Are you an avid reader looking for your next "fix"? Can't bear to be without some form of reading material in your spare time? Welcome to my world! Whether you are seeking a new book to "feed your need", or you are an author seeking an unbiased point of view on your own recent masterpiece, this is the place to be. With life as with books, you never know where the next step might take you...

Monday, July 10, 2023

AWARENESS TOUR: My Soul Treasure by Kate Searle - GUEST POST + GIVEAWAY!




Today on the blog, we've got the latest AWARENESS TOUR via The Children's Book Review featuring a Picture Book all about the treasure that is YOU!  It's kind and colorful, creative and filled with magic, AND coming to you right now ALONG WITH a special GUEST POST from the author sharing a few ways to help your "soul treasure" shine its brightest!  So, are you ready?  Well then, have a seat and open your heart and mind as we explore between the pages of...



by
Kate Searle
Illustrated by
Alison Mutton
Ages 4+ | 28 Pages
Publisher: Kate’s Soul Treasure (2022)
978-0645415421


About the book...

My Soul Treasure is a beautifully illustrated children’s book designed to teach children how to connect with their inner selves and cultivate self-awareness and self-love. It follows the story of a young girl who goes on a journey beyond her mind, body, and heart to discover her own inner treasures. The story includes positive affirmations and visualization exercises to help children develop mindfulness and self-reflection skills.






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~~~ GUEST POST with Author Kate Searle ~~~


How Can We Help Our Kids Soul Treasure Shine Bright?

Thank you Gina and your Insatiable Readers for having me on your blog! Today I would love to share with you two fun ways we can help our kid’s soul treasure shine bright!

But first let me quickly introduce you to the concept of our soul treasure. Every one of us is filled with treasure – these are our inner strengths! Our innate capabilities and talents that we are all born with. Our soul treasure shines bright when we feel joyful, connected, loved and safe. But as we know, the world can sometimes be a wild and woolly place. Upsetting things can happen that are outside our control, like we all experienced during the covid years.

So, what can we do to help navigate our lives with joy, even when we are faced with challenges? We can remember that we have a treasure-chest of inner strengths inside us, that we can tap into, which will help us navigate and ENJOY our lives. In my picture book, My Soul Treasure, I introduce you to seven of our soul treasures. Our rubies, opals, diamonds, emeralds, sapphires, amethysts and pearls. Each gem represents an inner strength we have and is depicted in stunning double-pages of vibrant colourful illustrations.

So let’s explore two of our soul treasures today and find out HOW we can help those soul gems shine bright.

First – we have soul rubies. These are our cosiness gems inside our soul. You might be wondering why being cosy is an inner strength. Well, the significance of embracing cosiness as an inner strength can’t be overstated. Just picture how it feels when you are snug, warm and content. You feel safe and calm, right? And when we feel safe and protected, we feel less anxious, less stressed. So, in a way, cosiness is an antidote to feeling anxiety. It diminishes stress and promotes the feeling of tranquillity. If you are interested in delving deep into the physical and emotional benefits of being cosy, there is abundant research.1 One of my favourite books on the topic is ‘The Little Book of Hygge’ by Mike Wiking.2 Now, let’s move onto the fun part – how can we help our children nurture their soul rubies, their precious cosiness gems?

One fun suggestion is to encourage the creation of cubbies! By building pillow forts or creating a tent of blankets and pillows in your living room. My kids just love making cubbies. They bring in their favourite teddy bears, torches and books to read and could spend hours in there just being cosy and snug! Although it momentarily makes a mess of our living room, the benefits of allowing our kids to spend time making cubbies is invaluable. It not only teaches them about the importance of self-care but equips them with tools and coping mechanisms they can carry through life. As they grow, they will remember that by embracing moments of cosiness and warmth, they internalise the essence of safety and develop a vital coping mechanism. Then, in times of need, they will instinctively choose to seek solace in a snug environment, to restore their well-being.

Secondly – let’s explore our soul opals, our dazzling creativity gems inside our soul! In My Soul Treasure, the vibrant orange illustrations leap off the page, igniting a sense of exhilaration, boundless possibilities and the unlimited potential we each have, to shape our lives. At times, we may feel stuck in a rut or feel like we are trapped in mundane routines. Our kids might feel overwhelmed by school or life changes. How can our soul opals help them in these moments? Well, by tapping into our inner strength of creativity an amazing transformation can take place. It unveils a new perspective and we can start to see the myriad of possibilities or choices that are available to us. Again, lots of research supports harnessing creativity to help overcome anxiety and heal from trauma.3 When we express ourselves through creative activities, stress and anxiety dissipates, making way for positive emotions to flourish, like joy and optimism. So, how can we help our kids to be creative and nurture their soul opals?

