Prime Time Emmy Award-winning honored TV animator author and illustrator Asian American Donna Kay Lau has again brought you a beautiful story to share both in the classroom and at home to restore "Hope for Our Environment-Through a Buddhist Lens" to enlighten you and delight you.

Hope for Our Environment'-Through a Buddhists Lens brings you closer to the trees and nature. Teaching children about being good stewards of our environment.

The teaching of the Buddha occurs sprinkled in like tiny seeds to teach in a gentle way of being in harmony and calmness through meditation and learning the basic Buddhist teaching of "thinking good thoughts, speaking good words, and doing good deeds" the children demonstrate how to be compassionate and empathetic towards their environment and each other as it "matters" and gives them "hope" for the future knowing that they can participate in doing good deeds for the environment and having 'Hope for Our Environment."

There are many demonstrations of many different things the kids can incorporate in their own lives and also gives them hope for the environment," also working together and encouraging each other to never give up "hope' for our environment or each other.

When someone is down let us give them the encouragement to never give up and to have "hope." This is an inspirational story and the teaching of the Buddha to be good stewards of our environment and what we care about and always have compassion for each other.

Learning the importance of reusing recycling and repurposing for the care of our environment. The characters also plant and save seeds in a garden and show patience, and care while making compost. Revitalizing the practice of seed saving is vital for the world's collective food security

They also experience disappointment but then learn to make the best out of the situation causing them to fail and not give up. Finding another solution is always the way.

You don't have to be a kid to enjoy the story it's a sweet inspirational story to never give up on caring for our environment and also reminds and teaches us that we also need to save seeds for the future trees, plants, and flowers.

By working together we can all make a difference and we can all regain our hope to be good stewards and care for what we love. Being in the moment enjoying the things that trees can give us like fruit from a guava tree and shade underneath a Bodhi tree are times to be present and in the moment. Modeling how meditation can be very calming and a great introduction for kids to see and might even be possible to try after reading what meditation is and how it feels. They might want to try this too. Just close your eyes and relax...ah calmness.

A few mentions of Buddhism cause curiosity for both children and adults to want to learn more about the teachings and stories of the Buddha in a gentle way. A great way for children to be exposed to another religion to learn and be open and inquisitive and use their curiosity.

Anyone who cares about our environment and wants to plant seeds with the young to continue caring will enjoy the hope for our environment

Spoiler alert...This beautifully illustrated book has drawings of children's Bodhi tree leaves that are shared through the end pages in the beginning and at the end of the story like a hug from the kids wrapped with "HOPE" and Love. Enjoy the uniqueness and beauty through their eyes expressed through "Art'. The 'A' in STEAM. Also includes a lesson about "Biodiversity' and that we are all connected including through our environment, the "S' Science in S.T.E.A.M.

Hope for Our Environment-Through a Buddhist lens may just give you 'HOPE" too and a curiosity to learn the teachings of the Buddha in your life too.

Look for Donna Kay Lau's new book series "Surf Soup" and soon to be cartoon series, full of adventure, silly characters and stories and more.