.png)
Luma is a gentle dreamer with a heart full of stories. She’s a shy little bunny who sometimes doubts she has a place in the world. Her soft voice and thoughtful nature make her feel invisible, yet she carries a quiet courage that’s waiting to bloom. Through a single act of kindness, Luma begins to discover her own inner light and realizes that her worth is not about being the loudest it’s about being her true, gentle self.
As the central character in her forest, Luma becomes a beacon of kindness and belonging. She shows young readers that even the quietest creatures can have the biggest impact just by being themselves.
Meet Her Forest Friends
Oliver the Owl The wise guide. Thoughtful and calm, Oliver helps Luma and her friends see the bigger picture and understand that challenges can teach important lessons.
Wren the Bird The cheerful encourager. Wren reminds everyone that belonging grows when we support each other, and that kindness matters deeply.
Sage the Fox The patient mentor. Sage listens carefully, offering advice and reminding others that sometimes strength comes from calm reflection.
Theo the Hedgehog The gentle, loyal friend. Sensitive but brave in his own way, Theo teaches that being vulnerable is not a weakness it’s part of caring.
Zin the Turtle :The steady anchor. Grounded and persistent, Zin shows that consistency and presence make a big difference in the forest and in friendship.
🎯 Why Choose Us
Emotionally Rich Storytelling: This book isn’t just about fun; it’s rooted in social-emotional learning (SEL) and behavioral science, helping children understand their feelings in a meaningful way.
Nurturing Self-Worth: Through Luma’s journey, children discover that their worth is not tied to performance or noise it’s inherent and true.
Gentle, Relatable Characters: The forest friends represent real emotional strengths wisdom, patience, courage, kindness helping kids identify their own.
Practical Tools for Reflection: The broader series offers workbooks, journals, animated content, and kindness challenges designed for families, schools, and communities.
A Movement, Not Just a Story: This is part of the “Matteringverse,” a collection of ten books and initiatives to help children and families build belonging, resilience, and connection.
A beautifully illustrated children’s book that centers on Luma and her journey through the Passion-Struck Forest.
Themes include self-worth, empathy, belonging, and courage, all explored gently through narrative.
Grounded in behavioral science and social-emotional learning, making it more than a story it’s a tool for growth.
The You Matter Series
A ten-book journey in the Matteringverse, each book focusing on themes like change, resilience, kindness, and confidence.
Each volume introduces new characters and emotional strengths, helping children explore complex feelings in a simple, age-appropriate way.
Interactive & Educational Resources
Journals and Workbooks: Designed for kids to reflect on their feelings, strengths, and personal "matterings" in daily life.
Ripple Challenge: A kindness adventure where children perform small acts of caring, pass on “Ripple Cards,” and watch how their kind actions spread.
Character Quiz (Coming Soon): Helps children discover which forest friend they resemble most, unlocking a “kindness mission” to practice empathy and courage.
School & Community Programs: SEL-aligned initiatives to bring the Matteringverse message into classrooms and community settings.
Digital Content & Animated Shorts: Expanding the stories with multimedia to engage children in different formats.
🌍 Our Vision & Mission
Our Mission
To help every child grow up knowing they matter deeply not because of what they do, but because of who they are. We want to nurture self-worth, kindness, and resilience through stories, activities, and connection.
Our Vision
A world where emotional strength and belonging are built from within where children, parents, educators, and communities all recognize that every voice, even a soft one, has power and value. The Matteringverse movement aims to spark a cultural shift, helping people of all ages feel seen, loved, and capable of spreading kindness.
💡 The Bigger Story — The Matteringverse
Luma’s journey is just the beginning of a much larger mission. The Matteringverse is a universe built on the simple but profound idea that every child and every story matters. Through ten books, interactive exercises, kindness challenges, and community engagement, the movement encourages children and adults to practice empathy and connectivity in their daily lives. This is not just a story series it’s a mattering revolution. The goal is to help families, schools, and communities build emotional resilience together. The character strengths represented by Luma and her forest friends act as guides, helping readers recognize the value of being wise, patient, brave, encouraging, and kind.
🧭 Author & Creative Team
John R. Miles — The author behind Luma’s story, John draws on his personal journey of overcoming challenges in childhood to write with authenticity and heart.
Nejla Shojaie — The illustrator whose warm and expressive artwork brings Luma and all her friends to life.
Forest Friends Oliver, Wren, Sage, Theo, and Zin each bring their own emotional strengths and stories, helping children see different ways to navigate life.
📖 How Families & Educators Can Use This
Bedtime Reading: The gentle pace and soothing illustrations make it perfect for winding down in the evening.
Discussion Starters: Parents can use themes from Luma’s journey to talk about worth, belonging, and empathy.
SEL Lessons: Educators can integrate the stories and workbooks into their social-emotional learning curriculum.
Kindness Projects: Kids can participate in the Ripple Challenge to bring warmth and care into their community.
Personal Growth: Through journals, workbooks, and character lessons, children can reflect on their own strengths and areas for growth.
❤️ Why This Story Truly Matters
Luma’s story resonates because it holds space for the quiet ones the children who sometimes feel unseen, who worry whether they belong, or who think their voice isn’t loud enough. By witnessing Luma’s journey, kids learn that mattering doesn’t come from being perfect or remarkable — it comes from being them selves.In a world that often rewards being big, flashy, or fast, Luma whispers a powerful truth: You already have value. Her journey shows that small acts of kindness, steady friendship, and inner courage are the things that create ripples sometimes bigger than we imagine.
🧒 For Children & Families
This website is a nurturing place for families who want to raise emotionally aware, kind, and confident children. The stories, resources, and experiences here create a gentle but powerful framework one that helps little hearts feel seen and important. It’s a space where parents and caregivers can guide children through experiences of belonging, not by forcing them to change, but by gently reminding them.
🌱 Final Thought
Luma’s story is more than just a tale it’s an invitation. It invites children to believe in their own light and to carry kindness into the world. It invites adults to hold space for their children’s feelings, to encourage their quiet strengths, and to help them understand that belonging is not something to earn.
Through every page, every character, and every ripple of kindness, this story empowers young readers with a simple but life-changing message: their voice, their heart, and their presence make a difference and that truth is worth sharing.
Visit us: https://youmatterluma.com/
