Walter structures the book around the calendar seasons, pairing poems with her own vivid paintings in each, alongside gentle nudges to pause and reflect (“What is my Brave Voice dream? What do my critics/inner critics tell me?”) as well as note-taking spaces for reader reflections. Her poems exude the empathy and humanity you would hope for from a coach and mentor: “I know I’m not the only one,/ In urgent need of a helping hand.” A final section gives special attention to helping professionals help their clients develop their own authentic voices, illustrating the key lessons of the Seven Eyed Model of Supervision through playful scenes and incisive prompts and questions.
Between promoting structured, reflective creativity, her rhymed verse brings a sense of grounding—“I’ve found a soft place to fall,/ In a world with hardly any space at all,”—that will resonate with readers who are familiar with mindfulness practices, although some introductory audiences may find the amount of creative space Walter provides them challenging. Walter suggests that readers forge their own metaphorical canvas, be it a page, a garden, or just the freedom to dance, championing their journey to “encourage your uniqueness out of the closet.” This interactive collection will lift open-minded seekers toward their own truths.
Takeaway: A unique and contemplative collection that combines visual art and poetry to help readers discover courage and creativity.
Great for fans of: Worthy Stokes’s The Mindfulness Journal, Aimee Chase’s Present, Not Perfect.
Production grades
Cover: B+
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: B
Editing: B
Marketing copy: B+
