Katie’s Invisible Journey

“The One Heart Stories are exceptional for so many reasons, most importantly for their depictions of interrelationships that are real, true, and positive. With vibrant, soothing artwork, readers are compelled to notice and to imagine. As an artist in education, I see the works of One Heart Stories as necessary gifts to enrich humankind.”

“In a time when education often emphasizes intellectual achievement over the development of the whole child, children often lose their sense of the sacred. Through Katie’s experiences in the forest, on the river, and in her dreams, she shows how children can recover their intuition and imagination. Beautifully illustrated, each of the three stories offers a captivating journey that will inspire both children and the adults who read with them.”

“As a fourth-grade teacher, I immediately saw the importance of Katie's Invisible Journey being used as a read-aloud in classrooms. The story provides a meaningful and age-appropriate way to have conversations about empathy, compassion, bullying, and inclusion. Students can connect with Katie’s realization that although people come from different backgrounds, we all share the same feelings of belonging, hurt, and joy. This is a wonderful story for teachers to use to teach their students about the impact we have on others.”

“Awe and wonder are the foundation of spiritual awakening. Although I work with adults at Center for Spiritual Wisdom, I can vividly recall the times when my own children were filled with curiosity and wonder. I said to my wife, “I hope we can help them hold on to that as long as possible.” We didn’t have the beautiful stories of Katie and her journey through life at the time, but I wish we had! Between the author’s warmhearted storytelling and the artist’s just-right illustrations, this is a book to cherish and share with children young and old.”

“Perhaps I became a minister because, as a child, I had experiences in nature much like Katie did in these stories. I knew from the inside of myself that a felt connection with “Something Beyond and Greater than I” was real. I learned about God and Jesus in church, but what I experienced directly made me know the spiritual realm was actual and I was part of an interconnected world.

I wish I had these stories when I was young, and I highly recommend them to children and their parents.”

“This children’s book amazes young and old. Diane names the connection as an invisible thread that ties everything together. Katie’s mom says that when you are still for a long time, you can feel it. This connection makes the world feel like it is one; we are connected to the water, sky, forest, people, and earth. YES, Katie, something happened. And you will remember it for a long time.

Congratulations, Diane. The book is beautiful.”

“In Diane Delafield's enchanting 3-story series about Katie and the Invisible Thread, she weaves together stories of childhood bravery, friendship, and mindful awareness of the beauty and connection between all of us. As a pediatric neuropsychologist, I stress the importance of children's exposure to critical skills such as empathy, courage, and overall self-regulation. Observing Katie develop these abilities throughout the stories provides a useful bridge for children to imagine the character's feelings, notice the choices she makes, and mentally rehearse how they might respond in a similar situation, which is the basis of social and emotional development in children. Lastly, Katie and her dog, Spirit have adventures filled with wonder and imagination. This affirms the goodness within all of us, a helpful reminder, particularly during times of uncertainty and change.”