We help expert authors create meaningful children’s books that nurture emotional growth
Garden Wolf Publishing House publishes SEL books for kids.
We’re proud to present NaMOOste, a children’s book that features animals learning important social-emotional skills through yoga. NaMOOste is a great resource for families and educators alike.
GWPH has 8 more SEL-focused books in the works in 2025, many of which are authored by experts including philanthropists, occupational therapists and psychologists.
Passionate about mental health? Have a children’s book idea, but don’t know where to start? We can help make your dream a reality!
Books
We publish SEL books for kids. Our flagship book, NaMOOste, still sells like hotcakes one year later. Eight new SEL books in the works in 2025.
Publishing Services
Check out our professional publishing services for experts including psychologists, therapists, and educators. Expand your impact!
Workshops
School visits, readings and activities. Wide variety of workshops including creative writing, book publishing and more (for both kids + adults)
They love us,
they really love us!
and award-winning children’s book author/illustrator
Marlee Kostiner’s interactive reading of “NaMOOste” was an absolute delight for our daycare classrooms. With boundless energy and enthusiasm, she seamlessly integrated storytelling and yoga, captivating children aged 1 to 5 in a world of movement and mindfulness.
Through dynamic storytelling and expressive gestures, Marlee invited the children to join her on a journey of exploration and discovery. Her interactive approach fostered cooperation, empathy, and self-expression, while promoting values of inclusivity and kindness.
Beyond the physical benefits, Marlee’s reading nurtured emotional well-being and self-confidence in the children. Her passion for sharing the joys of yoga created a lasting impact on both children and educators alike, leaving us grateful for the memories and inspiration she provided.
I recently had the pleasure of attending a reading of Marlee’s delightful book, “Namooste,” and it was a truly wonderful experience. As she read the book, the kids were captivated not only by the enchanting story but also by the beautiful illustrations, which Marlee expertly highlighted. What made the experience even more special was the way she incorporated yoga poses into the reading. The children loved following along, stretching and moving in sync with her, which added a fun and interactive element to the session.
Marlee’s visit to our Grade 5 classroom was a great experience. Her reading of her book, NaMOOste, captivated the students, and the yoga session afterward was a perfect way to unwind and connect. Marlee’s warmth and organization made the event seamless and highly enjoyable for everyone involved.
Namooste is the perfect book for a young audience. The yoga references, rhyming and predictable nature of the story, provide opportunity for movement and full engagement. A truly delightful story.
in the Faculty of Education at McGill University
Sign up to get 20% off your first purchase of NaMOOste. The coupon code works right away!
Attention all educators!
Book your next author reading or workshop
Work with Marlee to create engaging activities for kids that foster social-emotional awareness and communication skills. Customized program development available.
Here are some workshop ideas:
Daycare, K4 and K5
Interactive book reading with yoga activity and Q&A.
Grades 1-3
Creative writing and social-emotional expression workshop.
Grades 4-6 and beyond
Self-publishing workshop. How to publish your very own book.
Reach out for more information and to find out whether your school is eligible for a free visit.
Let’s raise strong, inquisitive,
confident and resilient kids.
Garden Wolf Publishing House publishes engaging and creative stories that promote social-emotional learning (SEL) and early literacy. SEL books for kids help develop empathy, self-awareness, self-control and social skills, which are vital for lifelong success and fulfillment.
Teaching SEL today creates a more peaceful tomorrow for our kids.
Marlee Kostiner
Marlee has always loved storytelling and tends to hyper-focus on details, which made journalism a natural fit. She worked as an editor for over a decade, and, though she loved it, she nearly forgot about why she became a journalist in the first place—to write.
Her penchant for writing started at a young age. She self-published her first book in the 3rd grade called Crooks and Robbers. It was written on construction paper and tied together with ribbons (yes, she still has it thanks to her sentimental mom).
She wrote NaMOOste in 2017, but it gathered dust in her Notes app until the pandemic hit. Suddenly she had no choice but to press pause on, well, everything, with a toddler and a newborn at home. Like many others, she re-evaluated her career and took a leap of faith, leaving her 9-5 to prioritize what matters most to her: spending more time with her family, expressing creativity and sharing meaningful stories.
