Better than a thousand hollow words, is one word

that brings peace.

- Buddha

Ah, c’mon Buddha.  What’s the word?  Don’t leave us hanging here.  Seriously, you’re not going to tell us?  Must be opposite day.  How very… un-peaceful of you.

Authors Tom Rath and Mary Reckmeyer fill buckets every time someone reads their children’s book How Full Is Your Bucket? for Kids.  So does illustrator Maurie J. Manning.  Want to learn how?

The aptly titled How Full Is Your Bucket? for Kids is based on the adult edition How Full Is Your Bucket, a #1 New York Times bestseller.  This delightful and empowering story teaches children and adults what bucket filling is all about.

First we learn that we each have our own imaginary bucket.  Granted, some children are not thinking in metaphors at the age they most enjoy picture books.  In my humble opinion, a little guidance may be in order while reading to your young, concrete thinking child.  We don’t literally have buckets of water floating above our heads all day long.  We can, however, learn which actions fill us up and which ones empty us, that is, with a little help from a bucket.

How do we feel when our buckets are empty?

How do we react to other people when that happens?

How do other people react to us?

Manning’s beautiful illustrations help address these important questions and more in a lighthearted, easy to understand way.

I must admit, I initially grew a bit concerned while reading examples of how to fill our buckets.  Felix, the main character, began to fill his own empty bucket by receiving compliments from others.  I wholeheartedly support cheering for children after a job well done.  I do not agree, however, with encouraging reliance on praise in order to feel good about ourselves.  Better to form internal mechanisms for self empowerment than to create unhealthy dependence on other people’s opinions.  Then again, that’s just my opinion.

As it turns out, my concern only lasted for, oh, a fraction of a moment.  The authors, being the research focused professionals that they are, include a variety of ways to fill our own buckets.  They placed plenty of emphasis on one of my favorite bucket-filling methods, helping other people fill theirs.

If you’re a parent, you most likely have already filled your child’s bucket numerous times today.  If you would like a helpful tool for empowering them to do the same, I highly recommend How Full Is Your Bucket? for Kids.  Published by Gallup Press, you can find it along with other Tom Rath bestsellers here.

Parents of 10-14 year olds, you will find resources to help discover your child’s strengths there as well.

Care to help fill some more buckets today (including yours)?  Spread the word about this empowering children’s book!  Pin it.  Tweet it.  Share it.  Find your favorite link below.

If you enjoy this month’s inspiring book find you might also like:

• Incredible You and Unstoppable Me!
• The Dot, Ish and
• The 7 Habits of Happy Kids

Links to Inner Pieces Gallery book finds are non-affiliate links.  They are provided simply for the joy of sharing good books and for supporting the work of inspiring authors and illustrators. Want to show your support, too?  Share this post!

As luck would have it, I didn’t need to travel very far in order to bring you this month’s inspirational design find.  It was already waiting for me in my own back yard!

I am thrilled to introduce you to Hadas Kol, a talented designer, creative artist and mother of 3 living in Davis, CA.  Hello, neighbor!  Because her K-Collection boutique kitchen play sets for children are born of sustainable materials, they already begin with a story all their own.

My kitchens are inspired by an old wood cabinet, a broken night stand or just scrap wood. I use sustainable materials and accessories, day-to-day objects that are all around us and are closest to the “real thing” for our children.

Want to know what I love most about her kids’ play kitchens?  Well that’s easy.  Everything!

Hadas finds a variety of wood furniture pieces from days gone by and breathes new life into them.

Love that.

With a big splash of creativity, plenty of elbow grease and a whole lot of heart she transforms something old into a uniquely adorable new treasure.

Love love love!

The best part is, okay, they’re ALL the best parts, but here’s another one, anyway… each, handcrafted life-like kids’ play kitchen set is a one of a kind piece, offering your one of a kind child a classy, tailor made place to let imagination run free!

Love with a double scoop of more love on top!

To be honest, with all the care and attention that Hadas puts into each of her creations, I’m not exactly sure how she keeps her prices so reasonable.  If you are looking to create a home environment that nurtures your child’s freedom to shine, hurry over to see more K-Collection images.  You’ll also get to see what some of her kids’ play kitchens looked like BEFORE the transformation.  (Wow!)  And if you love them as I do, I welcome you to share this post!

February’s feature of the month is all about style – The Elephants of Style that is!

As you may have noticed from my monthly book finds here at Inner Pieces Gallery, I happen to love books.  I get a kick out of this writing thing, too.  And illustrating?  Fuhgetaboutit!

Creating an illustration about a book about writing, well that just seems natural, don’t you think?

For all you writers out there cringing at my fragmented sentences and yikes! rule breaking, you are correct.   My jumping off point for this illustration was Strunk and White’s writing guide The Elements of Style.   Once I jumped, however, I embraced what Inner Pieces Gallery is really all about.  That is, celebrating and encouraging freedom of self-expression.  So, in true IPG fashion, I self-expressed myself all over the place and The Elephants of Style was born.

