She also discovers that sharing those feelings is both comforting and reassuring. With her mother’s help, she finds ways to keep the memory of her father alive. And finally, she understands that a full, happy life is what her father would want for her. A Note to Parents by Dr. Jane Annunziata describes the psychological issues that children confront when a parent dies, and offers guidance to the remaining parent for helping the child recover from this life-changing event.

Meet Ernie, a typical kid with an everyday life. Ernie has great friends, a great family (except for his annoying sister), and a great school. There is just one problem -- Ernie doesn't just get mad. He gets MAD! In this graphic novel for tweens, Ernie learns about his angry outbursts with the help of a friendly and understanding school counselor and discovers that he has the power to control and calm himself. Once he practices the skills to control and manage his angry outbursts, Ernie finds that he can be a happier person as well as a better friend, brother, and son. Chillax! has won two awards:Gold Medal, Moonbeam Children's Book Awards for Comic/Graphic NovelMom's Choice Award for Juvenile Books - Self-Improvement (Gold)