Therapy Bits

Lauren Scott’s children’s book Cora’s Quest, illustrated by her nephew Chris Mendez, is a beautiful and encouraging picture book. Published in December 2024, it marks Scott’s debut in the children’s genre after her established career in poetry and memoir writing (Baydreamer Writes ~ Lauren Scott, Author).

The story follows Cora, an inquisitive young fawn exploring the forest on a family outing. When she becomes distracted and loses sight of her parents, Cora faces a scary moment that forces her to rely on the calm, courageous lessons she’s learned at home. The narrative emphasizes thinking clearly in adversity and not giving in to overwhelming fear

The writing is gentle and lyrical, aimed at preschoolers and early readers (ages 2–5). Despite being simple, the prose carries a quiet poetry that resonates with both young children and attentive adults alike.

Chris Mendez’s illustrations are vivid and expressive, matching Lauren’s writing tone beautifully. The forest scenes, animal companions, and Cora herself are animated through bright colors and caring detail.

Cora’s Quest has received overwhelmingly positive feedback. A few key things to note about this book are:

• Meaningful takeaways for young kids: Teaches bravery, calmness, self-reliance.
• Appealing aesthetics: Engaging illustrations that draw readers into the forest setting.
• Shared appeal across ages: Adults reading it find value in its underlying themes as much as children enjoy the story.

Here’s a short video where Lauren Scott speaks directly about writing Cora’s Quest, its inspiration, and the collaboration with her illustrator nephew Chris Mendez:

Cora’s Quest with Lauren Scott short

Cora’s Quest is a tender and uplifting tale, ideal for bedtime storytelling or classroom moments focused on emotional learning. It offers children a model of resilience and self-awareness while engaging them with delightful visual details.

If you’re looking for a children’s book that balances adventure with wisdom and beauty, Lauren’s debut children’s book is a wonderful choice—and one that earns high praise from readers and reviewers alike.

I highly recommend it! If you don’t already own a copy, then I urge you to buy one!