Books

Dr. Mala Datta and Dr. Karen Bekker have coauthored a series of books that help children understand and manage their emotions. Each story offers practical guidance for parents and caregivers, supporting children as they build healthy coping skills and emotional resilience.

  • Tina the Turtle is moving to a new home—and even though everyone says it will be exciting, Tina isn’t so sure. She feels sad about leaving her pond, nervous about what’s ahead, and worried she won’t find new friends.

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  • Book cover titled "First Day Butterflies" by Karen Bekker and Mala Datta, featuring a worried young boy sitting on a bed with a teddy bear. The boy is holding his head, with wide eyes and a sweat drop on his forehead. The background shows a window with curtains and a tree outside.

    It’s Alex’s first day of second grade, and he’s excited—but also full of worries. As the fear grows, he decides he doesn’t want to go to school. This story helps young children handle scary feelings with self-compassion and mindfulness tools.

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  • A young girl named Lila is sleeping peacefully in her bed, cuddling a stuffed giraffe toy. The background features colorful, heart-patterned wallpaper. There is an illustration of Lila awake, sitting cross-legged with a frog and a teddy bear, smiling and waving.

    When the alarm rings at 6 a.m., Lila doesn’t want to get up for school—she wants to stay cozy in bed. She would rather play at home and tries to negotiate with Mom. But Dad is firm: Lila has to get ready and go. She takes it one step at a time.

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  • Book cover titled "Lia's Angry Day" featuring a cartoon girl with an angry expression, red hair, and a raised fist, with a pink watercolor background and yellow pencils.

    Everybody gets angry—but when a 4–5-year-old feels big anger, how does she calm down? With help from her school principal, she learns to name her frustration, use her words, and practice self-calming skills that help her feel steady again.

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  • Book cover titled 'Tanya the Turtle: The story of an adventurous turtle' with an illustration of a smiling green and blue turtle and purple dots on a purple background.

    Tanya the turtle is kind, curious, and fun-loving, and she lives by a pond with her little sister. Her kindness helps her make friends, but her curiosity sometimes leads her too far. With help from new friends, Tanya finds her way back home.

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