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My Old Friend, Then
Written by Katherine Davis-Gibbon
Illustrated by Allie Daigle
Ages 4 and up | 40 Pages
Publisher: Riverlet Press LLC | ISBN-13: 9781737957607
Publisher’s Synopsis: A child ponders … who is her best, most loyal friend? Is it her constant companion, Then, who regales her with extravagant stories of their shared past and imagined future? Or is it precious, patient Now, with whom she sensitively explores each new moment that unfolds?
My Old Friend, Then explores mindfulness the same way that kids approach life: with curiosity, humor, and unspoiled sincerity. Pairing accessible and relatable language with vivid, quirky illustrations, this book invites readers to share in a young girl’s journey as she grapples with the trappings—and delights in the boundless potential—of her own brilliant mind.
Available for purchase on Amazon or Bookshop.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Katherine Davis-Gibbon is a yoga teacher, a longtime practitioner of Vipassana meditation, and most importantly a mother of two. She is also the founder of Riverlet Press, a children’s book company for conscious parents raising mindful kids.
For more information, visit www.riverletpress.com.
ABOUT THE ILLUSTRATOR
Allie Daigle is an illustrator who strives to create immersive and expressive images that stimulate the imagination. Whether for a children’s book, a product label, or her original pieces, Daigle’s works implore the viewer to linger and explore the details within. Allie primarily works with traditional watercolor & ink as well as digital mediums. For more information, visit www.alliedaigle.com.
Katherine Davis-Gibbon is a yoga teacher, a longtime practitioner of Vipassana meditation, and most importantly a mother of two. She is also the founder of Riverlet Press, a children’s book company for conscious parents raising mindful kids.
For more information, visit www.riverletpress.com.
ABOUT THE ILLUSTRATOR
Allie Daigle is an illustrator who strives to create immersive and expressive images that stimulate the imagination. Whether for a children’s book, a product label, or her original pieces, Daigle’s works implore the viewer to linger and explore the details within. Allie primarily works with traditional watercolor & ink as well as digital mediums. For more information, visit www.alliedaigle.com.
AUTHOR INTERVIEW
Life Is What It's Called - Why do you think this message from My Old Friend, Then is important for young kids?
Katherine Davis-Gibbon - For young kids, the line between what’s real and what’s imaginary is blurry. Children can be petrified of things they will never come into contact with, like vampires or dinosaurs. Likewise, they can be traumatized by relatively innocuous events from the past, that occurred before they were old enough to understand. A nosebleed. A thunderstorm. The sudden, roaring whoosh of an auto-flush toilet. Even something that happens every single day, like being left at school or daycare when parents go to work, is deeply upsetting to some children. In most cases (we hope), the school itself is not terrifying. What’s scary is the thought: my caretaker is leaving me. I don’t want to be alone!
The only sure way to distance kids from the many, compelling thoughts of “Then” (the one who remembers, the one who imagines) is to strengthen their bond with “Now:” the one who is here, experiencing this moment, through this body. What is your little one actually doing, while anticipating an upcoming performance, or remembering a difficult conversation? Perhaps eating breakfast or riding in the car. Perhaps they’re cuddling in your arms or snuggled up in bed with their favorite stuffy. It comes as a huge relief when kids are able to zoom out and see that their thoughts are just one small part of their experience, instead of the other way around.
Gaining this perspective, of course, is more easily said than done. Mindfulness is not something one masters by reading a single book. It’s a lifelong practice, which is exactly why you want to plant the seeds early on. If your child has a big “Aha!” moment and instantly grasps the entire concept, then they are very special, indeed! But for most people (kids and adults), mindfulness is a slow-burning concept that grows with us as we mature.
Life Is What It's Called - How do you see My Old Friend, Then being used at home or in a classroom setting?
Katherine Davis-Gibbon - My Old Friend, Then is a conversation starter.
Begin by reading the book together, noting that Then is “the one who remembers” or “the one who imagines,” while Now is “the one who’s here right now,” experiencing the present moment through the body and each of the five senses.
