I needed this book! Honestly every family needs this book. I am so happy to share this book with you.
Our children are faced with more challenges than we ever though they would have to face. Anxiety, depression, stress and such busy lives have taken over our time and our mental wellbeing. It makes finding happiness so hard. That is why we all need this amazing guide from Deborah Farmer Kis. This book is packed full of a variety of awe-inspiring ideas. Kis shows us how finding inspiration and wonder every day in childhood is so vital to their future. I love the focus of taking the time to slow down and enjoy every little moment. We learn ways to make more out of family time and every day moments like playtime and at meals.
We find the importance of downtime as well as finding humor and heart in all that we do.
I love the way the book is broken down in easy to understand and follow. It keeps it simple and focuses on the importance of each thing in the book. I love the advice and ideas given like “the 5 Wonderful ways” sections found throughout the book with Ideas for music, art and experiencing belonging. I love that there is a section on hobbies and how important they are to individuals. I feel that is such a great way to experience awe and wonder.
My favorite part of all the book is the sections with 10 Awe - Inspiring Picture Books about so many different topics. I am a strong believer in the importance of literature creating awe and wonder in our children.
I truly believe this is a great and creative guide that every child and adult need in their lives.
Great for teachers and any caregivers with little ones and any ages child in their lives.
Enjoy discovering the awe and wonder adventure with your family.
A Sky Full Of Stars⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ for this one.

While modern parenting has become a slog of daily activities, chores, and school events, Farmer Kris argues that it doesn't have to be this way. She offers a blueprint for parents looking to keep the joy of everyday life alive in their kids. Seeking awe doesn't need to be expensive or difficult, but it requires intentional moves from parental figures. Great for parents who want to break out of a rut, and inspiring for kids who are walking into a future driven by AI, technology, and their phones.

I enjoyed this parenting book’s combination of research, interviews, practical application and personal stories from adults, teens and younger children. Multiple examples helped drive messages home and I found several tips to incorporate into my own life and those of my children. Check out the reading guide at the end.

Thanks to NetGalley and Free Spirit Publishing for the ARC.

Deborah Farmer Kris is the parenting expert I look to even though my kids are grown. Her 2021 Washington Post article about teaching children about awe opened my eyes to the importance of this emotion and I’ve shared it with more friends and parents than I can count. So excited that her wisdom and research is now in a book that I can read and share with others. Can’t wait to buy and gift lots of copies!

Seriously loved, loved, loved this book.
Although parenting is implicit in the title, I highly recommend it also to non-parents like me, because awe truly is one of the most important human experiences there is. This book did a beautiful job of exploring what kinds of awe we can tap into as individuals or families and what impact they have on our well-being, whether it be emotional, mental, or even physical.
Perhaps you, like me, can readily name nature, the universe, and perhaps music and art, as sources of awe. This book goes a little further into other parts of life and humanity that can elicit awe in us, things that I hadn't necessarily thought about but that really resonated with me.
I was so reflective and enjoyably focused while reading this book that it almost came as a shock to me when it was finished. It would be worth revisiting - it's a beautiful subject to spend some time with.

This title publishes May 27, 2025, and I hope you put it on your TBR for a dose of truly inspiring reading!

This is a wonderful book for parents and teachers. I appreciate its practical, specific suggestions, as well as its positive approach to raising healthy kids: going beyond just "keep them off of screens" and giving them something even better to enjoy! I highly recommend this book, and hope to use its advice many times in my parenting and teaching journey.

Thank you to NetGalley, Teacher Created Materials, and Free Spirit Publishing for the free eARC. I post this review with my honest opinions.

I will post this review on Goodreads, Amazon, and Instagram within one week of the book's publication.

Hopeful and practical! The research, the science, the real life stories, this is a fantastic book for any parenting looking to reconnect with their own sense of curiosity and wonder and foster that much needed emotion of "awe" for their own children. Brilliant!