In a time when families are more geographically scattered than ever, children are often left carrying emotions they don’t yet have the words to express. Author and brain health advocate Michelle De La Mora understands this deeply. Her award-winning children’s picture book Where’s Honey? was born from personal loss, love, and the quiet ache of separation and it has since become a meaningful social-emotional learning tool for families across the country.

De La Mora’s inspiration came from a life-altering move. After relocating from California to Tennessee, she found herself suddenly separated from her grandson, Arthur, whom she had seen weekly. Phone calls replaced physical presence, and visits were reduced to just a few times a year. One conversation in particular stayed with her. Arthur mentioned that he was supposed to visit, but it never happened. He couldn’t articulate what he was feeling, but the sadness was unmistakable.

“I recognized that sound immediately,” De La Mora shared. “It was grief the kind children feel before they know what to call it.”

That emotional gap became the foundation of Where’s Honey?, a tender, imaginative story that follows a young boy searching for his beloved grandmother after she moves away. Through rockets, stars, and gentle magical thinking, the book reassures children that love doesn’t disappear with distance. Instead, it transforms remaining present, steady, and safe.

Writing the book was both creative and deeply healing for De La Mora. She poured her own emotions, longing, guilt, love, and hope into the pages, while intentionally shaping the story to support emotional development. Drawing from her background as a Certified Brain Health Professional with training from the Amen Clinic, she designed the book to help children feel seen and soothed without overwhelming them.

The journey to publication wasn’t without obstacles. Finding the right illustrator proved challenging, as De La Mora envisioned a warm, expressive, almost cinematic style that would emotionally resonate with young readers. That vision came to life when she partnered with illustrator Mike Coller, whose work captured the heart of the story perfectly.

Another pivotal moment came when a traditional publisher declined the manuscript, citing market trends. While they praised the story, they suggested altering it to fit what was currently selling. De La Mora chose a different path, one rooted in authenticity rather than trends and moved forward independently, staying true to the story’s emotional core.

That decision paid off. Where’s Honey? is now a Mom’s Choice Awards® Gold Honoree and an International Impact Book Award winner in the Children’s Inspirational and Motivational category. Beyond accolades, the book has made its mark through real-world impact. Each copy includes a QR code linking to free companion resources such as star breathing, havening techniques, feeling-face tools, affirmation cards, and playful activities designed to help children regulate emotions and reduce anxiety.

De La Mora has taken the book on the road, hosting story times in libraries from California to Tennessee and Alabama, connecting directly with families. One standout moment was “Wrap With Love,” a holiday event where sponsors helped ensure every child left with a book of their own. The experience, she says, reaffirmed why she began this journey.

At its heart, Where’s Honey? is not about fixing sadness. It’s about validating it. It opens the door for parents, grandparents, and caregivers to talk about hard feelings in a gentle, age-appropriate way reminding children that missing someone is a natural expression of love.

As De La Mora continues developing new books, community programs, and downloadable social-emotional tools, her mission remains clear: to help children feel safe with their feelings and to support adults in guiding those conversations with compassion. In doing so, she proves that sometimes the most powerful stories are the ones that simply say, “You’re not alone.”