The next step is modeling mindfulness through self-talk. As a caregiver at home, you might admit to your child, “I have to go to the dentist tomorrow. Ugh, I hate going to the dentist. It’s tempting to worry about it, but I don’t want that to spoil the special time I’m sharing with you right now. Did you know that you’re one of my favorite people in the world? Do you know how much I love your hugs? I could use a hug right now, to remind me that I am not at the dentist’s office yet. At this moment, I’m here with you.”
In a classroom setting, the conversation includes more people, and the modeling takes a different tone. Adopt a key phrase or two that you can weave into the classroom culture, like, “That was then, and this is now.” Questions can also be very effective, such as “What would be helpful right now?” Pull these tools out of your toolbox to settle conflicts or support children who struggle to regulate their emotions.
As a fully integrated part of the curriculum, mindfulness can be a wonderful tool for enhancing concentration and easing the abruptness of transitions. At the end of recess, as you regroup in the classroom, ask children to form a circle and walk in a clockwise direction. Cue kids into the present moment by drawing their attention to each of their five senses. Notice the feeling of feet touching and leaving the floor. Listen to the sounds of pant legs swishing against one another. See the back of whoever’s in front of you, noting the color and texture of their hair. Allow the pace to slow down gradually and collectively, without judging what that looks or sounds like. When the pace eventually settles, have everyone stop, close their eyes for fifteen to twenty seconds, and listen. Then invite children to share what they heard.
I’ve heard from teachers, therapists, and parents who are using the book successfully with kids between the ages of seven and nine. They initiate a first reading and follow the child’s lead. Many children will ponder it for a week and then request to read it again, which deepens the conversation over time. Younger children will need more explanation and lots of modeling in daily life. Remember: mindfulness is not something that we master quickly or all at once; it’s a process that we weave into our lives. In keeping with that, My Old Friend, Then is not a book to be read once and instantly grasped. If it was, it would do mindfulness a disservice.
Life Is What It's Called - What inspired you to write this story?
Katherine Davis-Gibbon - There was one particular morning early in the pandemic when everyone in my household felt trapped, aggrieved, and overwhelmed. The negativity was contagious, and I found myself gravitating towards darker thoughts. I was swinging back and forth between these two extremes: either forecasting various doomsday scenarios where my kids NEVER GO BACK TO SCHOOL, or ruminating on some old conflict, simply because I was in a bad mood. Fortunately, my mindfulness practice kicked in, and I thought to myself, “Well, well, well. If it isn’t you: my old friend, Then--always yanking me around from the past to the future and back again.” I had to laugh at myself, but there was also compassion and self-acceptance, which I sorely needed in that moment. It hit me that this might be a good way to frame mindfulness for children, who explore things through the lens of friendship and imaginative play.
Life Is What It's Called - What will kids like most about this story?
Katherine Davis-Gibbon - Children love to take ownership of things: to create something and show the adults in their lives, “Hey, look what I did!” I deeply respect this and as such I did not want to write a heavy-handed, overly directive, or preachy book that tells kids what to think. I wanted my protagonist to observe for herself how incredibly creative her mind can be: sometimes to her benefit and other times to her detriment. Along the way, she discovers that she can choose how to direct and proportion her attention, thus inclining her mind towards happiness, ease, and peaceful self-acceptance. I hope and believe that kids will feel empowered by the notion that they can partner and play with their thoughts, instead of beig bossed around by them.
Life Is What It's Called - How does My Old Friend, Then compare to other books on the market?
Katherine Davis-Gibbon - It’s very process-oriented. It avoids casting particular thoughts, behaviors, or ways of breathing as correct or incorrect. Instead, it invites nonjudgmental observation, encouraging kids to befriend and value every single voice that bubbles up inside their minds, because each one has its own special message that deserves to be heard.
Life Is What It's Called - What is your background in writing?
Katherine Davis-Gibbon - I have always been passionate about writing. I wrote a few articles and book reviews in my early twenties, which were published in Los Angeles periodicals. Ultimately, I decided to throw myself into my other passion, which was dance. I spent almost twenty years dancing, choreographing, and teaching dance, pilates, and yoga, before becoming a mom. I always knew that I would circle back to writing, but I thought it best to dance in my younger years, when my body was at its peak, and save writing for a later phase of life, when I would be older, wiser, and have more to contribute.
