My First Book of Zen: Simple Wisdom for Children

"The beginning of the story explains, "Zen. It's a nice word, small enough to fit in your pocket and take anywhere." […] The notes that the children's mother leaves them have a huge impact on the way they see the world and how they behave. My First Book of Zen promotes thoughtfulness, tranquility, kindness, and awareness. It is a joy to read at any age." —Blue Wolf Reviews

Follow two children on a gentle journey as they receive notes and messages from their mother, discovering the beauty and wisdom of Zen along the way.

Change is in the air.
Oak leaves are gently falling like hands waving. Hello trees.
You will soon have a change of outfit, with lacy, delicate branches reaching for the sky.

My First Book of Zen is an invitation for young minds to explore the gentle teachings of Zen philosophy. Through a day in the life of two children, young readers encounter messages of presence, kindness, and connection to the world around them.

Each of the nine moments encourages curiosity and reflection, helping children develop an appreciation for nature's beauty and the peace found in still moments. Enchanting watercolor illustrations by award-winning artist Tracy Gallup paint the soft moods of Zen and capture a sense of inner calm. Each image is paired with a thoughtful message and a quote from an inspirational thinker—like the haiku master Issa, Zen philosophers D.T. Suzuki and Alan Watts, or the Dalai Lama—offering a quiet space for reflection.

A perfect book for bedtime and fostering moments of calm, My First Book of Zen sows the seeds of inner harmony, compassion, gratitude, and a lasting love for the natural world.

Tracy Gallup is an author and lifelong artist. She holds a BFA from Eastern Michigan University and an MFA in painting from Syracuse University. Tracy worked as an elementary school art teacher for many years, celebrating imagination and childhood in her art. She is the author and illustrator of eleven children's books, including My First Book of Haiku Poems, which won the Northern Lights Book Award (2020), the Skipping Stones Honor Award (2019), and was chosen for the Notable Poetry Book and Verse Novel list (2020) by the National Council of Teachers of English. She lives in Ann Arbor, Michigan, with her husband.