Um (Oom)
A warm little glow beside every mate.
Mindful stories for little hearts
Gentle stories for little hearts with big feelings.
Step into a warm Australian bushland world where toddlers and young children can explore big feelings, practise simple mindfulness and grow calm, courage and self-love—one gentle story at a time.
For story time, bedtime, transitions and moments when feelings feel a little too big.
Mindfulness for little hearts
Stories that grow with every feeling.
Um’s Mates is a growing story world for toddlers and young children, weaving mindfulness and emotional wellbeing into warm Australian bushland adventures.
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Book one
Breathe and find calm
Breathe introduces a simple breathing practice through Neka’s gentle bushland adventure.
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Next story
Grow self-love
The second Um’s Mates story will help children notice their strengths and speak to themselves with kindness.
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Across the series
Feel, connect and belong
Each Mate brings a new way to understand big feelings, build courage and connect with a trusted adult.
The first Um’s Mates story
Breathe
When a tiny golden heart appears in the bush, Neka follows its gentle glow and discovers a simple way to slow down and breathe.
Breathing prompts are woven into the adventure, giving children and their grown-ups a soft, memorable way to pause together. The story can be enjoyed simply as a story, with the mindful moments there whenever they are helpful.
eBook and softcover available now. Also included with Kindle Unlimited. Hardcover edition coming soon.
A little look inside
Turn a few pages before story time.
These selected pages are shown exactly as they appear in the book.
Meet the Mates
Six little souls. Six ways to find their glow.
Each mate brings their own energy, feelings and way of returning to the moment.
Neka
She follows her breath back to calm.
Ria
She stretches her wings and breathes.
Zo
He begins with one little hop.
Milo
He makes a cosy wombat nest.
Tee
He wiggles, freezes and feels his feet.
Growing beyond the page
More ways to pause, play and connect.
The Um’s Mates world is growing carefully, one useful little moment at a time.
Coming soon
Mates Activity Cards
A collection of simple, illustrated activities for breathing, movement, feelings, routines and connection, featuring familiar faces from the bushland.
Get one FREE activity firstStill under wraps
A Mate of their very own is beginning to glow.
A familiar little glow from the Um’s Mates world is taking shape, created to bring comfort and calm a little closer.
We will share more when it is ready.
“Mindfulness should feel like a story, a game and a moment shared together.”
Our story
Helping children discover the strength already within them.
Um’s Mates began with a simple belief: mindfulness should feel like a story, a game and a moment shared together, not another lesson.
Rooted in the Australian bushland, we create gentle stories, Mates Activity Cards and thoughtfully designed companions. Each story explores a different part of emotional wellbeing—from breathing and big feelings to self-love, courage and connection.
Breathe is the first book in the series. As the Um’s Mates world grows, each new adventure will offer children another simple, memorable way to understand themselves and discover the strength already within them.
- Calm
- Courage
- Self-trust
- Connection
Created in Australia by Anzoya.
Don’t forget to claim your FREE printable activityWith respect
Acknowledgement of country
Um’s Mates was created in Lutruwita/Tasmania. We acknowledge Palawa/Tasmanian Aboriginal people as the original owners of Lutruwita/Tasmania. We pay our respects to Elders past and present, and honour their enduring connection to country, culture and community.
In palawa kani, the language of Tasmanian Aborigines.