Chelo Manchego Book order

What do you do when your inner "Want Monster" is out of control--again? This quirky, engaging picture book brings mindfulness practice to a problem that all kids--and even adults--can relate to. It's a scenario that is familiar to all parents: you and your child are in a toy store, or walking past an ice cream truck and instantaneously, your child's "want monster" kicks into high gear. Often, giving in only leads to more and more wanting. What to do? The Want Monsters takes a unique and humorous look at how one boy learns how to calm Oskar, his "Want Monster." He says that often Oskar is a fun and lively companion, urging him to push the envelope in all sorts of situations--eating too much ice cream, playing video games until his thumbs fall off, needing to be the center of attention "way too much." But the boy gets tired of the drama and fallout from it, and, after getting some advice from a wise worm, finds a way to tame Oskar without hurting his feelings--or destroying the good and motivating energy that "wanting" can also generate. This is a warm and relatable story for children ages 4-8, with beautiful, bright drawings that are executed with humor and subtlety.

Little Royal is a big fish in a small pond and all the other fish do his bidding. But when he takes his big attitude to other ponds, he learns a valuable lesson about humility and compassion, in this wise and witty picture book for kids ages 4-8. "I am the very big fish of my very little pond and when I demand: 'Me! Now!' all of my very little fish bow down to me. They scrub my tail and blow bubbles on my scales. So, I chant, 'Long live myself!' Because I am the biggest and brightest most beautiful fish in the kingdom of Me." Little Royal lords over his domain--until he learns from a wandering frog that there are bigger ponds and more exotic creatures elsewhere. His heart propels him to leave his pond to explore them, fully expecting that he will be eminent ruler--but what he encounters turns out to be humbling and uncomfortable, but ultimately very freeing. As Little Royal's journey unfolds and his world expands, Manchego's skillful, nuanced watercolor illustrations change from pale and delicate to lush and luminous, speaking to the increasing complexity both of what Little Royal encounters and his conflicting emotions. The effect is profound and poignant.