The Want Monsters

Book excerpt: 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.