"The Gentle Pen" -For Little Readers...

A Quiet Place for Little Readers

by Liv McLean, Children’s Author & Nana

There is something sacred about the hush that falls when a child opens a book. It’s not silence exactly, but a soft settling of the spirit. A quiet place. A cozy place. A moment when the outside world stills, and something much more magical begins.

As a children’s author, I think about this all the time.

You see, stories aren’t just stories. They are scaffolding for a child’s heart. They are gentle teachers, soft companions, warm blankets, and sometimes, unexpected mirrors. Through stories, children learn that their feelings are valid, their questions matter, and that the world, while sometimes confusing, is filled with wonder, hope, and possibility.

Stories are Psychology in Pyjamas

Modern psychology confirms what storytellers have always known—reading to children is one of the most powerful tools for emotional development. It helps shape empathy, emotional regulation, and even problem-solving skills. A well-told tale lets a child "practice" being brave, kind, honest, or curious without risking a scraped knee.

Reading aloud builds more than literacy. It creates a connection. Children who are read to feel seen, loved, and valued. Their thoughts and ideas matter. And how they view the world slowly becomes entwined with the characters they meet.

An Apple Tree, a Farm, and a Sunset

When I was a little girl, I had a quiet place of my own.

It was under a wide old apple tree on my grandparents’ farm in Bruce County. My grandmother would sit in a lawn chair, and I would lie in her lap, staring at the fluttering leaves as the sun tucked behind the hills.

She would tell me a story—one she had memorized long ago—about a little girl saying goodnight to the world."Goodnight, sparrow," she’d whisper."Goodnight, cattails. Goodnight, wind."

It was like prayer, only gentler.

I don’t remember every line. But I remember the tone of her voice, the warmth of her hands smoothing back my hair, and the exact smell of windfall apples in the grass. That story became part of me. Part of my peace. Part of how I knew I was safe and loved in the world.

Isn’t it incredible how a story—just a simple, rhythmic story—can become a memory that outlives childhood?

Books Imprint the Heart

I write children's books today because of that memory.

Because I believe every child deserves that quiet place where stories live, I want my books to be the ones a child remembers on a rainy day, the ones they quote while brushing their teeth, the ones they ask for at bedtime over and over until the corners are soft and the pages are taped back together.

My books—like Tommy and the Broken Window, Finny Minny Meow - Happy Being Me, and The Ruckety Tuckety House—are built with love and laughter, yes. But they’re also built with purpose.

Each one holds gentle messages: about being honest, brave, and loving who you are, even on the hard days. They are written with children’s mental health in mind, offering not just entertainment but emotional nourishment.

And they are meant to be read aloud and curled up on a couch. Snuggled in bed. Or even under an apple tree, if you’re lucky.

We Are the Keepers of the Quiet Places

If you’re a parent, teacher, grandparent, or caregiver, know this: Every time you read to a child, you do more than “reading.” You are helping that child build a lifelong sense of security. You are feeding their imagination, strengthening their attention, and giving them a soft place to land after the bumps and scrapes of a long day.

You are making memories that they will carry far into adulthood. Long after they’ve forgotten where they put their socks, they will remember you, your voice, your lap, and the way the story felt.

Let’s not forget how much a quiet moment with a story can mean in our noisy world.

Let’s keep making those quiet places for the little readers who need them most.

With warmth and wonder

Gently,

Liv McLean

https://livmclean.com