Why I Chose Gratitude First

When I set out to create my children’s book series, I asked myself: What’s the one thing I would want every child to carry in their heart, no matter what life brings?

The answer came quietly but clearly: Gratitude.

In a world that constantly tells us we’re missing something, that we need more to be enough, gratitude is the voice that says, “Wait. Look again. You already have so much.”

I chose to begin with gratitude because it is the root. Before joy, before kindness, before resilience—there is the ability to notice and appreciate. To pause and say: “Thank you.”

Children are naturally curious and full of wonder. But like little gardens, their inner world needs nurturing. If we want them to grow up grounded, kind, and emotionally connected, we have to plant the right seeds early. Gratitude is one of the most powerful seeds of all. It teaches us to shift our focus from what’s missing to what’s present. It helps children understand that even on hard days, beauty still exists.

My hope with Luna and the Garden of Thankful Things was to create more than just a story—it’s an invitation. For children to see the magic in the everyday. For parents and teachers to pause and reflect. For families to begin a practice that nourishes the heart.

And there’s something else, too.

Gratitude heals.

It’s not just about saying “thank you.” It’s about training our minds to recognize the light, even in the shadows. For children who feel deeply, who may be sensitive or overwhelmed by the world around them, gratitude offers grounding. For those of us raising the next generation, it gives us hope.

Starting the series with gratitude was never a strategic decision. It was a soul decision.

Because when a child learns to be thankful, they are also learning to be present, to connect, to love. And isn’t that the beginning of everything good?

Thank you for cultivating gratitude with your children, one moment at a time!

Warm regards,

Sahar El-Siblani