2024 NATIONAL MEDAL
for Museum and Library Service Finalist

Non-Fiction

Maid : Hard Work, Low Pay, and a Mother's Will to Survive

At 28, Stephanie Land's plans of breaking free from the roots of her hometown in the Pacific Northwest to chase her dreams of attending a university and becoming a writer, were cut short when a summer fling turned into an unexpected pregnancy. She turned to housekeeping to make ends meet, and with a tenacious grip on her dream to provide her daughter the very best life possible, Stephanie worked days and took classes online to earn a college degree, and began to write relentlessly.

 

Is Nothing Something?: Kids' Questions and Zen Answers About Life, Death, Family, Friendship, and Everything In-Between

"In Is Nothing Something? Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh answers heartfelt, difficult, and funny questions from children of all ages. Illustrated with original full-color artwork by Jessica McClure, Is Nothing Something? will help adults plant the seeds of mindfulness in the young children in their lives.

Sitting Still Like a Frog: Mindfulness Exercises for Kids (And Their Parents)

This little book is a very appealing introduction to mindfulness meditation for children and their parents. In a simple and accessible way, it describes what mindfulness is and how mindfulness-based practices can help children calm down, become more focused, fall asleep more easily, alleviate worry, manage anger, and generally become more patient and aware. The book contains eleven practices that focus on just these scenarios, along with short examples and anecdotes throughout.

Gratitude

The importance of appreciation and thankfulness are examined through accessible text.  There is a focus on how this character strength balances other qualities and gives successful people perspective and a healthy approach to life.

A Pebble for Your Pocket

Drawn from Thich Nhat Hanh's Dharma talks given to young people, A Pebble for Your Pocket presents the basic teachings of the Buddha in accessible and modern language. Combining the stories and meditation practices from the previous edition of A Pebble for your Pocket with those collected in Under the Rose Apple Tree plus several new stories, this completely revised edition is written in a conversational style, and is comprised of Buddhist parables, and stories from the author's own childhood experiences.