Life Is What It's Called - What writing projects are you working on next?
Katherine Davis-Gibbon - I am developing two new picture books right now, which I hope will be published by the end of this year. One is a cycle of life story pertaining to grief and loss, which sadly have touched so many lives, including young children’s, over the course of these past two years. The other one, which Allie Daigle and I are working on together, is a whimsical take on what it feels like to get stuck—and how to unstick yourself when that happens!
Life Is What It's Called - What do you want your readers to know about you as an author?
Katherine Davis-Gibbon - Each of my books has a unique flavor and topic, but they all pertain to the inner life of the child. Each one endeavors, in its own unique way, to foster emotional intelligence, emotional literacy, and growth mindset.
GIVEAWAY
Enter for a chance to win an autographed copy of My Old Friend, Then, along with a box of You're Wonderful Thoughtfulls!
One (1) winner receives:
Three (3) winners receive:
My Old Friend Then: Book Giveaway
Katherine Davis-Gibbon - For young kids, the line between what’s real and what’s imaginary is blurry. Children can be petrified of things they will never come into contact with, like vampires or dinosaurs. Likewise, they can be traumatized by relatively innocuous events from the past, that occurred before they were old enough to understand. A nosebleed. A thunderstorm. The sudden, roaring whoosh of an auto-flush toilet. Even something that happens every single day, like being left at school or daycare when parents go to work, is deeply upsetting to some children. In most cases (we hope), the school itself is not terrifying. What’s scary is the thought: my caretaker is leaving me. I don’t want to be alone!
The only sure way to distance kids from the many, compelling thoughts of “Then” (the one who remembers, the one who imagines) is to strengthen their bond with “Now:” the one who is here, experiencing this moment, through this body. What is your little one actually doing, while anticipating an upcoming performance, or remembering a difficult conversation? Perhaps eating breakfast or riding in the car. Perhaps they’re cuddling in your arms or snuggled up in bed with their favorite stuffy. It comes as a huge relief when kids are able to zoom out and see that their thoughts are just one small part of their experience, instead of the other way around.
Gaining this perspective, of course, is more easily said than done. Mindfulness is not something one masters by reading a single book. It’s a lifelong practice, which is exactly why you want to plant the seeds early on. If your child has a big “Aha!” moment and instantly grasps the entire concept, then they are very special, indeed! But for most people (kids and adults), mindfulness is a slow-burning concept that grows with us as we mature.
Life Is What It's Called - How do you see My Old Friend, Then being used at home or in a classroom setting?
Katherine Davis-Gibbon - My Old Friend, Then is a conversation starter.
Begin by reading the book together, noting that Then is “the one who remembers” or “the one who imagines,” while Now is “the one who’s here right now,” experiencing the present moment through the body and each of the five senses.
The next step is modeling mindfulness through self-talk. As a caregiver at home, you might admit to your child, “I have to go to the dentist tomorrow. Ugh, I hate going to the dentist. It’s tempting to worry about it, but I don’t want that to spoil the special time I’m sharing with you right now. Did you know that you’re one of my favorite people in the world? Do you know how much I love your hugs? I could use a hug right now, to remind me that I am not at the dentist’s office yet. At this moment, I’m here with you.”
In a classroom setting, the conversation includes more people, and the modeling takes a different tone. Adopt a key phrase or two that you can weave into the classroom culture, like, “That was then, and this is now.” Questions can also be very effective, such as “What would be helpful right now?” Pull these tools out of your toolbox to settle conflicts or support children who struggle to regulate their emotions.
As a fully integrated part of the curriculum, mindfulness can be a wonderful tool for enhancing concentration and easing the abruptness of transitions. At the end of recess, as you regroup in the classroom, ask children to form a circle and walk in a clockwise direction. Cue kids into the present moment by drawing their attention to each of their five senses. Notice the feeling of feet touching and leaving the floor. Listen to the sounds of pant legs swishing against one another. See the back of whoever’s in front of you, noting the color and texture of their hair. Allow the pace to slow down gradually and collectively, without judging what that looks or sounds like. When the pace eventually settles, have everyone stop, close their eyes for fifteen to twenty seconds, and listen. Then invite children to share what they heard.
