"It feels like play" + a big ask from me

If you love supporting authors, want to help families, and still believe in the power of joy even with how loud the world is right now—please read on.

I’d be so grateful for your help. 🫶🏻

Not because I need a bestseller badge (although that would be pretty great), but because there are so many parents out there white-knuckling through their mornings and slogging through endless bedtime routines, and they don’t know there’s another way.

Joy in everyday life with kids isn’t just a nice-to-have—it’s a brain-builder.

And this book is a practical, doable toolkit for weaving more of it into the ordinary moments of family life.

I want to take a stand for that, and I need your help to do it.

There are three super easy ways you can help but before we get to that, I want you to see how this book is helping real families.

“The most helpful and hopeful parenting book I’ve ever read.”

One reader, Suzie, told me the stories had her laughing and feeling less alone in motherhood.

Danni said:

“A lot of parenting books feel like homework. This feels like play.” (YES.)

Ray:

“This book came at a time I needed it the most.”

And Lisa said it helped her with the two things she finds hardest—staying calm and staying connected—and called it,

“a lovely, uplifting resource for any parent wanting more calm and closeness in their home.”

I don’t share these to toot my own horn (ok, maybe a little), but so you can see what’s actually working for families just like yours. That’s what makes me want to shout this book from the rooftops—and why your help right now means everything.

This is genuinely one of the most powerful things you can do. Libraries purchase books based on patron requests, and one library copy can reach hundreds of families. Ask at the desk or fill out a request form online—most take less than two minutes.

Next time you’re at Barnes & Noble or an indie shop, ask if they carry The Joyful Child. If they don’t, request it. Booksellers pay attention to demand—this is how books earn shelf space.

If you’ve read even a bit of it, a quick rating and a sentence or two on Amazon or Goodreads makes a huge difference. It’s how other parents find it. ⭐

If my work or songs or books have ever helped you get through a hard morning, a meltdown, or just a Tuesday with the children in your life—this is how you can pay it forward. Every library request, every store ask, every review sends The Joyful Child a little further into the world.

And that means it’s helping more and more families.

Thank you, truly.

I’m so grateful to have you as part of my community here.

Kira

P.S. If you’re able to support by doing one of the items (or all three!), please tell me about it. You can comment on this post or restack this post on Substack. You can also email me at kira@kirawilley.com, or even comment or DM me over on Instagram. I’ll randomly select a couple of winners who will get a signed copy of The Joyful Child just in time for Father’s Day! To enter, simply complete one of the steps above to support the book launch and tell me about it. 🥳

P.P.S. Have you tried any of the activities or songs from the book yet? I’d love to hear what’s landed for your family—drop a comment below. 🐻