Celebrating Meaningful Stories: Living Now Book Awards Winners in Children’s Inspirational Picture Books
The Living Now Book Awards honor books that support conscious living, emotional awareness, and positive social values — stories that help readers grow with intention, empathy, and curiosity. In the Children’s Inspirational Picture Book category, the focus is not only on engaging storytelling, but on books that encourage thoughtful reflection, kindness, and connection with the world around us.
This year’s winners showcase three distinct yet deeply aligned approaches to inspiring young readers. From caring for shared spaces, to learning how dreams grow stronger when shared, to rethinking boredom as a gateway to curiosity, each book offers a gentle but powerful message suited for today’s children.
Below, I’m sharing reviews of the Gold, Silver, and Bronze winners in this category:
GOLD: Cora’s Garden Rescue by Sally Kashner, illustrated by Remesh Ram
SILVER: Paper Airplanes by Jennifer Li
BRONZE: Are You Bored? by Monika Marzec
Together, these books reflect the heart of the Living Now Awards — honoring stories that nurture emotional growth, community awareness, and mindful engagement in ways children can truly understand.
Caring for a Garden - and for Each Other
Awarded a Gold Medal in the Living Now Book Awards Cora’s Garden Rescue is a warm, community-focused picture book that shows how caring for nature can bring people together. When Cora notices that a beloved local garden is neglected and at risk, she doesn’t turn away. Instead, she chooses to act — and in doing so, discovers that even small efforts can spark meaningful change.
At the heart of the story is the idea that environmental care and kindness are deeply connected. Cora’s concern grows into collaboration as neighbors begin to help, transforming the garden into a shared space once again. The narrative emphasizes participation rather than heroics: the garden isn’t saved by one big gesture, but by consistent care, teamwork, and shared responsibility.
The illustrations support this message with inviting scenes of growth and renewal. As the garden changes, so does the atmosphere of the community around it — visually reinforcing the idea that green spaces nurture more than plants. They encourage connection, pride, and a sense of belonging, especially for young readers who may be encountering ideas of environmental stewardship for the first time.
Cora’s Garden Rescue offers a hopeful and accessible introduction to caring for shared spaces. It gently encourages children to notice their surroundings, value cooperation, and understand that protecting nature often begins right where they live. A thoughtful read for families, classrooms, and community-minded discussions.
When a Small Folded Dream Brings People Together
Awarded a Silver Medal in the Living Now Book Awards Paper Airplanes: A Girl, a Dream, and the Sky Between begins with a simple, familiar moment: a child folding a paper airplane and sending it into the world. What follows is not a fast-paced adventure, but a gentle unfolding of connection. As the airplane drifts away, it becomes a quiet thread linking children who are searching, hoping, and wondering — each in their own way.
The story shifts from an individual experience to something shared. When the girl loses sight of her airplane, she meets another child who is searching too, and gradually more dreamers appear. This widening circle is the heart of the book. Rather than focusing on achievement or reaching a final destination, the narrative highlights what happens in between: noticing others, working together, and realizing that dreams don’t have to belong to only one person to matter.
The visual storytelling reinforces this message with care. The transition from black-and-white illustrations to scenes filled with color mirrors the emotional shift from solitude to connection. The paper airplane itself becomes less about flight and more about movement — carrying curiosity, hope, and shared purpose across pages and spaces.
Thoughtful and quietly uplifting, Paper Airplanes offers young readers a reassuring message: even small ideas can travel far, and when dreams are shared, they become lighter, stronger, and easier to carry. It’s a meaningful choice for classrooms, families, and anyone looking for a picture book that values cooperation, empathy, and gentle optimism over grand spectacle.
Turning Boredom Into Curiosity
Awarded a Bronze Medal in the Living Now Book Awards, Are You Bored? stands out for its thoughtful, child-centered approach to a feeling every young reader knows well. Rather than presenting boredom as something to quickly fix or avoid, the book treats it as a starting point — an invitation to pause, reflect, and choose what truly feels meaningful.
The story unfolds as a direct conversation with the reader, offering a series of possible “solutions” to boredom. Some are intentionally unexciting or impractical, allowing children to recognize that not every suggestion feels right — and that’s the point. This structure gives young readers agency, encouraging them to evaluate choices and listen to their own interests instead of following instructions blindly.
What makes Are You Bored? especially fitting for the Living Now Awards is its emphasis on mindful engagement. The book gently guides children toward books and reading, not as an obligation, but as a natural and rewarding discovery. It values curiosity, inner motivation, and quiet attention — qualities often overlooked in fast-paced, overstimulating environments.
Recognized alongside other titles focused on emotional growth, connection, and care, Are You Bored? offers a calm yet empowering message: boredom is not a failure of imagination, but a doorway to it. The Bronze Medal honors the book’s ability to support children in making thoughtful choices, embracing stillness, and finding joy in meaningful engagement.
What unites this year’s Children’s Inspirational Picture Book winners is their trust in young readers. None of these stories rush toward loud conclusions or easy answers. Instead, they invite children to slow down, notice, reflect, and participate — whether by caring for their environment, sharing dreams with others, or learning to sit with boredom long enough for curiosity to emerge.
The Living Now Book Awards celebrate books that support conscious living, and these three titles embody that mission beautifully. They show that inspiration doesn’t have to be overwhelming or didactic — it can grow quietly, through kindness, cooperation, and thoughtful choice.
Whether read at home, in classrooms, or shared within communities, these award-winning picture books offer meaningful moments of connection — reminding us that even the smallest stories can plant seeds that last far beyond the final page.