I’ve heard from teachers, therapists, and parents who are using the book successfully with kids between the ages of seven and nine. They initiate a first reading and follow the child’s lead. Many children will ponder it for a week and then request to read it again, which deepens the conversation over time. Younger children will need more explanation and lots of modeling in daily life. Remember: mindfulness is not something that we master quickly or all at once; it’s a process that we weave into our lives. In keeping with that, My Old Friend, Then is not a book to be read once and instantly grasped. If it was, it would do mindfulness a disservice.
Life Is What It's Called - What inspired you to write this story?
Katherine Davis-Gibbon - There was one particular morning early in the pandemic when everyone in my household felt trapped, aggrieved, and overwhelmed. The negativity was contagious, and I found myself gravitating towards darker thoughts. I was swinging back and forth between these two extremes: either forecasting various doomsday scenarios where my kids NEVER GO BACK TO SCHOOL, or ruminating on some old conflict, simply because I was in a bad mood. Fortunately, my mindfulness practice kicked in, and I thought to myself, “Well, well, well. If it isn’t you: my old friend, Then--always yanking me around from the past to the future and back again.” I had to laugh at myself, but there was also compassion and self-acceptance, which I sorely needed in that moment. It hit me that this might be a good way to frame mindfulness for children, who explore things through the lens of friendship and imaginative play.
Life Is What It's Called - What will kids like most about this story?
Katherine Davis-Gibbon - Children love to take ownership of things: to create something and show the adults in their lives, “Hey, look what I did!” I deeply respect this and as such I did not want to write a heavy-handed, overly directive, or preachy book that tells kids what to think. I wanted my protagonist to observe for herself how incredibly creative her mind can be: sometimes to her benefit and other times to her detriment. Along the way, she discovers that she can choose how to direct and proportion her attention, thus inclining her mind towards happiness, ease, and peaceful self-acceptance. I hope and believe that kids will feel empowered by the notion that they can partner and play with their thoughts, instead of beig bossed around by them.
Life Is What It's Called - How does My Old Friend, Then compare to other books on the market?
Katherine Davis-Gibbon - It’s very process-oriented. It avoids casting particular thoughts, behaviors, or ways of breathing as correct or incorrect. Instead, it invites nonjudgmental observation, encouraging kids to befriend and value every single voice that bubbles up inside their minds, because each one has its own special message that deserves to be heard.
Life Is What It's Called - What is your background in writing?
Katherine Davis-Gibbon - I have always been passionate about writing. I wrote a few articles and book reviews in my early twenties, which were published in Los Angeles periodicals. Ultimately, I decided to throw myself into my other passion, which was dance. I spent almost twenty years dancing, choreographing, and teaching dance, pilates, and yoga, before becoming a mom. I always knew that I would circle back to writing, but I thought it best to dance in my younger years, when my body was at its peak, and save writing for a later phase of life, when I would be older, wiser, and have more to contribute.
Life Is What It's Called - What writing projects are you working on next?
Katherine Davis-Gibbon - I am developing two new picture books right now, which I hope will be published by the end of this year. One is a cycle of life story pertaining to grief and loss, which sadly have touched so many lives, including young children’s, over the course of these past two years. The other one, which Allie Daigle and I are working on together, is a whimsical take on what it feels like to get stuck—and how to unstick yourself when that happens!
Life Is What It's Called - What do you want your readers to know about you as an author?
GIVEAWAY
Enter for a chance to win an autographed copy of My Old Friend, Then, along with a box of You're Wonderful Thoughtfulls!
One (1) winner receives:
- An autographed hardcover copy of My Old Friend, Then
- A box of You're Wonderful Thoughtfulls pop-open cards by Compendium Inc.
Three (3) winners receive:
- An autographed hardcover copy of My Old Friend, Then
My Old Friend Then: Book Giveaway
This post is in cooperation with The Children’s Book Review and Riverlet Press.
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