In March 2020, the whole world retreated indoors, inspiring children’s book author Mikey Woz to create something to help kids everywhere find the silver lining.
The result, When the World Stays Inside, is a refreshingly positive, whimsical book that reminds us all of the importance of finding beauty in the seemingly mundane and uncovering the bright side of any situation.
Using clever, Seussian-style rhymes, When the World Stays Inside aims to empower children through gentle prompts that encourage them to be creative, move their bodies and find new ways to play when the weather or other external force causes them to stay indoors.
“Now and then there are times when the world must stay in. It might be the rain, or the snow, or the wind,” he writes.
Woz teamed up with illustrator and graphic designer Sara Panchaud to bring playful creatures and imaginative illustrations to life, creating a colorful world filled with friendly characters that children around the globe can relate to.
When the World Stays Inside may be a children’s book, but there’s a powerful message here for all ages: our moments at home needn’t be meaningless or idle. In fact, our time together is priceless and can help us all learn, grow and change for the better.
Mikey Woz is a first-time children’s author based in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, where he lives with his wife and puppy. In his hometown, he also owns a floating pizza restaurant and helps small businesses with their local marketing. He loves trying new things and bringing fresh ideas to life, so when COVID-19 struck, he felt compelled to write a story that would speak to families all across the world. Woz hopes that people will remember this global event for the precious time it provided us to spend with the people we love. A portion of all sales will be donated to Children’s Wish Foundation to help kids live their dreams when the world returns to normal.
Sara Panchaud is a full-time designer and illustrator based in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Originally from Kitchener, Ontario, Sara moved out to the East Coast six years ago and has called it home ever since. She spends her spare time making earrings out of clay, finding new trails to hike and cooking for her friends. Sara’s hope for When the World Stays Inside is that it will remind people that there is always an optimistic view to every situation, and that it may help those embrace the power of their imagination to help them through difficult times. When the World Stays Inside is her first picture book.
For more information, please visit www.whentheworldstaysinside.com, or connect with the author on Instagram: @mikey_woz; Twitter: @mikeywozbooks; or Facebook: @whentheworldstaysinside.
When the World Stays Inside can be purchased here.
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