In partnership with The Children’s Book Review and Riverlet Press

ABOUT THE BOOK

My Old Friend, Then

Written by Katherine Davis-Gibbon

Illustrated by Allie Daigle

Ages 4 and up | 40 Pages

Publisher: Riverlet Press LLC | ISBN-13: 9781737957607

Publisher’s Synopsis: A child ponders … who is her best, most loyal friend? Is it her constant companion, Then, who regales her with extravagant stories of their shared past and imagined future? Or is it precious, patient Now, with whom she sensitively explores each new moment that unfolds?

My Old Friend, Then explores mindfulness the same way that kids approach life: with curiosity, humor, and unspoiled sincerity. Pairing accessible and relatable language with vivid, quirky illustrations, this book invites readers to share in a young girl’s journey as she grapples with the trappings—and delights in the boundless potential—of her own brilliant mind.

PURCHASE LINK

https://amzn.to/36NEc6R

https://bookshop.org/a/2078/9781737957607

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Katherine Davis-Gibbon is a yoga teacher, a longtime practitioner of Vipassana meditation, and most importantly a mother of two. She is also the founder of Riverlet Press, a children’s book company for conscious parents raising mindful kids.

For more information, visit www.riverletpress.com.

ABOUT THE ILLUSTRATOR

Allie Daigle is an illustrator who strives to create immersive and expressive images that stimulate the imagination. Whether for a children’s book, a product label, or her original pieces, Daigle’s works implore the viewer to linger and explore the details within. Allie primarily works with traditional watercolor & ink as well as digital mediums.

For more information, visit www.alliedaigle.com.

MY REVIEW OF THIS BOOK

THE BEST OF BOTH WORLDS

My Old Friend, Then

Written by Katherine Davis-Gibbon

Illustrated by Allie Daigle

This is a charming picture book written for preschoolers and primary grade children. A little girl reflects on her imaginary friend, Then. Then is a collection of her memories and her first imaginary friend. Now the little girl has also embraced a new friend, Now. This friend does not fear losing the girl or sharing her. She is confident and does not fear other friends.

The subtle pastel colors of the illustrations reflect the moods of the little girl. The faces of the imaginary friends are not filled in, allowing the reader to imagine what they look like. There are only a few lines of text with each illustration, but they are filled with emotion.

I would highly recommend this book as a bedtime story or read-aloud for children ages four through seven.

GIVEAWAY

Enter for a chance to win an autographed copy of My Old Friend, Then, along with a box of You’re Wonderful Thoughtfulls!

One (1) winner receives:

An autographed hardcover copy of My Old Friend, Then

A box of You’re Wonderful Thoughtfulls pop-open cards by Compendium Inc.

Three (3) winners receive:

An autographed hardcover copy of My Old Friend, Then

CLICK ON THE LINK BELOW TO ENTER THE GIVEAWAY

https://gleam.io/hgVTA/my-old-friend-then-book-giveaway

TOUR SCHEDULE

Monday, April 4, 2022The Children’s Book ReviewA book review ofMy Old Friend, Then

Tuesday, April 5, 2022The Fairview ReviewA book review ofMy Old Friend, Then

Wednesday, April 6, 2022Life Is What It’s CalledAn interview withAuthor Katherine Davis-Gibbon

Thursday, April 7, 2022icefairy’s Treasure ChestA book review ofMy Old Friend, Then

Friday, April 8, 2022Lisa’s ReadingA book review ofMy Old Friend, Then

Sunday, April 10, 2022Barbara Ann MojicaA book review ofMy Old Friend, Then

Monday, April 11, 2022Crafty Moms ShareA book review ofMy Old Friend, Then

Tuesday, April 12, 2022The Children’s Book ReviewAn Instagram video book review ofMy Old Friend, Then

Wednesday, April 13, 2022Ravenz ReviewsA book review ofMy Old Friend, Then

Thursday, April 14, 2022Twirling Book PrincessAn article by Katherine Davis-GibbonThe Importance of Teaching Kids Mindfulness

Tuesday, April 26, 2022Confessions of a Book AddictA book giveaway ofMy Old Friend, Then

Wednesday, April 27, 2022Satisfaction for Insatiable ReadersA book review ofMy Old Friend, Then

Thursday, April 28, 2022Me Two BooksAn article by Katherine Davis-GibbonMindfulness Activities with Your Kids

A leader in the workplace means setting a good example for others and/or heading up office programs and projects. It does not necessarily mean being a boss, manager, supervisor, or other “official” position, although it can mean that.

