“When children and youth are experiencing something traumatic they find it difficult to talk about what they are feeling. Creativity allows for a safe way for them to express their emotions and gives us a window in their heart and how to meet them where they are. We appreciate how the reflective questions in your expressive art activity books incorporate mindfulness activities, and really aids in reducing anxiety in a child. It also helps our patients reflect on their experiences, process their emotions, and positively cope during their hospitalization. Your expressive art books are valuable tool we use in helping traumatized children cope with what they are experiencing. Thank you for your support!”
The Child Life Team
Colorado Children’s Hospital, CO

"Our school has a high trauma population and we are committed to developing the Social Emotional Learning and resiliency skills with all of our students. Your expressive art activity books provide our students a tool for learning that honors a culture of creativity, inclusion and personal enrichment. As a counselor, I love to use creativity as a regulating strategy for our students. The reflective questions in your expressive art coloring activity books ask important questions in fostering hope and healing in the lives of children and youth. They also cultivate personal growth to help them discover that their life matters. The questions provide a mentoring resource to help them explore their unique experiences, interests and dreams so they realize how they can make a difference in his world in a meaningful way."
Jenn Johnson
School Counselor
Riffenburgh Elementary
Fort Collins, CO

“Children see the world around them with a different lens than we do as adults. Art, when used as therapy, is part of nonverbal communication for children who may not be able to articulate their emotions and feelings. Art in healing spaces has been proven to reduce stress, anxiety, pain and length of stays. We don’t underestimate its lasting positive effects in a hospital, particularly on young patients. It’s a powerful tool we have in our toolbox.”
Blair Christy
Director of Art and Healing
St John’s Health
Jackson Hole, WY

"As a school counselor, I search for calming SEL resources that can support all students ranging from k 5th grade. When our students experienced severe trauma due to the Marshal Fires we used the Discovery Art for Youth expressive art coloring activity books as a regulating and healing resource. Teachers witnessed students shifting from being unsettled to becoming quiet and self reflect. The students loved their books and were eager to engage in the next following activity. Art therapy coloring books allowed our students to process their fears and concerns safely and enjoyably. Thank you, Discovery Art for Youth, for making a difference for our students!"
Michelle Beck
School Counselor
Louisville Elementary School
Louisville, CO

"Thank you for helping us help our patients! Your books are great for many of our patients but they have been extremely helpful for our patients with mental health issues.  Unfortunately, many of the inpatient facilities that address these issues have a very long wait list and the patient stay in a general hospital until placement is available.  These books are a great way to build rapport as well as an opportunity to learn more about each other and a great entryway into some therapeutic conversations. Children are still learning so much about the world around them and how they fit.  It’s nice to help them navigate and be a positive impact in their lives. Your expressive art coloring activity books are a great tool to help dive deeper into therapeutic conversations."
Kyla Brown
Child Life Coordinator
Valleywise Health Medical Center, AZ

"Thank you so much for the awesome books. As a counselor, I use art therapy with many of our students. Art therapy is a great rapport building activity. Children love to be doing an activity while they are having a conversation. Your books are designed in a way that the children feel safe to talk about their feelings while coloring the beautiful nature scenes and wildlife.  We have many wonderful conversations with students while doing art together!"
Counseling Team
Miles Elementary, FL

"We have been using your expressive art coloring books at Rady Children’s Hospital for several years now. Our patients really enjoy these coloring books because it helps them express themselves in different ways. As a Child Life Specialist, I have used these books in 1 on 1 interactions with patients and it helps open up avenues for discussion, especially with teens. I have been a Child Life Specialist for over 20 years and I love working with children and being able to help them cope with illness, new diagnosis and hospitalization. These coloring books are not just any coloring books! They provide a way for our patients to express themselves in a totally non threatening way. Our patients love these books!!!"
Lisa Tweed
MS, CCLS, Child Life Specialist
Rady Children's Hospital
San Diego, CA