What comes to mind when you think of high style?  I think of 1920’s Art Deco fashion.  A flapper dress, a zoot suit and pearly white accessories were just what these elephants needed to express their own stylish selves.

Whether you express yourself best with writing, or with fashion, or in some other way (decorating your child’s room, perhaps?) these elephants have a message for you.  Whatever you love, embrace it boldly!  Celebrate what you’re made of and your child will follow suit.

Ah yes, that’s me embracing a little punny humor there.

If this elephant print (hah, there I go again) puts a smile on your face you might also enjoy two more illustrations that complete the series:

The Art of the Smart, an ode to entrepreneurs, artists and creatives, and

 An Ewe Earth, a whimsical wink at Eckhart Tolle and fans of mindful living.  Or fans of sheep.  Sheep fans might like this one, too.

Visit Where the Wall Things Are to learn more about this illustration series as a tool for empowering children.   Or go directly to Image Kind for art prints and canvas art.  You’ll find plenty of frames and sizes to suit your individual style.

Prefer your images on a tote bag?  Find them all at Born to Be Zen.

Here’s another way to express yourself.

Simple.  Share this post!

I believe that you cannot start early enough to teach the essential lessons of living a successful and peaceful life.

- Dr. Wayne Dyer in the introduction to his children’s book Incredible You

Well said, Dr. Dyer!

Admittedly, Dr. Dyer’s inspirational books for adults are not for everyone.  After all, he did voluntarily rid himself of all possessions and live in silence for a year.   We might admire his strength and courage, but not many of us can relate with such a deep commitment to learning the benefits of stillness.   Some might even call it a bit “strange.”

When it comes to his children’s books, however, the spiritually squeamish have nothing to fear.  His concepts are very much down to earth.   

Both books featured here include 10 important life lessons.  Unstoppable Me, for instance, reminds us that it doesn’t matter if people think we’re strange.  (Phew!) 

Note:  Wayne Dyer clearly has the successful, peaceful life to prove it!

Incredible You – 10 Ways to Let your Greatness Shine Through

Written by Dr. Wayne W. Dyer with Kristina Tracy.  Illustrated by Melanie Siegel.

Based on his earlier work, 10 Secrets for Success and Inner Peace.  

Teaches children they have everything they need within themselves to create happy, successful lives.  Includes lessons such as:

• the power of your thoughts,
• visualizing your dreams, and
• celebrating individuality.

Unstoppable Me! – 10 Ways to Soar Through Life

Written by Dr. Wayne W. Dyer with Kristina Tracy.  Illustrated by Stacy Heller Budnick.

Based on his earlier work, What Do You Really Want for Your Children.

Reinforces no-limit thinking with lessons such as:

• the value of taking risks,
• dealing with stress and anxiety, and
• learning to enjoy each moment.

What I love most about these books is that they include discussion questions about each of the 10 concepts.  Not only do the questions help reinforce life lessons and encourage critical thinking, but parents have an opportunity to open up a dialogue in a fun, relaxed way.  Who knows, your children might reveal something new about what’s happening in that lovely little noggin of theirs!

If you like these book finds you might also like:

The 7 Habits of Happy Kids

The Dot, Ish and

Beautiful Oops!

Links to any Inner Pieces Gallery book finds are non-affiliate links.  They are provided simply for the joy of sharing good books and for supporting the work of inspiring authors.  Want to show your support, too?  Share this post!

Enthusiasm is a supernatural serenity.

-Henry David Thoreau

Oh goodie.  Do I get a cape for that?  I like capes.

Not signed up for my newsletter?  You’re missing out on some fun freebies for the kids each month.  Sign up in the sidebar to receive subscriber-only First Friday Freebies.  And if you like this quote, pick your favorite way to share it below!

Many parents, child development professionals and learning specialists know it.

The development of good balance in infancy and early childhood can profoundly affect how well we learn and eventually read later in life.

Learning is fun, right?

Reading is fun!

Not always so for children whose vestibular system is, well, off balance.

An underdeveloped vestibular system, the part of the brain that keeps us from toppling over, among other things, may be at the heart of many struggles with learning, reading, concentration, language, and even emotional difficulties.

Why is balance so important?

1)  Balance is the foundation for most motor skills.

2)  It helps us walk, hop, skip, play, sit in our chairs without falling over.  (Are you propping up your head in your hands as you read this?  I hear that Tai Chi can work wonders for good balance.)

3)  Balance is important in

- perceptual motor development (i.e. How do I make my hand draw this letter I see?)

- directionality (i.e. Which way is that letter facing?  Is that a b or a d?)

- spatial organization (i.e. Where does this shape belong in relation to the others?)

