Best known for being RTÉ’s Domestic Diva, Aislí Madden is no stranger to teaching life skills, but now she’s taking a break from domesticity and going stateside.
After three years of researching, Aislí has written and illustrated her first book, Zenji heals his Muzzy Bug, a bedtime story which she passionately believes will help children sleep quicker than ever before. She hopes to do this by raising funds on the largest crowd-funding portal in the world, Kickstarter.
Zenji heals his Muzzy Bug is the first of its kind. Its pages are enriched with breathing exercises and relaxation techniques, which Aislí hopes will take mindfulness mainstream. This beautifully written and illustrated adventure is a tale which holds its own with the most successful children’s books already in print.
Although the Kickstarter crowd-funding campaign is to raise funds for just one book, Aislí has serious plans for the future and is already working on six other Buddabugzz titles. She also has plans to produce a Buddabugzz app which will offer young fans a myriad of mindfulness games, guided meditations and lots more.
By launching her campaign on Kickstarter, she hopes to establish the brand in all corners of the globe, in a very short space of time. In Zenji heals his Muzzy Bug, the first book in the series, the titular character is feeling miserable because he is ill. Karma, his inner voice, visits him and teaches him how to be mindful even when feeling sick. Together, Zenji and Karma teach children skills which, if practised regularly, may benefit them their entire lives.
All Buddabugzz characters are named after significant Buddhists throughout history. Zenji, the hero from Madden’s first book is named after Dogen Zenji, an ancient Japanese Buddhist.
The name, Buddabugzz, purposely ends with a double ‘zz’ to subliminally promote sleep. The darkened, muted colours of her illustrations are purposefully designed to encourage sleep, yet the characters themselves literally glow off the page.
Zenji heals his Muzzy Bug is a magical journey of self-discovery which focuses on healing through mindful relaxation and breath-work. It is stunningly illustrated, entertaining and fun but has a deeper message: it teaches children mindfulness in a way that is designed to appeal to their senses.
Buddabugzz are sure to make a positive impact on children’s lives around the world, by helping them gently take their first steps towards a mindful life.