"We are so grateful for your donation of Discovery Art for Youth expressive art coloring activity books! These coloring books supported our students after the traumatic Marshall Fires that blazed through our community destroying over 1,000 homes. Students came back to school all needing something different to begin their healing process. These books provided a safe way for students to use creativity to process their turbulent emotions and discover how to regulate their hearts. We are looking forward to using these books each year for social emotional wellness, building confidence and self-esteem, goal setting and helping children reach their full-potential."
Molly Kobus
School Counselor
Fireside Elementary
Boulder, CO

"The Discover series expressive art books are amazing and our pediatric patients love them! The books are such a great tool for distraction, diversion and self expression. We love working with children and youth in the hospital setting to educate about their health/procedures/diagnosis, guide to promote positive coping during their hospitalization, provide normalcy during crisis, and distract with bedside activities.  Your books are an important tool in helping our children cope with what they are experiencing in a positive and healthy way."
Rita Goshert MA,
CCLS Director
Cherese Mari Laulhere  Child Life Program at Miller Children’s & Women’s Hospital
Long Beach, CA

"Thank you again for donating your expressive art coloring books for our summer camp for at-risky youth! The kids and educators are loving them. The kids are really liking the reflective prompts and the time to color while thinking about their answers!  What a great book to help kids grow and thrive!"
The Powerhouse Camps
Durango, CO

"Thank you so much for your generous donation of Expressive Art Coloring Activity Books to our hospital!  We are very appreciative of this donation as it allows us to provide a creative outlet and form of distraction to many of our current pediatric patients. We truly appreciate the care, love and thought you have put into these books for our patients."
Gabrielle Grimaldi Bellettieri
Creative Art Therapist
Maria Fareri Children’s Hospital
New York

"Thank you for providing your expressive art coloring books to our Child Life team!  We love the way you created the books in a way that is very appropriate for all ages. The coloring pages are simple enough the younger children can do them but they are not childish so we can use them with our teen patients as well. We also appreciate how you included simple questions for the children and youth to reflect on which fills their minds with positive thoughts and helps them realize how strong, courageous and brave they truly are. It also helps them evaluate so many beautiful pieces of their lives. Your books are truly a gift."
Child Life Team
Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital
St. Petersburg, FL

"Children need play, art, music, activities to work through and process the hard stuff.  As a child life specialist, I get to create opportunities for children and families to work through hard topics utilizing play as a modality to do that. Your expressive art coloring books help the children and youth we care for discover they can make it through the hard times they are experiencing and provides a valuable resource for us to initiate deeper conversations about their thoughts and emotions."
Taryn Weelock
Child Life
Gundersen Health System
La Crosse, WI

“I wanted to take a moment to express my sincere gratitude for the wonderful coloring activity books that you have provided, which foster social emotional learning. Your generous contribution has made a significant impact in our community, and we are truly thankful for your dedication to promoting the well-being and growth of our youth. These coloring books have proven to be invaluable tools in our efforts to support the emotional development and mental well-being of the children in our program. The engaging content and thoughtful design not only encourage creativity but also help young minds explore and understand their emotions, promoting empathy, self-awareness, and effective communication. Your commitment to nurturing the emotional intelligence of our youth is commendable, and we are grateful for the positive influence your organization has on our community. We look forward to continuing our partnership and working together to empower the next generation. Once again, mahalo for your incredible support and for making a meaningful difference in the lives of our children and youth. Your generosity is greatly appreciated!”
Me ke aloha pumehana,
Kele Sipman
Kaiapuni/504 Counselor
Kalama Intermediate, Maui

“Mahalo, Discovery Art for Youth for providing Discover Maui Hawaii expressive art coloring activity books for our students.  We love the layout of the book as it has reflections and coloring pages side by side, making it simple for kids to follow along during our guided school counseling sessions. These books are helping students find their inner strength and discover ways in which their resilience can help themselves heal, grow, and help others down the road. Students really enjoy coloring the beautiful nature and cultural scenes the most.  It is an incredible resource for cultivating healing, personal enrichment and a connection with our Native Hawaiian culture for our students!”
Rachael Watson
K-2 School Counselor
Pu'u Kukui Elementary School, Maui

