Meet beloved children's book author Trudy Ludwig, who truly lives up to the motto on her website: “Making a difference in kids’ lives, one book at a time.” Educators, parents, families, and children will recognize such beloved titles as The Invisible Boy; Quiet Please, Owen McPhee; The Power of One: Every Act of Kindness Counts; Just Kidding, and Sorry. This year has been a big year for Trudy, as she has two books coming out: Brave Every Day, which was released this summer, and Calling the Wind, which is coming out in October. 

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[02:23] Check out the full show notes for details about the origins of Calling the Wind, a picture book about grief, loss, and hope illustrated by Kathryn Otoshi.

We wanted the wind to actually be a character in the story representing grief, personified by the intensity of the wind. It ebbs and flows, comes and goes, and it's always there with you.  I felt that kids really needed to have a story to help them understand grief and the grieving process, because in our Western culture, we really don't do a good job addressing grief. And I thought this would be a beautiful vehicle..to show the power of human connection and the process of healing in our grief.

[08:31] "Making a difference in kids’ lives: one book at a time." shapes the way she approaches writing for kids -- and the adults in their lives. 

[09:31] Books have power to help kids navigate their social world on a daily basis and to serve as windows, mirrors and sliding glass doors.

[10:57] Neuroscience supports reading well written literature can boost empathy in readers. 

[12:09] Kindness is an action verb. 

You know what caring grownups and supportive peers can do? They can help you get through the hurt... And I'm trying to show them when you connect in positive ways, oh, it's magical. It's just magical.

[27:06] Brave Every Day, co-created with illustrator Patrice Barton, addresses anxiety.

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*Disclosure: I am a Bookshop.org. affiliate.