Welcome to The Wellness Tree
Growing Calm, Creativity, and Connection with Contatto Wellness Press
Dear friends,
Welcome—truly, welcome—to Contatto Wellness Press. As I sit here surrounded by story drafts, watercolor sketches, and half-drunk cups of tea, I can’t help but feel grateful that this moment is finally blooming into view. For years, a dozen small sparks had been swirling through my mind: my love of books, my work in wellness, the joy of watching children discover calm, and the way stories can connect us when nothing else can.
Those sparks found shape last year, on my 60th birthday, when my son Nathan and I started piecing together what would become The Wellness Tree Series. It began as a simple idea—what if every child could see their own wellness journey as something growing, leaf by leaf? It’s grown into an entire world of stories, activities, and resources to help families and educators nurture calm, creativity, and connection every day.
Why We Planted The Wellness Tree
At Contatto Wellness Press, our mission has always been to bring wellness off the yoga mat or massage table and into the everyday—onto playgrounds, classroom rugs, and bedtime story chairs. I’ve spent much of my career helping adults discover stillness and self-care. But the more I worked with families, the more I realized: children need those same tools, in language and imagery that belong to them.
Stories are one of the gentlest ways to teach wellness. They invite children to feel a lesson instead of being told one. A good picture book slows the heart rate, stretches imagination, and opens the door to empathy—all in under ten minutes.
That’s where The Wellness Tree Series began. Ten students in Mr. Hale’s class, each discovering a different branch of wellness—mindfulness, rest, creativity, community, gratitude, nutrition, digital balance, movement, self-worth, and advocacy. Every story ends with that child earning their own unique leaf for the classroom’s growing Wellness Tree, reminding young readers that wellbeing isn’t one thing we do once; it’s something we nurture, together.
Meet Max and the First Leaf
Our very first book, Max Masters Meditation, introduces Max—a bright, soccer-loving student who can’t seem to sit still. Max learns from Mr. Hale that slowing down doesn’t mean losing energy; it means focusing it. Through simple breathing and short pauses, he discovers calm inside the chaos.
The story is playful, full of classroom laughter and relatable “wiggle moments,” but it also plants the seed of mindfulness in a child-friendly way. We’ve seen how powerful those seeds can be: one parent recently told me her child now leads “one-minute breathing breaks” for the whole family before dinner!
Max’s leaf—with footprints matching the colors of the chakras—becomes the first on the class Wellness Tree, symbolizing mindfulness, stillness, and the journey to wellness. It also became the first leaf in our larger mission: helping children grow their own calm.
Next to Bloom: Scarlett’s Story
Our second title, coming early next year, centers on rest—one of the most overlooked pillars of wellness. In Scarlett’s Storytime Sleepover, we explore sleep routines and the comfort of winding down together. Scarlett, ever the planner and host, learns that rest isn’t wasted time; it’s how we recharge to show up as our best selves.
As families come out of the busy holiday season, this book offers a gentle reminder that calm evenings and cozy storytelling moments are not indulgences—they’re essential wellness practices.
Beyond the Tree: The Contatto Wellness Press Catalog
While The Wellness Tree will be at the heart of our children’s imprint, it’s only one part of the garden we’re tending. Our catalog also includes:
Children’s Activity & Sports Books – playful titles that celebrate movement, teamwork, and confidence across sports like hockey, football, baseball, and basketball. These books turn physical activity into moments of mindfulness and connection.
Seasonal Writing Prompt Journals – beloved by after-school programs and daycares, they spark creativity, reflection, and gratitude while giving children space to tell their own stories.
Calm for Adults – gentle guides and reflections for parents, caregivers, and wellness practitioners who want to bring balance to their own routines. Because our children learn calm from the calm we model.
Together, these books form a continuum—from childhood curiosity to adult reflection—each one an invitation to pause, notice, and reconnect.
Storytelling as a Wellness Practice
In many ways, Contatto Wellness Press is less a company and more a conversation—a gathering place for anyone who believes that stories can help us live better. When we open a book together, whether it’s with a classroom of second graders or a sleepy child tucked under blankets, we are creating a space of shared calm.
Storytime is one of the simplest wellness rituals in the world. You don’t need special equipment or a perfectly quiet house. All you need is presence. The act of reading together slows breathing, regulates emotion, and strengthens connection. For me, that’s where wellness truly begins—in those small, human moments of attention.
Books have always been my compass. My kids grew up surrounded by them—stacks in every corner, stories at the dinner table, impromptu puppet shows and living-room plays. We didn’t realize it at the time, but those stories were teaching us calm, creativity, and connection long before those became Contatto’s mission words.
That same spirit lives inside The Wellness Tree. Each book is meant to be both a story and a soft teaching tool—something a parent can read at bedtime or a teacher can share before a busy school day. The stories open a conversation about feelings, focus, friendship, and gratitude, without ever feeling like a lesson.
The Roots of Our Name
People often ask about the word Contatto. It means “touch” or “connection” in Italian—a word that carries both physical and emotional resonance. In my wellness work, touch has always represented presence and empathy, and in publishing, that meaning remains the same.
Books are another kind of touch. They reach across time and space to remind us that we are not alone. Whether it’s a five-year-old learning to breathe through frustration or an adult rediscovering calm through reflection, that sense of contact is what guides every story we publish.
So when we chose the name Contatto Wellness Press, it wasn’t just a nod to my background as a massage therapist and educator. It was a promise: to create books that help readers feel more connected—to themselves, to each other, and to the world around them.
Growing Together: What’s Ahead
The Wellness Tree will continue to grow over the next few years. After Max and Scarlett’s stories, readers will meet Claire, who finds her calm through crafting; Peter, who learns about community through gardening; and several more of Mr. Hale’s wonderful students. Each will earn a new leaf, each exploring a fresh aspect of wellness.
Alongside these children’s titles, we’ll keep nurturing our activity books, sports series, and adult wellness guides—all designed to support a full-circle approach to wellbeing. Our goal is to help every reader, from preschooler to parent, discover a little more peace, focus, and joy in everyday life.
If you’re new to Contatto Wellness Press, I invite you to wander through our website. You’ll find resources for families and educators, ideas for bringing mindfulness into classrooms, and sneak peeks at upcoming stories. You can also sign up for our newsletter for release dates, wellness tips, and behind-the-scenes updates from our illustrators and authors.
A Note of Gratitude
Launching this series has been a family effort in every sense. Nathan has been beside me through every draft and brainstorm, helping me see how these ideas could take shape beyond my notebook. Our team of artists, editors, and educators has brought heart and color to every page. And to you—our readers, families, and teachers—thank you for believing that wellness and storytelling belong together.
I often say that wellness isn’t about perfection; it’s about practice. The same is true for creativity and connection. We grow them one small act at a time—one breath, one story, one page turned.
My hope is that The Wellness Tree Series reminds us all that growth can be gentle, and that even the smallest leaves can change the whole forest.