- and other critical skills required for efficient learning.

4)  Balance and coordination skills allow children to interact with their environment, which allows for new experiences, which allows for more connections in the brain.

No wonder I immediately fell in love with Balance Animals created by the designers at The snowroom in Sweden.  Just to be perfectly clear, The snowroom makes no claims that Balance Animals will make your baby smarter.

Here’s the Inner Pieces Gallery perspective on that:

As long as we’re looking for great design for our homes,

and we LOVE pieces that are just as fun to look at as they are fun for kids to play with,

and we appreciate designers who keep the environment in mind,

Balance Animals already deliver.   Why not enjoy the added benefits of helping children develop their sense of balance and POTENTIALLY boost their brain power, too?

If you would like a Balance Animal of your own visit The snowroom’s website and contact their office in Sweden.  If you do, and your baby just happens to become a genius, you can always come back and thank me for the tip!

For now, though, I’m happy to send you more design inspiration like this when you sign up for my newsletter.

And don’t be shy about sharing this post.  After all, your well balanced child genius is sure to want some well balanced child genius friends, don’t you think?

January is right around the time that I start dreaming of Spring, my favorite season.  Yes, I DO realize that winter has barely just begun.  But c’mon, what’s a sun worshipper to do but to dream of, well, more sun?

January is also the time that my local chapter of the Make-A-Wish Foundation, one of my favorite charities (I suspect you’ve heard of it), holds its SPECTACULAR Winter Wine and Food Fest at the Sacramento Convention Center.  This year my paper flower piece titled Petal Power is taking part in the silent auction portion of the event.   THAT means Petal Power will bring uplifting visual fun to a good home (that of the winning bidder, of course) AND will help raise funds for children battling life threatening medical conditions.  Now that’s what I call real power!

Even beyond all that, Petal Power is no ordinary paper flower.  Look a little deeper and you may notice that multiple layers of negative space create a positive, uplifting image.  Do you also believe in the power of mindfulness?   Visit my Lacuna Décor page to learn more about the deeper meaning of this unusual style.

You may also have noticed that this modern paper flower in pinks and whites makes a beautiful statement in any girl’s room, teen’s room, or nursery.  Keep in mind, however, that Petal Power and other Lacuna Décor pieces include custom colors and personalization.  This one says “GROW!” but you are welcome to customize it with your flower-loving friend’s name instead.  Best of all, this decorative paper flower

• never needs watering or weeding,
• never dies,
• blooms all year round,
• and is a delightful way to nurture a little piece of Spring, a natural time for growth and renewal.

And for homebodies like me, or for any Make-A-Wish kids stuck indoors all day, it can serve as the perfect visual reminder of the deep and rich beauty of life.

Thank you, Make-A-Wish, for all that you do to put smiles on children’s faces.  I am happy to play a tiny part in helping wishes come true!

The MAW Winter Wine & Food Fest takes place in Sacramento, CA on January 28, 2012.

For more information or to make a donation click here.

As always, please spread the word.  Choose your favorite way to share below.

The deepest waters make the least noise.

-Guatemalan proverb

Yes, that may be true.  So is this one…

Beware of quiet children.  They’re plotting something.

-Mothers everywhere

To receive subscriber-only First Friday Freebies for the kids sign up in the sidebar to the right (plus enjoy weekly blog posts to inspire, educate and entertain).  And if you like this quote, find your favorite way to share it below!

I interrupt your regularly scheduled Inner Pieces Gallery Book Find to bring you a special offer alert!

Margie over at Wonda Wedge LOVES teachers, as do I.  If you teach, head on over to www.wondawedge.com and ask about her special discount just for you.

Even if you’re not a teacher, Margie has still “got your back.”  It’s true that her inflatable, easy to travel with, waterproof, comfy, cozy wedge “chair” gives great support for endless activities, but I like it best for READING!

Reading in bed, reading at the pool or park, reading at the beach or in the RV.

Reading in a boat, or with a goat …

Okay, maybe not that last one.  Goats kind of scare me, a little.  Long story.  For another time… or maybe I’ll just keep that one to myself.

Wondawedge can instantly convert your child’s bookshelf into a delightful reading nook.

Here’s a great gift idea that any reader or teacher would love:

• One tote bag, like The Elephants of Style (wink wink), filled with
• one Wondawedge, or 2 or 10,
• and an overflowing amount of some fabulously empowering books!

Oh, and isn’t that a crazy coincidence? I just so HAPPEN to have already reviewed a few of my favorite books for you:

• The 7 Habits of Happy Kids
• The Dot, Ish and
• Beautiful Oops!

Weird, huh?

However you enjoy your reading, be it sitting, reclining, or lying down, Wondawedge will give you an edge!  And no, I don’t receive any special credit for your purchase, but I’d still love it if you share this post!