"We all recognize that being in the hospital can be a very emotional experience and being able to express those feelings is an important part of the coping process. Your generous donation will be a great way for children of all ages to find ways to capture their feelings in artwork and writing. Thank you for the positive impact you are having with the children who need it the most! We appreciate you very much!!"
Child Life Team
Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, CA

"When a child or family faces hospitalization, there are many emotions and challenges that come along with their medical experiences. Your expressive art coloring books are used frequently to help manage pain in an alternative way and allow children an outlet to express emotions. Engaging in art can reduce stress, anxiety, pain, and length of admissions. Even children who are nonverbal and cannot articulate how they are feeling, can use art to express themselves and process their experiences. Your books are unique because they are simple, but appropriate for children and teenagers of all ages. We love the format of the book with simple reflective questions and space for self-expression on the left and inspiring coloring pages of nature and wildlife on the right. The questions foster creativity, imagination and growth. As the children interact with the pages it provides a calming way to cope with what they are experiencing.  Thank you to your gift to our child life team and children here in Chicago!”
Dana Thornquist, MS, CCLS
Children’s Hospital University of Illinois

"Your expressive art coloring books have been a wonderful resource for facilitating self-expression and helping to build rapport with children/teens admitted for behavioral health crisis intervention. We want every child and youth to feel valued and to know their voice matters. Your books help our kids recognize their strengths and build coping techniques to help them in the hospital and in their lives overall. Thank you for your donation!"
Shannon Joslin, M.S., CCLS
Child Life Manager
University of Maryland Children’s Hospital, MD

"Thank you for your wonderful expressive art coloring activity books. We use the books as a way for patients to express their emotions following a trauma, loss, or during hospitalization. We appreciate the blank spaces for children & teens to express feelings in an open-ended way. For example, the prompts aren't specific to traumatic events (accident, death, etc.) but are very open to interpretation by the child or teen."
Renee Hunte
Chiild Life
Duke Children’s Hospital, NC

"Thank you for donating your Discover expressive art books for our students!  We will be using the books with our students demonstrating anxiety, depression, adjustment problems, or trauma in order to increase mindfulness and coping skills. We love how the books surround youth with the beauty of nature while helping them grow in their personal lives. A powerful shift happens at the end of the book as youth realize they have leaves blowing from their tree that can impact the world around them in a positive way. Thank you for creating such an empowering book for our students!"
The Counseling Team
Weatherbee Elementary School
Florida

“Thank you for creating this wonderful expressive art activity book for the youth of Maui. Our school will be using this resource for all our students. We appreciate the deep care and compassion you have displayed for our island in creating this beautiful resource to help our keiki process, heal and grow during this difficult time. The reflections help our keiki process their emotions at the same time develop positive coping skills and build resilience. Our team is especially appreciative of how you incorporated important culturally relevant reflections and coloring pages. This book feels rooted in our culture and special for our community. Thank you for touching our lives with your gift and vision for our healing.”
Jackie Mukai
Maui Counselor

“We are deeply grateful for the Discovery art therapy books for our students.  The books provide a way to explore, process and actually put to words and pictures some of the feelings that they are experiencing.  The books also help them discover some of their own personal resources.  The layout walks them though this step by step and each page helps them reinforce the tools that they have and build resilience. Using place-based pictures that connect with questions and answers is an amazing tool that we can use to heal! As a school counselor, I find this so important.  Our teachers have been able to access this resource as well to use in the classroom. The Discovery Art books are an innovative, creative and a valuable resource and we are beyond grateful that these have been provided to use free of charge.”
Cathy Fitzpatrick
Counselor
Iao Middle School, Maui

