A story for children about the fundamental connection between animals and people and how we can treat all of Earth’s creatures with compassion and empathy.
Furry polar bears, playful sea otters, slow sloths, prickly porcupines, and slimy snakes are just a few of the many animals we share our world with. And even though we might not look the same or have the same needs as our animal neighbors, we have more in common with them than we might think. Through full-color illustrations and simple language, Our Animal Neighbors introduces children to the importance of treating all animals with the care and compassion they deserve. We all want to experience love, safety, and respect and this book is the first step to instilling those ideals at an early age. This planet is our home, and we should all be free to live a prosperous life regardless of whether we have hands, hooves, scales, or fur.
Author(s): Matthieu Ricard, Jason Gruhl, & Becca Hall
Matthieu Ricard is a Buddhist monk who had a promising career in cellular genetics before leaving France to study Buddhism in the Himalayas thirty-seven years ago. He is a best-selling author, translator, and photographer, and an active participant in current scientific research on the effects of meditation on the brain. His many books include Why Meditate?, Happiness: A Guide to Developing Life’s Most Important Skill, and The Quantum and the Lotus. He lives in Nepal and dedicates much of his time to humanitarian projects in the Himalayas through his nonprofit organization Karuna-Shechen (www.karuna-shechen.com). For more information, visit www.matthieuricard.org (Source).
Jason Gruhl is the former Executive Director and founder of The Joshua School (a school for children with Autism Spectrum Disorders and Developmental Disabilities in Boulder and Denver, Colorado) and a Psychotherapist. Jason holds a master’s degree in Counseling Psychology and a bachelor’s degree in English and Psychology. He dedicates his life to helping others through meditation, writing, and self-discovery (Source).
Becca Hall is an illustrator based in the Lake District, England. Her work appears across the United Kingdom on stationery and giftware, and in children’s books. The illustrations for Our Animal Neighbors is the first time Becca’s work will appear in the US and around the world (Source).