A Bears for Cares Book
Award-winning Children’s Book Friends Lift You Up
Just in time for October’s National Bullying Prevention Month
Hudson Valley, NY (September 2022) — Bullying and other forms of teasing and exclusion continue to be prevalent in our schools, communities and on social media. The award-winning children’s book, Friends Lift You Up, from 21-year-old author Lotus Kay, provides insights for kids on how to maintain healthy friendships and handle social dynamics that arise such as cliques and feeling left out.
Available now, just in time for National Bullying Prevention Month in October, Friends Lift You Up recently won a Gold Award from Mom's Choice — being named among the best in family-friendly media, products and services.
Friends Lift You Up is the fifth book from Lotus. It tells the story of April and her best friend Tyla and how they sometimes don't treat each other the way best friends should. The book also includes “Tips on Being a Friend” and Lotus's “Note from the Author,” which share her story of feeling left out while in school and how hard it was to form friendships, and the lessons she learned from these experiences.
From Friends Lift You Up, “Tips On Being a Friend”:
* Shut down negative talk of others. Gossip can be hurtful. If you hear someone being talked about in a way they wouldn’t want, stand up for them like you would want someone to do for you.
* If you see someone by themselves, don’t be afraid to go over to them and make the first move.
* When teasing friends in a silly way, make sure to not go too far and actually hurt their feelings, and if someone goes too far and hurts your feelings, don’t be afraid to tell them.
Read Lotus’s interview with The Children’s Book Review here.
Lotus’s Bears for Cares Book Series
Friends Lift You Up is part of the Bears for Cares series, which Lotus formed at the age of 16 with the support of Jane Goodall Institute's “Roots & Shoots” youth service initiative. A portion of proceeds from the books goes back to “Roots & Shoots.” The books are beautifully illustrated by artist Chey Diehl and published by Eifrig Publishing on recycled, acid-free paper.
Lotus is co-founder of Bears for Cares with her sister, Jazmin, also a writer and activist. Bears for Cares is a series of children's books with companion stuffed animals based on characters in the books aimed at creating a more compassionate world and inspiring young people to make a difference. Bears for Cares aims to educate kids around the world to understand the state of wildlife and the planet promoting kindness towards the Earth and all living beings.
Lotus Kay began writing as a child and was published in magazines at age 15. She wrote her first book, More Beautiful Than Heaven, at age 16.
Other titles in the series include Billie the Octopus, Jenny the Chimpanzee and A Thanksgiving for the Turkeys.
Jenny the Chimpanzee, released in 2020, also received a Mom's Gold Choice Award and an endorsement from Dr. Jane Goodall who wrote to Lotus saying it was "fantastic" that she was writing children's books about these topics.
Bears for Cares books are also available with stuffed animals based on characters in the books. To purchase gift sets of the Bears for Cares books and toys or individual books visit the Bears for Cares site. A portion of the proceeds from the sale of all books and toys will be donated to the Jane Goodall Institute and the Roots & Shoots program.
Lotus has been featured in media outlets including L.A. Parent, The Chronogram, The Vegan Society Magazine, Kindness Magazine, Saving Earth, as a youth activist by PETA, and by organizations such as Mission Blue, World Oceans Day, and others.
Lotus's web site is here.
You can learn more about Bears for Cares at www.bearsforcares.com and Lotus at www.lotuskay.com.
Lotus Kay's books are available at the Bears for Cares website, as well as at major online retail outlets, independent as well as Amazon, Barnes & Noble and more.
Instagram: here @bearsforcares
FB: here @bears4cares
Website: here | www.bearsforcares.com
About the Author
Lotus Kay, a 21-year-old writer, has been published in many publications including Green Child Magazine, Natural Parent, Thrive Global, and many others. She is a recipient of a grant from Jane Goodall’s Roots and Shoots program for her work creating the Bears for Cares campaign to educate kids on the importance and beauty of nature, and motivate them to help protect the Earth, and everything on it. She is also a singer/songwriter and poet. For more information about Lotus and her books and Bears for Cares, please click here.
About the Illustrator
Chey Diehl is an illustrator who attended the Savannah College of Art and Design and graduated Summa Cum Laude. She is an active member of the Society of Children’s Book Writers & Illustrators. Click here for her portfolio.
Friends Lift You Up by Lotus Kay
Hardcover: ISBN 978-1-63233-338-4 $18.99
Softcover: ISBN 978-1-63233-337-7 $12.99
Ages: 5-9 years old
Publisher: Eifrig Publishing
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