Robin L. Flanigan

National award-winning journalist Robin L. Flanigan and professional illustrator Heather S. Jones have paired inspiring verses with vibrant, kid-friendly paintings to help cultivate self-awareness, compassion, respect for diversity, and other practices--for an intentional, balanced, considerate life.

Parents, educators, and caregivers can use the book's short, easy-to-learn verses and nature-based illustrations to start rich conversations about how to attain--and maintain--a meaningful connection with ourselves, each other, and the world we live in.

M is for Mindful is the perfect gift for a child you care about.

Praise for M is for Mindful:

"This is the kind of book I want on my shelf, and when I have grandchildren I will read it to them daily--for them and me too." --Andie MacDowell, Golden Globe-winning actress

"Beautiful illustrations and wise compassionate messages. M is for Mindful is one of those books both you and your children will fondly remember long after they are grown." --Sharon Salzberg, New York Times best-selling author of Real Love

"Here is a quiet training that will serve every child and caregiver. Simple, deep, and beautiful." --Jeff Warren, award-winning co-author of Meditation for Fidgety Skeptics: A 10% Happier How-to Book

"M is for Mindful will teach children values and attitudes that will give them a positive direction to live their lives." --Temple Grandin, PhD, award-winning author of Thinking in Pictures, autism spokesperson, National Women's Hall of Fame inductee

Secret Rochester: A Guide to the Weird, Wonderful, and Obscure is a reference book like no other, offering a rare, sharply detailed glimpse into what makes this city so intriguing.

Meet a shy, 21-year-old hotel maid who secured the right to vote for all Puerto Rican Americans. Learn how a book written by Frederick Law Olmsted—designer of Highland, Maplewood, Seneca, and Genesee Valley Parks—opened Malcolm X’s eyes to the horrors endured by enslaved people. Discover why inspiration for the design of the famed Mushroom House is tied to an empty Coke bottle.

With short narratives and pro tips, this book takes you on a kaleidoscopic journey through the past and present. Did you know the cut-out bicycle saddle and reclining shampoo chair were both invented here? Or that you can nab a front-row seat to watch animal exams and surgeries at the Seneca Park Zoo?

Whether you’re a lifelong resident or lucky transplant, may the stories within these pages told by journalist Robin L. Flanigan invite you to become more curious about—and excited to be part of—this place we call home.

Rochester is known as the cultural capital of Western New York because of its world class museums, music, and more. Take your own tour of this affordable, accessible gem with 100 Things to Do in Rochester Before You Die, a local’s lowdown on what makes this place so remarkable no matter the month or the weather.

Explore the arts scene by learning how the city became the birthplace of amateur photography or by dancing at one of the world’s largest jazz festivals. Get playful at the world’s largest toy store or thumb through the largest vinyl record collection in the Northeast. The picture-perfect canalside villages along the Genesee River provide the ideal landscape for adventure and contemplation whether it’s by the 96-foot waterfall or the Erie Canal along the city’s southern border.

Follow in the footsteps of historical icons like Susan B. Anthony and Frederick Douglass. Round out your visit with some of Rochester’s best food, maybe even the iconic, celebrity-endorsed “Garbage Plate,” which is as messy as it sounds.

With insider tips and suggested itineraries by subject and season, freelance journalist and author Robin L. Flanigan takes you on a whirlwind tour from the obvious to the obscure of the place she proudly calls home. From the heart of the city all the way to Lake Ontario, this comprehensive guide to Rochester will have you planning your next visit right away.