Our Mission
Our vision is a world where all children and families have access to high quality, evidence-based information about mental health. We love the idea of promoting wellness and resiliency through the magic of children’s literature, and believe in the transformative power of psychology to promote growth, joy, and ultimately make the world a better place.
The mission of Your Village Journey Publishing is to create stories that both entertain and educate, with psychological principles and science at the core of what we do. Our Science-Backed Stories are designed to tackle common struggles that resonate with children and families in a fun way. All of our books come with a companion Grown-Up Guide to help parents and educators learn psychological principles and utilize the books as teaching tools with their children.
Reading is foundational to healthy development and a primary way children learn about themselves and the world. Infusing principles of psychology and a growth mindset into stories that children love and read frequently, helps them develop the tools necessary to achieve mental wellness and fortitude. It is our hope that our books and supplements help children, schools, and families build a better tomorrow and help nurture a generation of happy, healthy, resilient children.
Thank you for choosing to read our books! We hope they are helpful to you and that you enjoy learning new ways to infuse psychology into your lives.
Book 1
Uma the Unicorn’s Rainbow Quest: A Colorful Tale of Overcoming Picky Eating
Join Uma the Unicorn on her adventure to transform from a small, white horse into a colorful unicorn.
Uma is a picky eater! She loves cereal and does not like trying new foods. Uma knows there is more to her than meets the eye, and she dreams of becoming a strong, beautiful unicorn. But no matter how much she wishes and hopes, no matter what she tries, she remains a plain and colorless horse.
Does Uma ever eat anything other than cereal? Will she sparkle and shine the way she dreams? Will Uma finally become a unicorn?
With determination, courage, and a little help from her sister, Uma is about to discover a secret trick that changes everything for her. Join Uma on her journey as she learns to conquer picky eating and explores an entirely new, and very colorful, world of food.
Grab your copy today and discover Uma’s Rainbow Quest!
Buy Online!
A note to grown ups…
Grown Ups: Tired of your kids eating the same foods all the time? Have meals become more a battle of wills and less about conversation and connection? Uma the Unicorn is a playful story designed to “flip the script” from dreaded mealtime struggles to helping kids and families explore healthy eating and food in a fun new way.
Our Science-backed Stories, written by the dynamic duo Dr. Jenn & Dr. Jess, are infused with psychological principles and come with a Grown-Up Guide to help adults think like the pros and incorporate the power of psychology into their lives.
At Your Village Journey Publishing, we believe in the magic of children’s literature to promote wellness and resiliency and to nurture a generation of happier, healthier children.
Meet the Authors
Dr. Jennifer Doran
Dr. Jenn is a psychologist and the mother of two amazing boys – Ethan and Joshua. She loves using psychology on her kids (shh – don’t tell them!) and finds that silly songs are a great way to handle the more stressful moments. She believes in the power of psychology and the power of silliness in making parenting a more joyful journey. She loves to read with her children and enjoys creating stories that make them laugh. It has been a lifelong dream to write a book and she is so excited to blend her passions of storytelling and psychology!
Dr. Jessica Lawson
Dr. Jess is a clinical psychologist and proud mama of two bold, brilliant daughters – Violet and Grace. She loves how humor, creativity, and a little psychology go a long way to infuse connection and joy into family life. Passionate about helping others build resilience and joy, she believes in the power of the small moments, like reading together, to build authentic, strong, and lasting relationships. Dr. Jess has fun dreaming up new ways of bringing psychology to life through stories that resonate with kids and their grown-ups, alike!
Meet the Illustrator
Ji Young Lim
Ji is a licensed mental health therapist and the loving mother of two adventurous boys – Michael and Nico. She loves connecting with her children through art, storytelling, and the creative process. Through blending her artistic skills and therapeutic lens, Ji aspires to help others navigate the joys and challenges of parenting in new and creative ways.
Follow Ji @journalingwithji on Instagram
Next Up!
Stay tuned for our next science-backed story, “I Am Here,” a beautiful rhyming picture book about the power of true conversation and connection between a grown up and child. Designed to encourage openness and honesty and promote deeper relationships and resilience, this cherished bedtime tale is one you will want to read to your little one again and again. See the series on Amazon »
Contact Us or send us an email at [email protected]
Latest Hot Topics
In My Self-Care Era
Let’s be real – it’s been a year. Current event chaos, political turmoil, massive career shifts and a lot of change. Even when change is positive, it can be stressful, and I found most of this year relatively exhausting. So I decided to lean into a Summer of Self-Care and [read more]
Why I Let My Kids Play Hooky
Yes, you read that right. Not only do I occasionally let my kids “play hooky” for the day; I encourage it! We live in a workaholic culture of constant demand and never-ending stimulation. Learning how and when to take a day off is as much a core life skill as anything. [read more]
The Korean Body Scrub That Changed My Life
During my very intentional Self-Care Summer, I spent the day at a spa facility with a good friend. She encouraged me to try a Korean Body Scrub, a spa service I had yet to experience. While I was skeptical, I gave it a try, and I’m so glad I did. [read more]