Sonny is a young grizzly bear with a scary dream. When he awakens in the spring, his mother teaches him how to hunt for food – which includes those red, monster salmon fish he remembers from his dreams! While Sonny learns many things, as summer ends, his mother advises that a big lesson is coming his way. Slumbering deep inside his winter den, Sonny once again encounters the monster fish. Drawing upon his mother’s teachings and his own strength, Sonny learns how to move past his fears, marching out into the world that spring to become “a master fisher in the Land of the Midnight Sun.” This is a lovely story with bright, dreamy illustrations by Anchorage author and illustrator Noriko Senshu. Dedicated to “all friends who have bad dreams,” both children and parents will enjoy the gentle wisdom of Sonny’s tale.

For Opening to Intuition ~ A Book for Young Teens
Karen Kimball & The Dream Weaver’s Web
By Cynthia Sue Larson (iUniverse, 2003, $12.95 ~ see www.realityshifters.com)

As bioenergetic field researcher Cynthia Sue Larson asks, “How can a girl who talks to spirits and animals ever fit in?” This is the gist of Larson’s first novel, written primarily for young adults, though certainly a great read for us “older adults” too. Ten-year-old Karen Kimball feels like she doesn’t belong. The odd one in her family, sensitive and a loner, Karen is just discovering her ability to sense the thoughts of others and travel outside her body when she is sent to swim camp for the summer. Although shy and uncertain, Karen makes friends with cabin mates and the camp’s cooks, Gill and Charlotte, who provide guidance, support and encouragement as a dangerous mystery unfolds. “You are connected to all that is, so the spirit in all that is talks to you through everything around you,” Charlotte explains to Karen, encouraging her to trust her senses, feelings and intuition above superficial appearances.

This is a fun, exciting, fast-paced book that would be an excellent introduction for any teen or preteen interested in learning more about opening to psychic ability. Although it is not a “how-to,” kids will definitely get a sense of how so much more is possible than we often believe. This is a great story for kids to enjoy alone or to read together as a family during long winter evenings.

For Revisioning Our World ~ A Book for Older Teens and Adults
A Revolution In Kindness
Edited by Anita Roddick (Anita Roddick Books, 2003, $12.95 ~ see www.AnitaRoddick.com)

The subtitle of this small but potent little book is: Fierce, Tenacious and Visionary Views on Kindness. What would a society based on kindness look like? What would the health system be like if it were kinder? What if the media were required to be kind? What if politicians were required to be kind? What would the world look like if religion were kind? These are a just a few of the questions pondered by a fascinating group of people from around the world – celebrities, political prisoners, publishers and musicians to philosophers, homeless vendors and CEOs. The essays, answers and quotes collected are for the most part short and direct, not only exploring the concept of kindness, but offering a deeper perspective and revisioning of our world.

Editor Anita Roddick – who as a young mother founded The Body Shop over 25 years ago – based her first store on the idea that “businesses have the power to do good.” Many scoffed at Roddick’s initial idea to marry capitalism with social responsibility, though 1700 shops and a global network of fair-trade suppliers later, Roddick has shown that seeing the best in others and oneself does indeed have the power to revolutionize. This is an easy to read book that holds some hearty, soulful food for thought.

For Embracing Miracles ~ A Book for Healers and Those Seeking Healing
Coyote Healing: Miracles in Native Medicine
By Lewis Mehl-Madrona (Bear & Company, 2003; $16.00)

Physician, clinical psychiatrist and author Lewis Mehl-Madrona notes that miracles – as well as stories of miracles – are important for all of us because they remind us that our perceptions and beliefs are limitations rather than facts. In this engaging book of inspiring stories, Mehl-Mardrona combines Native American healing with integrative medicine while guiding readers to observe the deeper lessons in all aspects of healing.

So, why is this Coyote healing? Coyote is the Native trickster, jester, friend and teacher, showing us how to lighten up and laugh. “Coyote has taught me the wisdom of making people laugh, of helping people to take themselves and their painful situations less seriously as a precursor to healing,” writes Mehl-Madrona. “I work like Coyote. I give people experiences that challenge their usual worldview. I introduce constructive chaos, trusting the inner healer in all my patients to reorganize perceptions and beliefs toward a state of greater healing. I teach people to welcome the unexpected, learning flexibility and resiliency. This is the essence of Coyote – the only animal whose territory and range have spread despite encroaching civilization. Coyote is a survivor, as we all hope to be.”