“Mahalo Discovery Art for Youth for creating this amazing resource for our keiki, especially during these difficult times. I have used them with students directly impacted by the Lahaina fires and others that were not. I have also used them as stress relief for teachers who have been feeling burnt out as well as a few parents wanting a resource for themselves. The beautiful pictures along with the reflection questions, provide a great opportunity for my students to destress and reflect on ways that support them.”
Kimberly Naylor (she/her), M.Ed 
School Counselor/Behavior RTI Teacher & 504 Coordinator
Pōmaika`i Elementary School, Maui

"I'm so grateful to have the Maui Discovery Art for Youth book as a resource for my work with High School students. It has been a great tool to help them express themselves in a non-intrusive way. I can also see creativity and compassion it sparks in them. Mahalo for your generous gifts to the students at Baldwin High School."
Oudlay Tom LCSW
Behavioral Health Specialist
Baldwin High School, Maui

“MAHALO to Discovery Art for Youth for providing your art for healing books to our students. Even at the high school level, students use coloring to destress and they find that it helps to ground them. It is awesome that there are reflective prompts to get students thinking which opens up and easy and safe way for me to have conversations with them about what is going on in their lives. As their counselor, I am grateful for this very powerful tool to help my students heal and also to grow.” 
Jayna Yamamoto
Counselor
King Kekaulike High School, Maui

"These Discover Maui books have been a big support to help my students open up about their experiences with the fire and share how it has impacted them, through the reflective pages they have been able to realize it is okay to have feelings of loss, grief, sadness, anger, etc. and this book has provided a powerful tool to help them express themselves and heal by sharing their feelings through reflection and art. I also appreciate how the books help the youth focus on the good in their lives while they are processing such a difficult time."
Lance Toyoshima
Behavior Health Specialist
Kamali'i Elementary School, Maui

"We want to share our gratitude for your therapeutic art for healing books to aid our patients on their journey of healing and personal enrichment. We look forward to continuing this partnership."
Mahalo nui,
Holly Ho | Controller
Hui No Ke Ola Pono
Maui’s Native Hawaiian Health Care System, Maui

"Thank you for donating Discover Maui art for healing books! I am using the books with my students to help process the trauma from the fires but also as curriculum for overall social emotional wellness. The books have so much going on in them - I love how I can use the nature and coloring for mindfulness and the reflection for an increased connection to self and their personal goals. I have noticed my students feel much calmer after they have worked in the book. Thank you for creating such an amazing tool for healing."
Kelly Albrecht
Behavioral Health Specialist
Maui High School, Maui

"We are so grateful to you for your beautiful Discover expressive art coloring books. We are the leading center caring for children across all of our islands and the Pacific Basin, so the impact of your books is so far reaching. You will touch the lives of so many patients and really keep their spirits up and positive. Thank you for your wonderful donations to us."
Emily Torres
Kapi’olani Medical Center for Women and Children
Honolulu, HI

"Thank you for your partnership in providing each of my students your Discover Series expressive art coloring activity books. These books have been a FANTASTIC resource to help facilitate and teach social emotional learning and are extremely powerful for me as a school psychologist because of the conversations it helps facilitate with my students. With reflective topics like explore, growth, and kindness, we learned about ourselves, set goals for the future and set ourselves up for success. We had incredible discussions about identity, cultures, customs and what makes us unique. We talked about how to cultivate confidence and how we could lift others up. The books cultivate balance in our students’ lives by providing them an outlet to use their minds to reflect and tap into their hearts and emotions through creativity and coloring. What a lot of students appreciated about this book was it gave them a space to talk about what was on their mind, their feelings, their goals, their hopes, their fears, their dreams. As a school psychologist, this is one of my favorite tools in my work with my students."
Adam Parker
School Psychologist
Heritage Elementary School
Denver, CO

*these are just a few of the hundreds of testimonies we can share.