Here are some tips and ideas on how to be a leader in the workplace.

Be Confident

“Never let them see you sweat.” No one is perfect; but appearing confident inspires others to trust you and take your advice. Appear self-assured by not talking too much about your fears and concerns. Instead, talk to friends outside of the workplace about your uncertainties.

See the Good in Others

Always observe the good traits of other employees in the workplace. If you need to put certain people in charge of certain tasks, it pays to know who will do well with what task. You also may see potential in a co-worker and challenge him or her by requesting a task that might be a bit outside the scope of his or her current responsibilities. This improves the overall skill set of the workforce, and helps build self-esteem in your co-workers.

Don’t Be Afraid to Delegate

There’s a difference between being a people person and being a people pleaser. Being a people person means you have a genuine love for people, but you’re not afraid to ask people to do things. Being a leader doesn’t mean doing everything yourself; it means you are comfortable giving up some control and delegating tasks to others.

Appreciate Co-Workers

No one wants to work for or with someone who doesn’t appreciate them. If you let everyone know you appreciate what they’ve done and how they’ve given their time and talents, it can go a long way. Remember that there would be no leaders if there weren’t any followers. People who are appreciated may be more likely to follow your lead next time.

Problem Solving

If you step up with ideas on how to solve dilemmas or problems, and have resourceful ideas about how to accomplish something, then speak up. Employers value the ability to think through a problem and find a creative solution. This is a valuable leadership quality that demonstrates you have what it takes to be an effective leader in the workplace.

Keys to Being an Effective Leader of Fellow Adults

An entirely different approach is called for, but some of the principles are the same no matter what age you’re leading.

Maybe you are going to be training a group of adults for a specific job, or perhaps you have to organize a community consignment sale. Maybe you need to find volunteers for a work or church function. There numerous situations where adults need to lead adults. Here are some keys to being an effective leader of your fellow adults.

Know Where You’re Going

No one wants to follow someone who has no idea where they’re going! Having a goal or vision is essential. It’s possible that goals may evolve or change as you go forward – it’s good to be flexible, too – but when you start out, having a clear vision can inspire others to follow you. If you really believe in it and know it can be done, your enthusiasm tends to be infectious. People like to get on board with someone who knows how to fly the plane!

Listen

As noted above, it’s good to be flexible, and that’s where listening comes in. As you express your vision and goal, even if it’s just getting things done well and on time, it’s a good idea to listen to the input of others. Someone might point out something you hadn’t taken into consideration, or he/she might have a good point about your choice of venue.

Obviously, a good leader can’t please every person’s whim, but you can take people’s concerns into consideration. If everyone seems to be saying the same thing, maybe you should change your plans a bit! People tend to appreciate a leader who listens, even if it doesn’t always mean change.

Clear Steps

In addition to a clear goal, you’ll need clear steps on how to reach that goal (or multiple goals). Explaining a “contagious” vision is great, but teaching people how you plan to realize that vision is just as important. It can seem unrealistic if you cannot clearly outline your plan. Break it down into manageable steps to present to the members in your group. A critical part of this, of course, is being organized.

Confidence

If you don’t believe in what you’re doing, how can you expect others to follow you? Make sure you are confident and certain of your plan and your methods. While it’s not a good idea to be so confident that you refuse to listen to anyone or pay attention to their concerns; demonstrating confidence and a clear vision, is contagious. Be sure of yourself and the goals that you want to accomplish.

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Check out all my learning opportunities at http://www.LittleMissHISTORY.com

MAYBE ONE STEP BACKWARD…. MY APOLOGIES!

My computer crashed and I have been down 2 1/1 days. So this post and everything else is late!

Bounce: Help Your Child Build Resilience and Thrive in School, Sports, and Life

Written by Dr. Kate Lund

The primary focus in this book is to teach parents, teachers, and community leaders how to foster resilience in the early stages in life so that children can develop their full potential. Children need to learn how to bounce back from misfortune and adversity in order to continue to move forward and ultimately achieve maximum potential. Young people must develop a tool box of coping skills to manage their frustrations and emotions. Lund presents seven pillars including navigating friendships and social pressures, sustaining focus and attention skills, developing courage, the motivation to succeed, and a spirit of confidence that will lead to optimism and continued forward momentum.

The author bases her book on her own personal experiences in overcoming challenges and studies of elementary school children as a psychologist for the past fifteen years. Lund includes a short autobiography and a list of resources for further study at the conclusion of her book. I would recommend this book to parents and teachers as well as anyone interested in developing the full potential of society’s future leaders.

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