Tai Situ Rinpoche has some truly lovely advice on how to begin our day -- regardless of spiritual affiliation, or lack thereof.
On a related note, Byrd Baylor's The Way To Start A Day is one of my favorite of children's books. Gorgeous illustrations (by Peter Parnall).
The picture-book genre is one that seems to allow for simplicity, directness, wonder and play; in a greater way than most -- would you agree? Ed Young's Beyond The Great Mountains is another great one (with origins here in Boulder, though its subject-matter is China).
A recent discovery is Marie-Louise Fitzpatrick's There, which begins:
When will I get there?
How will I know?
Will there be a sign that says,
"Here is There"?