We can encourage them to immerse themselves in drawing, painting, making artwork or even whimsical ‘bits and bob’ box creations. A favourite creative activity in our home is free-style cooking! This might sound a little bit messy, but the temporary chaos pales in comparison to the sheer delight your kids will experience. My kids love choosing different ingredients from the fridge and pantry - flours, cocoa powder, crushed up cereals, mashed fruits - you name it! (I keep watch to make sure it’s all edible!). They enjoy mixing it all up, pouring it into a tray and baking it in the oven. Surprisingly they often actually enjoy eating their unique creations! Through this process, not only do they get to enjoy eating what they have made, but they learn the profound value of being an active participant in crafting their unique expressions. They get to feel a sense of autonomy, which helps to empower them and teaches them that being creative is a valuable coping mechanism we can utilise, whenever we feel stuck or anxiety arises.

So there you have it – cubby houses and free-style cooking! Two fun ways we can help our kid’s soul treasure shine bright. I hope you and your kids enjoy giving these a try!


1 https://www.verywellmind.com/health-benefits-of-hygge-4164281; https://www.houseofwellness.com.au/wellbeing/advice/hygge-make-happier-healthier

2 https://www.meikwiking.com/copy-of-the-little-book-of-lykke

3 https://extension.sdstate.edu/mental-health-and-creativity



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ABOUT THE AUTHOR


Kate Searle is a geologist, wife, and mum who lives in the southwest of Australia. Becoming a mother sparked Kate’s love of storytelling. She has an innate passion for instilling in children a sense of personal empowerment. She has woven her love of gemstones into her debut book, My Soul Treasure, to teach children about the incredible powers of their own souls.

For more information, visit www.soultreasures.com.au




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ABOUT THE ILLUSTRATOR


Alison Mutton is an illustrator from Perth, Western Australia, mainly working in the children’s and educational publishing fields. She holds a Bachelor of Arts (Hons) in Design & Illustration from Curtin University and has been a freelance illustrator for over ten years. When not illustrating, she likes to play the piano, needle felt, walk her dog, and swing dance.



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Enter the giveaway for a chance to win a signed hardcover copy of My Soul Treasure and a Kindle!


One (1) grand prize winner receives:

- A hardcover copy of My Soul Treasure, signed by Kate Searle
- A Kindle (2022 release)


Four (4) winners receive:

- A hardcover copy of My Soul Treasure, signed by Kate Searle






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Special thanks to Bianca at The Children's Book Review for the chance to bring this tour to you and for the copy for review. (THANKS!) This post is sponsored by Kate Searle. The review and opinions expressed in this post are based on my personal view. For more information on this title, the author, the illustrator, the publisher, this tour, or those on the horizon, feel free to click through the links provided above. Be sure to check out the rest of the stops on the tour for more bookish fun!


TOUR SCHEDULE

Monday, June 19, 2023
Book Review of My Soul Treasure

Tuesday, June 20, 2023
Author Interview with Kate Searle

Wednesday, June 21, 2023
Book Review of My Soul Treasure

Thursday, June 22, 2023
Author Interview with Kate Searle

Friday, June 23, 2023
Book Giveaway of My Soul Treasure

Monday, June 26, 2023
Book Review of My Soul Treasure

Tuesday, June 27, 2023
Book Review of My Soul Treasure

Wednesday, June 28, 2023
Book Review of My Soul Treasure

Thursday, June 29, 2023
Book Review of My Soul Treasure

Friday, June 30, 2023
Book Review of My Soul Treasure and Little Free Library 

Monday, July 3, 2023
Author Interview with Kate Searle

Wednesday, July 5, 2023
Book Review of My Soul Treasure

Thursday, July 6, 2023
Author Interview with Kate Searle

Friday, July 7, 2023
Book Review of My Soul Treasure

Monday, July 10, 2023
An Article by Kate Searle

Tuesday, July 11, 2023
Book Review of My Soul Treasure

Wednesday, July 12, 2023
Author Interview with Kate Searle


Until next time, remember...if it looks good, READ IT!


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