Our First Picture Book
On May 9, 2026, RavenStar Publications launched our first picture book with Kindle Direct Publishing. The 40-page paperback is suitable for children and adults. The Crescent Moon Bear is an ancient tale that comes to us from the rugged mountains of East Asia. Variations are found in the folklore of Russia, Korea, China, and Japan.
The research into the imagery for the picture book took me through some of the most splendid online travel sites for Japan and South Korea. I decided to place my new interpretation of the story in ancient Japan. The story tells of a brave young woman who rescues her brother's troubled mind from trauma after he returns home from war. She undertakes an arduous quest to pluck a hair from the white patch at the base of the fierce crescent moon bear's throat, high on a snow-capped mountain. The journey helps her to discover the patience, honor, and resolve she will need to heal her loved one's spirit.
I hope you will share our launch with your friends and loved ones, as the tale of The Crescent Moon Bear is an encouraging and enduring testimony to compassion. I have included a few of the illustrations in this blog post. I worked for the first time with AI imagery to experiment with this modern technology.
Also, this paperback version features several blank spaces for individual or group journaling. It may be used as both a trauma workbook and a children's picture book. Each element in the story is a symbol for a step on the road to recovery. Readers may find it beneficial to jot down their own experiences as they relate to the protagonist's journey. For example, the tangled tree branches in the story symbolize anxiety and confusion. The restful shrine halfway up the mountainside represents a haven in the seeker's life, such as a personal sanctuary or the memory of a spiritual epiphany. The physical realm and the mental matrix intermix in this powerful, however humble, folktale. I genuinely hope it brings each reader strength and healing.
Peace to All Peoples,
RavenStar
