Fourth-Grader Turns Big Feelings Into a Book—and a Gift to Others

by Holly Weatherwax, staff writer

Amaya Samba aimed to help calm people with her book. Photo by Chrissy Kelley

“Everyone needs help sometimes—and you can do this!”

It’s simple advice, but it is also the inspiration behind "My Mindful Minis," a book written by local fourth-grade author Amaya Samba.

Amaya, a Spanish-immersion student at Lake Anne Elementary School, loves to doodle and draw. Like many children, she has also experienced moments of feeling upset or anxious. Wanting to better understand and manage those emotions, she created a small book for herself, something she could carry in her backpack. Whenever she felt stressed or overwhelmed, she would flip through its pages to help calm her thoughts.

It worked. She found that it truly helped.

Soon, Amaya began to wonder if her book might help other students—and even adults—who feel anxious at times. She decided to publish it as a “mini book.” The size is intentional: 4-by-6 inches, about the size of a postcard or standard photograph. It fits easily into a backpack or purse. Soft-sided and lightweight, it’s designed to be carried every day and flipped through whenever needed—at school, at work or during everyday life.

The project took about a year and many drafts before Amaya felt it was ready to share. With the support of her family, the book was self-published, and her mother, Rebecca, began spreading the word to friends on Facebook. It was an exciting time for everyone.

Much to their surprise, the book quickly gained attention and began selling steadily. Before long, Rebecca realized that the sales had generated a meaningful amount of money.

That led to an important conversation: Was there a charity Amaya might want to support with her earnings?

Because Amaya believes it is hard to learn when you are hungry, she chose to support an organization focused on student hunger. The South Lakes Food Pantry was a natural fit. The pantry serves local students and their families, and Lake Anne Elementary is part of the same school pyramid.

Through a mutual connection, Amaya connected with the pantry. On Jan. 15, she donated $500 from book sales to support its work.

Founded in 2017, the South Lakes Food Pantry now serves approximately 500 students and families each week. Amaya’s generosity delighted the leadership team—Roberta Gosling, Amy Shaw, Abbe Pascal, Andy Sigle, Holly Vanderhoof, Laurie Asmussen, Mazie Barcus and Sherri Pudner.

What began as a small, personal project to manage big feelings has grown into something larger: a book helping others and a gift supporting families in the community.

For more information about "My Mindful Minis," contact Rebecca at xMymindfulminis@gmail.com/