As our story begins, Monkey is not so mindful—his Monkey Mind constantly jumping from one thing to another—but he encounters a mysterious and playful friend in Happy Panda. Panda helps Monkey recognize the simple joy of doing what you’re doing while you’re doing it.

Praise & Reviews "Mindful Monkey, Happy Panda is designed to teach young readers the value of mindfulness. Although mindfulness is a practice especially advocated by Buddhism, Mindful Monkey, Happy Panda is intended for children of any religious faith or background, as it describes the idea in simple and secular terms. The bright, friendly illustrations bring this invaluable parable to vivid life. Highly recommended."—Midwest Book Review "This beautiful story shows us all how to dwell peacefully and happily in the present moment.”— Thich Nhat Hanh, author of Planting Seeds: Sharing Mindfulness with Children “The category of mindfulness fiction has been wide open, and now with Mindful Monkey, Happy Panda, writer Lauren Alderfer and illustrator Kerry Lee MacLean (author of Peaceful Piggy Meditation) have made a serious entry into the field. It’s not all that serious, though, since it is intended for children. While I’m certain children will love it, adults are going to enjoy it nearly as much. It’s a page turner. I’ve read it five times myself, and intend to read it again. Suffice it to say that Monkey has issues. When he’s walking, he’s thinking about chores. When he’s doing chores, he’s thinking about reading. When he’s reading, he’s thinking about eating. We all can identify with Monkey. Fortunately, so can Panda, and he’s got some great advice. It’s also fortunate that his advice is straightforward, non-judgmental, and non-preachy. We all could use a little Panda.”—Shambhala Sun

Lauren Alderfer, As an educator for over 25 years, Lauren Alderfer has taught all levels—from graduate studies at SIT Graduate Institute in the USA, down to Grade One in US-based overseas schools. After living in India for over a decade, Lauren now divides her time between India and the Americas. Her ability to blend a Western perspective with the deep spirituality of the East invites educators to cultivate their inner lives in the daily act of teaching while developing mindfulness and compassion. Kerry Lee MacLean, Illustrator Kerry Lee MacLean has been meditating since she was 14. Together with her husband and three daughters, she leads children's meditative arts and Shambhala Rites of Passage programs around the world. Her workshops teach children to self-settle and self-soothe using The Great Mind-in-a-Jar Experiment, Zen archery, rainbow calligraphy, Haiku Hikes, yoga and sitting meditation. She is the author of Moody Cow Meditates, Peaceful Piggy Meditation and The Family Meditation Book.