When children open their hearts to something new, sharing stops being a choice—and starts becoming a connection.

With a little encouragement from the grown-ups around them, “me” begins to make room for “you”… until, before they know it, it quietly transforms into “we”—where friendships take root, confidence grows, and awkward first moments become lasting memories.

And so, one imagination champion and an Antarctic explorer are joining forces to remind young readers that some of life’s greatest adventures begin the moment we trade hesitation for heart and holding back for sharing.

We cordially invite you and your little ones to join David Newell (who played the beloved Mr. McFeely on Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood), along with our John Masiulionis and Little Forrest for Episode #62 of PR From The Heart’s Neighborly Reviews Bookcast, as they spotlight Ruth Don Shevlin’s Esmeralda and the Lollipop Tree (published by Miriam Laundry Publishing) and Martha Jane Bonine’s A Magical Summer Day: An Antarctica Tale (published by Miriam Laundry Publishing).

Join us in celebrating Ruth and Martha’s work by getting your copies of Esmeralda and the Lollipop Tree and A Magical Summer Day: An Antarctica Tale—and enjoy these empowering reads with your entire family:

Esmeralda and the Lollipop Tree: https://bit.ly/4eEWIPn
A Magical Summer Day: An Antarctica Tale: https://bit.ly/4oM0QjV

Esmeralda and the Lollipop Tree
Text and illustrations copyright © 2026 by Ruth Don Shevlin. Used with permission. Published by Miriam Laundry Publishing. All rights reserved.

A Magical Summer Day: An Antarctica Tale
Text copyright © 2026 by Martha Jane Bonine • Illustrations copyright © 2026 by Bernadett Urbanovics. Used with permission. Published by Miriam Laundry Publishing. All rights reserved.