The children’s book Visiting Feelings was written by Lauren Rubenstein, Psy.D. and illustrated by Shelley Hehenberger. The 32-page book was first published in 2013 by Magination Press. Visiting Feelings centers around the concepts of emotional awareness and mindfulness. It offers children opportunities to explore various emotional experiences in their minds and bodies, and provides helpful strategies for coping with feelings. For example, the book encourages children to externalize feelings (ascribing physical characteristics to feelings, such as “loud”, “soft” or “tall”), which is a common way to help children cope with elevated levels of certain emotions, such as anger, anxiety, or sadness.

The author, Dr. Lauren Rubenstein is licensed clinical psychologist who teaches adult and children’s yoga and mindfulness in various settings. The book includes a “Note to Parents” that provides information about emotional awareness and mindfulness activities that can be incorporated into the home, which may also be adapted for school use. The book has received several awards including a Gold Medal in the 2013 Mom’s Choice Awards and a Silver Medal in the 2014 Nautilus Award.