“Kitty O’Meara…offers us wisdom that can help during the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond. She is challenging us to grow."—Deepak Chopra, MD, author, Metahuman “Kitty O'Meara is the poet laureate of the pandemic"—O, The Oprah Magazine "An eloquent, heartwarming reflection that will resonate with generations to come… encouragement for a brighter tomorrow."—Kate Winslet "And the People Stayed Home is an uplifting perspective on the resilience of the human spirit and the healing potential we have to change our world for the better." ––Shelf Awareness “Images of nature healing show the author’s vision of hope for the future…The accessible prose and beautiful images make this a natural selection for young readers, but older ones may appreciate the work’s deeper meaning.”— Kirkus Reviews “This is a perfectly illustrated version of a poem that continues to be relevant.”—School Library Journal “A stunning and peaceful offering of introspection and hope.”—The Children’s Book Review Ten Best Children’s Books of 2020: "A calming, optimistic read, and a salve for children trying their best to navigate this time." —Smithsonian Magazine “It captured the kind of optimism people need right now.”—Esquire (UK) “Thank you, Kitty O'Meara…for pointing out that at this very moment, this very day, we can seize the opportunity to restore wholeness to our world."—Sy Montgomery, bestselling author of The Good Good Pig and The Soul of an Octopus “A poem by American writer Kitty O’Meara has deservedly gone viral.”—Edinburgh Evening News And the People Stayed Home is a beautifully produced picture book featuring Kitty O’Meara’s popular, globally viral prose poem about the coronavirus pandemic, which has a hopeful and timeless message. Kitty O’Meara, author of And the People Stayed Home, has been called the “poet laureate of the pandemic.” This illustrated children’s book (ages 4-8) will also appeal to readers of all ages. O’Meara’s thoughtful poem about the pandemic, quarantine, and the future suggests there is meaning to be found in our shared experience of the coronavirus and conveys an optimistic message about the possibility of profound healing for people and the planet. Her words encourage us to look within, listen deeply, and connect with ourselves and the earth in order to heal. O’Meara, a former teacher and chaplain and a spiritual director, clearly captures important aspects of the pandemic experience. Her words, written in March 2020 and shared on Facebook, immediately resonated nationally and internationally and were widely circulated on social media, covered in mainstream news media, and inspired an outpouring of creativity from musicians, dancers, artists, filmmakers, and more. The many highlights include an original composition by John Corigliano that was premiered by Renée Fleming.

This is a beautifully produced picture book of Kitty O'Meara's popular, globally viral prose poem about the coronavirus pandemic, which has a hopeful and timeless message. Kitty O'Meara, author of And the People Stayed Home, has been called the poet laureate of the pandemic by O, The Oprah Magazine. This illustrated and beautifully produced children's book will also appeal to readers of all ages. O'Meara's prose poem, with its hopeful and timeless message about healing of people and the Earth, written in March 2020, quickly went viral on a global level. O'Meara, a former teacher and chaplain, clearly captured an important aspect of the pandemic experience's zeitgeist while offering a thoughtful and optimistic view of the future. Her words have resonated nationally and internationally and been widely circulated on social media, mainstream news media, and have inspired an outpouring of creativity with musicians across the globe creating songs, filmmakers creating videos, artists creating imagery with the words, and much more. Major media and influencers who have shared the poem or written about O'Meara include: a feature in O Magazine, Deepak Chopra read the piece on his daily podcast and shared it on FaceBook, and Bella Hadid shared her poem. The book will build on this momentum and vastly expand the potential audience. Producing a book for children and their families will bring O'Meara's message to a wider audience and present it in a different and more permanent format."--Provided by publisher.

When the World Stayed Home By: Julianne Reis, M.S., CCC‐SLP; Illustrated by Kaylee Viets, M.S. CF-SLP As a new coronavirus spread across the world and countries began to implement mandatory lockdowns, everyone’s lives began to change. The associated stress felt by people of all people of all ages, including children. When the World Stayed Home was written and illustrate by two-speech-language pathologists from New York, which became the epicenter of the pandemic. Children are taken through an educational experience where they learn about the virus, how to prevent the spread of germs, the purpose of staying home, and the many changes that took place as the world reopened. This heartwarming story highlights some of the adventures and enjoyable experiences that occurred during this time period, while also broaching the importance of expressing gratitude to those who aided their community. It thoughtfully acknowledges the emotional burden that children assumed without truly understanding why. Young minds will feel inspired and appreciated for their own role in overcoming the pandemic. The charming illustrations are sure to spark endless conversations with curious readers. As an added bonus, this book includes a scrapbook section for children and parents to document their journey through this historic time.

The COVID-19 pandemic of 2020 has created massive disruption in kids' lives around the world. As adults it's our responsibility to learn about this virus and to keep our communities safe. This book is meant to help parents and teachers discuss COVID-19 with children and teach them about the virus and how we can stay healthy. Things are scarier when we don't understand them. The first half of the book is a kid's book that tells the story of two puppies learning about COVID-19; the second half is meant for adults and is a short explanation of what is happening and what we can do about it. After reading the back half you will be ready to discuss COVID-19 with your kids. Remember, together we can beat this.

The Rare, Tiny Flower illustrates a deeply touching and thoughtful poem by Kitty O’Meara that, in the form of a parable, celebrates difference, tolerance, and unity. Written by O’Meara in Fall 2020, The Rare, Tiny Flower is in many ways thematically similar to And the People Stayed Home in that it is a commentary on difficult current situations in our world and offers hope for resolution and growth. The poem features a mysterious flower that looks different to each viewer, which leads to strife as everyone insists that their vision is “right.” Leaders and even a botanist are unable to agree on the nature of the flower—it takes a young girl to point out that the flower is, in fact, quite multidimensional. Remarkably, she has the ability to be heard by the squabbling masses, who then see beyond their fighting and commit to connecting with one another. O’Meara’s thoughtful poem includes people realizing and voicing this important lesson: One day, a very special flower blooms in a forest. A special and unusual flower! No one can agree on what color it is. That’s because it looks different to different people. And that’s when the fighting starts… It takes a young girl to point out the truth. But will the people listen?

How do we make sense of the global pandemic and its impact to our lives? This story offers a genuine and heartening take on the experience of families navigating the COVID pandemic at home, reminding us of the hope, joy, and gratitude we can find together, even in the face of difficulty. With colorful pictures and relatable language, this book is written for preschool kids and humans of all ages living through the pandemic together. Take care of yourselves and each other.

Our Bodies Stay Home, Our Imaginations Run Free helps children ages 6-10+ navigate their scary new world due to the coronavirus. Seven-year-old Maya is struggling with her feelings as she misses her classmates and teacher, her friends, her grandparents, and visits to her favorite places. And even worse, her 8th birthday is coming up during quarantine. How can she possibly have a party? With her family's help, Maya understands she needs to do her part to help her family and community. Practicing proper handwashing, wearing a mask, and social distancing are needed. She finds joy in making masks, watching nature, and creative play from afar. Maya is amazed when she has the best 8th birthday party ever.