We are all the leaves of one tree. We are all the waves of one sea.
Thich Nhat Hahn
Books
NURTURING THE PSYCHOSOCIAL DEVELOPMENT OF KIDS THROUGH THE MINDFUL ADVENTURES OF THE ZODIAC ANIMALS
I am a psychologist with more than 20 years of clinical experience. I work with families and help parents to develop mindful parenting skills. I am passionate about kids learning about self-acceptance, resilience and other positive values, not from the internet, but from reading inspiring books. So, I am writing a series of engaging, positive stories—Lunar New Year Animal Books for Kids.
The series is a great experiential guide for parents to help kids to develop good mental health, and practice simple mindfulness and meditation exercises. Each book features an engaging story about the mindful adventures of a Chinese zodiac animal born at Lunar New Year.
The beautifully illustrated trilogy of the tiger, rabbit and dragon stories are designed to help children develop deepening levels of psychosocial skills and spiritual values essential to their overall development and well-being. Each readable story complements and build upon the earlier story to facilitate families to address the social, emotional, and psychological issues that matter to kids, and to help kids to help themselves.
The first book, Am I a Tiger..? Mindful Water Tiger Cub’s Journey of Love, Friendship, and Self-Discovery was released in 2022. The second book in the series Water Rabbit’s Mindful Adventures: The Great Race of Animal and Human Friends will be released in 2023. The third book, Dragon and Friends’ Mindful Adventures: The Great Race Again! will be released in 2024.
TO PURCHASE THE BOOKS, CONTACT bkhong@belindakhong.com
The series integrate Eastern and Western wisdom, important psychological themes, and universal values. I hope that it will inspire a love of reading in children, positive values and important psychosocial skills so needed to help kids to navigate the demands of, and respond to a fast-changing world with wisdom, flexibility and inner resilience. My wish is that reading such inspiring stories will result in “Children walking in the park, instead of walking to my consultation room in future.”
Lunar New Year Animals Books for Kids
Am I A Tiger?
A Mindful Water Tiger Cub’s Journey of Love, Friendship, and Self Discovery
“…a great book for children, parents, and families who want a heart-warming introduction to the positive values of mindfulness, gratitude, love, and compassion…”
— Michelle Yeoh, Best Actress, Academy Awards, 2023
Water Rabbit’s Mindful Adventures
The Great Race of Animal and Human Friends
“A sweet and uplifting tale for children,with a heart-warming message.”
- Sue Lynn Tan, Bestselling author of Daughter of the Moon Goddess
Dragon and Friends’ Mindful Adventures
The Great Race Again!
“Dr Belinda Khong’s latest book helps children (and adults!) understand that mindfulness is much more than just a psychological technique to develop personal well-being but is embedded in a set of time-honored values that encourage teamwork, humility, selflessness, cooperation, and kindness towards others…..”
- Geoff Dawson, Psychologist and Zen Buddhist teacher
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT FROM MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT
I am grateful to my Members of Parliament for acknowledging my work and books in the New South Wales Parliament:
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“ I pay tribute to Davidson electorate constituent, psychologist and author Dr Belinda Khong. [In] Belinda's latest book, 'Water Rabbit's Mindful Adventures'… .Belinda writes on the important themes of leadership, cooperation, charity, friendship and harnessing creativity to overcome conflict. These are important for teaching children life lessons, and about Lunar New Year. Belinda's first book, published in 2022, was about the Year of the Tiger, and in 2024 Belinda will release her third book about the Year of the Dragon. I am looking forward to seeing Belinda's literary contributions flourish over the zodiac cycle.
This acknowledgment of the Water Rabbit's Mindful Adventures in the official parliamentary record, Hansard, is important both for history and to demonstrate the work you undertake in our local community to the rest of New South Wales… .I encourage you and Water Rabbit's Mindful Adventures to display this Community Recognition Statement proudly for all of our community to see, read, and acknowledge.”
Mr Matt Cross, MP, Member for Davidson
https://www.belindakhong.com/blog/community-recognition-statement-about-water-rabbit-mindful-adventures
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“For many years Dr Belinda Khong has been a dedicated psychologist in Wahroonga. …Recently Belinda ventured into writing children's books that promote positive values and important psychosocial themes for families and children. The series, titled Lunar New Animal Books for Kids, offer tales centred around the Lunar New Year and various Chinese zodiac animals. Her first book was published last year, titled Am I a Tiger? A Mindful Water Tiger Cub’s Journey of Love, Friendship, and Self-Discovery. The book received a glowing endorsement from acclaimed actress Michelle Yeoh, who called it:… “a great book for children, parents, and families who want a heartwarming introduction to the positive values of mindfulness, gratitude, love, and compassion.”
Following the success of that book, Dr Khong wrote her second animal zodiac book, titled Water Rabbit's Mindful Adventures: The Great Race of Animal and Human Friends… . My Chinese zodiac animal is a water rabbit, so I was particularly excited about the launch of that book. It integrates Eastern and Western wisdom, presenting an inspiring narrative filled with illustrations, poems and unique animal characters. It explores themes of resilience, generosity and leadership, which are important lessons to teach our younger generations.
I had the pleasure of attending the launch of the book at Wahroonga Park with my colleagues the member for Davidson, Matt Cross; and the member for Willoughby, Tim James, who formally launched the book. The launch was a beautiful afternoon in the park and a wonderful celebration of the book, with a reading of an excerpt by Lynne, Matthew and Nicholas.
The book presents the story of how Mei-Mei the water rabbit and her animal friends overcome their differences with humans to create a better community. It instils the importance of working together despite our differences, which is an important lesson to teach our children. Although the book's positive messages are aimed at children, there are many excellent life lessons to be taught to adults too. Teamwork, cooperation, open‑mindedness and personal growth are all important characteristics that we can take on board as adults.
I look forward to getting my hands on the third book… Dragon and Friends' Mindful Adventures, which will launch in February of 2024. I commend Dr Belinda Khong on her mission to provide parents with such great guides to facilitate conversations about mental health and mindfulness with their children. I thank Belinda for her great contribution to our local community over so many years.”
Mr Alister Henskens, SC, MP, Member for Wahroonga