For those in search of new books for their kids to read this summer, three regional authors have recent releases aimed at young audiences, each with an underlying message of understanding, acceptance, and empathy.
Pennington-based artist, healing art instructor, and now author Jane Zamost has released “What Does Love Look Like?,” an illustrated children’s book for ages two and up that explores love and what it looks, feels, and sounds like. At the book’s end, Zamost asks children to think about what love looks like to them, too.
Zamost’s idea for the book was sparked by listening to media personality Van Jones, who said “What should we do as Americans” to make our world a better one? His reply: “Do what you care about — Just DO something!”
Zamost’s “something” is advocating for a more loving world. “I believe that if we define what love is for the young, we help build their desire for more love in their hearts and in our collective world,” she says.
Her project began as a book for her two young granddaughters. After receiving the first copy, she decided her message deserved a wider audience.
Written and illustrated by Zamost, the book features words and pictures all about love — from an ice cream cone piled high with whipped cream to her own British grandmother baking cookies first thing in the morning.
Visit www.janezamost.com to learn more about the artist and author and order hardcopies of the book, $25.
With an understanding of and firsthand experience with dogs’ natural ability to provide comfort, Plainsboro resident Tricia Baker, partners with certified therapy dogs in her mission to save lives through mental health education programs. Since 2010, she has taught more than 250,000 students from elementary school through college with programs tailored to the different age groups. Her newest resource is a children’s book she wrote, “Miki & Friends Go to School: Exploring Emotions through the Eyes of Dogs,” which is now available on Amazon for $15.
Baker, alongside her husband, Kurt, and daughter, Katelyn, is a co-founder of Attitudes in Reverse (AIR), a nonprofit established in 2010 after Baker’s son, Kenny, died by suicide. AIR’s mission is to save lives by educating students about mental health, related disorders and suicide prevention
“I initially created Miki & Friends as part of my mental health education program for elementary school students,” Baker said. “I am glad that it has grown in popularity with teachers over the past few years, and I hope to present it to many more children. However, there is such a tremendous and quickly growing need — a critical need — for mental health education that must begin at early ages. I hope that publishing the book is an effective way to reach all children and teach them about feelings and how to effectively cope with them.”
Baker was referring to the youth mental health crisis. The number of children between 8 and 12 years of age across the U.S. who died by suicide increased by 8 percent every year from 2007 to 2022, according to research published in JAMA Network Open (July 30, 2024). This tragic trend has also been evident in even younger children. In July 2021, JAMA Network published a study showing suicide as the eighth leading cause of death among 5- to 11-year-olds.
“Every suicide is tragic beyond words. I still feel the pain of losing my son Kenny every day. What keeps me going is helping prevent such a horrific loss for other families by teaching that no one should be embarrassed by having a brain-based illness,” Baker said.
“It is essential for everyone to recognize emotions in themselves and others and to know the proactive steps they can take to help prevent sadness or worry from escalating to chronic depression or anxiety,” Baker stressed. “By giving young children the foundation of mental health awareness and tools for expressing and coping with feelings, and then building on this education as they get older with a focus on symptoms of mental health disorders and suicide prevention, we can save so many lives.”
The Miki & Friends book provides this foundation. The star is Baker’s Pomeranian Miki, who has served as her support dog during Kenny’s battle with severe depression and anxiety and after he took his life in 2009. Miki’s “siblings” in real life — Misha Silver Lining, The Goofy Goober, Henry Pomchester, and Albie — are his friends in the book. In response to a variety of child-relatable situations, they express their emotions through facial features, other body language, and behaviors, which are explained through the age-appropriate text and portrayed through illustrations by Janice Rosenthal.
For more information about AIR, visit air.ngo or call 609-945-3200.
Hamilton native Mike Steele’s debut middle-grade novel, “Not Lucille,” was released by CJM Publishers on June 24. The story is primarily set in the Italian-American neighborhood of Chambersburg in Trenton.
“I know a lot of Hamilton residents can trace their family history through Trenton, including my own family,” Steele said. “It was fun researching the period and trying to envision what life was like in that part of the city for such a specific cultural community.”
“Not Lucille” takes place in 1931. Ten-year-old Lucy (not Lucille) Contento is always in trouble. She talks too much. She’s impulsive. Her brain doesn’t seem to work like everyone else’s. Lucy’s parents would be furious if they found out she’s been sneaking onto the campus of the nearby Trenton Academy for the Deaf.
There, Lucy has met Florence, a lonely and profoundly deaf girl her own age. Florence doesn’t mind Lucy’s flaws. Though Florence can’t speak, she has a unique way of communicating. If Lucy can figure out how to learn Florence’s special language, the two could be friends.
Lucy devises a plan, but it’s going to cost a whopping $7.98 — more money than she’s got. She can’t tell her parents why she wants the funds without revealing she’s been visiting Florence. Besides, her parents don’t have a penny to spare. Her father has been out of work for months. And nobody else in the Contento family has an income. Or do they …?
Lucy soon discovers she’s not the only member of her family hiding something. Can she get the money she needs while keeping everyone’s secrets? Or will her scheming land her in the biggest trouble of her life?
The Great Depression period provides a unique backdrop for its disabled characters. “I’m excited for kids to get to read about disability in a historical context,” Steele said. “Lucy has what’s now known as ADHD and Florence is deaf. Some of the obstacles they face are unique to the Great Depression era, but many of the obstacles are still present in the disability community today. I hope readers will enjoy learning new things about the period, but most importantly, I hope they’ll find ways to connect with characters that may be very different from themselves.”
“Not Lucille,” is available in paperback and eBook editions at online retailers including Amazon and Barnes & Noble.
