PADMA LIGHT
Author Visits That Inspire
Invite Kendall to Your School or Organization!
KENDALL LANNING
Board Certified Child Life Specialist
Self-Published Children’s Book Author/Illustrator
500 HR Yoga Certified, Reiki Practitioner, Certified Breathwork Facilitator, Sound Healing Practitioner, Certified Grief Facilitator
Kendall Lanning, author and illustrator of Always Home and The Fox and the Feather, believes stories can help children better understand themselves and the world around them.
Through engaging author visits featuring interactive read-alouds, hands-on creative activities, and meaningful conversations, Kendall helps children explore resilience, belonging, self-discovery, and emotional growth while bringing books to life in a memorable way.
There are parent and caregiver resources in the back of each book to help continue important conversations. Additional companion activities and resources are also available on Kendall's website, providing families, educators, and caregivers with practical tools to further support children's emotional well-being.
Always Home
Helping Children Through Life’s Transitions and Changes
Always Home is especially well-suited for author visits, literacy events, and social-emotional learning programs. The story follows three young turtles who are swept away from everything familiar and discover an important truth from a wise whale: home is not simply a place, but something that lives within their hearts and can never be taken away from who they are. Following the story, students participate in a creative "Turtle Shell Activity," decorating a turtle shell with the strengths, interests, memories, values, and qualities that make them uniquely themselves. Children leave with both a meaningful keepsake and a powerful reminder that the most important parts of who they are travel with them wherever they go.
THE AUTHOR VISIT EXPERIENCE
Read • Reflect • Create
Students will experience:
-Interactive read-aloud of Always Home
- Guided discussion about identity, courage, belonging, and navigating change
"What's Inside Your Shell?" Creative Activity
Students decorate a turtle shell with the qualities that make them uniquely who they are:
• Strengths
• Talents
• Interests
• Values
• Favorite memories
• People they love
• Dreams and goals
The activity becomes a visual reminder that the most important parts of ourselves travel with us wherever we go.
BOOK SALES & SIGNING
Books may be made available for purchase prior to the event, during the event, or through pre-order forms coordinated with the school or organization.
Signed copies available.
Books are also available to buy in bulk for your organization at a discounted price.
Join three adventurous turtles in Always Home as they face changes and big emotions. From leaving their cozy nest to making new friends, they learn that home is in their hearts. With the help of a wise whale and caring friends, they realize that no matter where they go, home is always with them. This comforting story reminds children that they can always find their way back home to the heart even when things change. Home is always within, it can never be taken away, for it is who you are.
Discover parental resources in the back of the book tailored to help children through transitions. Additionally, engaging activities await that accompany the book, offering interactive ways to delve deeper into themes of resilience and belonging. Together, let's empower children to navigate life's transitions with courage, knowing that home is not just a place…it's a sanctuary found within.
The Fox & the Feather
Grief Book for Children and Families
The Fox and Cardinal are best friends. One day the Cardinal explains that he, “is sick and dying,” but reminds the Fox to look for signs to remind him they will always be together. One of those signs is a feather.
The Fox and the Feather gives hope to the grieving heart and can also help open conversations on death, grief, and loss. Although, someone’s body is not with us, we can still get signs and messages they are near. Assisting in spiritual and emotional intelligence.
Grief can be a topic difficult to talk about with children. We try our best to protect our children from pain, and many times grief is associated with deep emotional pain. Keeping children safe from these experiences is natural response, but by blocking these conversations they are left to make up their own stories or not have proper tools to navigate through difficult emotions.
Strengthening emotional intelligence by helping children cope and navigate through truth and emotions. Validating feelings, answering questions, using developmentally appropriate language, clearing up misconceptions and giving them choices are essential in the process of talking to your child about grief and death.
Bilingual
English/Spanish Edition Now AVALIBLE!!
What’s the inspiration behind the books?
As a Certified Child Life Specialist, I worked intimately with pediatric patients and their families, helping them navigate the challenges of hospitalizations, illness, trauma, loss, and bereavement. Witnessing their struggles firsthand, I felt a profound calling to create resources that could support children through difficult life experiences.
After leaving the hospital setting, I dedicated myself fully to community work, teaching yoga at local shelters and non-profits serving underserved populations. This deepened my understanding of the need for accessible tools to nurture children's resilience.
Drawing from my background in child development, my frontline experiences, my spiritual journey, and my artistic inclinations, I felt guided to integrate all these elements. By channeling my intuition and creative flow, I brought to life the children's books "The Fox and the Feather" and "Always Home."
These heartfelt stories aim to help young readers develop coping strategies and find solace during times of adversity. My diverse experiences, along with my deep spiritual connection, inspired me to pursue this literary path to empower children and families on their healing journeys.
PODCAST FEATURES AND INTERVIEWS
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OMAHA, Neb. —
Kendall Lanning has a heart for children and professional experience to guide them through life’s ups and downs.
“Grief comes in many forms. You can grieve jobs. You can grieve losses of friendships,” said Lanning.
She’s a Child Life Specialist, a health care professional who works with children to help them cope through illness, disability and other trauma.
But as Lanning was helping hospitalized children work through grief, she realized that resources were lacking. She specifically wanted a picture book to tell a meaningful story.
She used her creative talents and love of animals to create the book “The Fox and the Feather.”
In the colorful picture book, the fox and cardinal are best friends. One day, the cardinal breaks the news to his friend that he is sick and dying. He leaves behind a feather as a reminder of their friendship.
What People Are Saying…
My daughter and I love these books. As a professional in the mental health world, I can attest to Kendall’s books. They make hard conversations just a little bit easier to have. The age-appropriate context allows kids the opportunity to understand complex and challenging topics in a relatable way.”- Mallory
“PEDIATRICIAN APPROVED! As a pediatrician, it can be difficult to discuss loss with families. This book allows children to not only address the loss, but discuss its effects. The developmental addition at the end of the book is a wonderful supplement to understand how each age may see and define the loss of a loved one. I hope each child can come to address such a difficult transition and see the love that can continue despite it all. So thankful for Kendall!”- Shannon
“Recommend for all libraries! This book touched my heart so much! The story is beautifully written & the illustrations are captivating & stunning! As a school librarian, I highly recommend this for every library collection. It would be a fantastic resource to use for school counselors too. Kendall has included some great additional resources & activities at the end of the book. My 10 month old granddaughter loves the colorful pages & soothing storyline. This would be a fantastic baby gift & would be an awesome addition to every child’s collection of books at home. The message is just incredible for every age!!!”- Julie
“This book is beautifully illustrated and has a magical story that's suitable for children and even adults. An important reminder that home is in our hearts. My children are grown up and yet I keep a copy of this book in my library and plan to buy more for gifts!”- Sondra
“I work with kiddos and families that are going through rough times and dealing with grief and trauma. Ms. Lanning's book is such a great resource. I highly recommend that anyone who works with young ones experiencing grief have a copy on hand! I have one for my office and ordering a second copy for my to-go bag. Lanning's experience as a child life specialist and her direct but loving and kind way she holds space for children to grieve is special and needed now more than ever.”- Anne Marie