Lark and the Listening Forest

Book One of the Body Compass Adventures

Beautiful watercolor illustrations by Kusum Shabong bring Lark's journey to life, inviting children to move, explore, and discover alongside her.

The forest has been waiting.

The map already knows the way.

Lark doesn't know she's about to begin an adventure that will change the way she moves, breathes, and understands her body.

With the help of a magical map and five unforgettable animal guides, she discovers that every clue in the forest is also a clue about herself.

More than a story

Lark and the Listening Forest is a movement adventure that helps children discover how their bodies are designed to support them.

As Lark follows a magical map through the Listening Forest, each animal guide introduces a simple movement challenge that helps her notice something new about her body.

She learns to feel the ground beneath her feet, breathe into the back and sides of her ribs, use her arms and ribs to help support her neck, and move with curiosity as she discovers what her body is capable of.

Along the way, children aren't just following a story.

They're learning to understand their own bodies through movement, exploration, and play.

Through Lark's adventure, children discover how to...

• Feel steady through both feet

• Notice their breath in the back, sides, and front of their body

• Use their ribs and arms to help support their neck

• Roll, balance, and recover with curiosity

• Build confidence by understanding how their body works

Each animal introduces a simple movement activity that children can explore at home, before school, or before bed.

Every activity also includes a companion note for grown-ups explaining the body awareness and movement principles behind the adventure.

Who it's for

Children ages 5–8 and the parents, grandparents, teachers, therapists, and caregivers who want to help them build a lifelong relationship with movement.

Be the First to Know

Lark and the Listening Forest is coming in Summer 2026 in both print and digital editions.

Join the list to receive:

• Book launch updates

• Behind-the-scenes illustrations and artwork

• Sneak peeks from upcoming books

• Family movement ideas inspired by the series

Please check "Sign up for news and updates" so I can send you the book updates you've requested.

A Note from Kelly

I wrote Body Quest Adventures because I spent much of my own life trying to understand my body.

As a movement coach, I've worked with many adults who wish someone had taught them earlier how their bodies were designed to move and support them. That inspired a simple question:

What if children learned those skills from the beginning?

My hope is that these stories help children become curious about their bodies, develop movement confidence through play, and grow into adults who trust what their bodies are telling them.

Because when children understand how their bodies work, they carry that understanding with them for life.

Every body has a story.

These stories help children learn to listen.