Popi - The Journey to Belong
Popi is a gentle, heart-forward picture book about belonging, courage, and the quiet bravery it takes to find your place in a new world. When Popi moves somewhere unfamiliar, everything feels too big, too strange, too different — until small moments of connection begin to show that home can grow slowly, tenderly, and in unexpected ways.
Created for children ages 3–6, Popi helps young readers explore big feelings with safety and curiosity. Through soft, nature‑infused illustrations and emotionally grounded storytelling, the book offers comfort to kids navigating transitions: moving homes, starting school, joining a new community, or simply feeling unsure of themselves.
Popi invites families to slow down, breathe, and remember that belonging isn’t something you stumble into — it’s something you build, one brave step at a time.
Perfect for bedtime reading, classroom circles, and social‑emotional learning moments at home or school.
By Peter Trio and Martina Weifenbach Published with Love in 2023
Meet the authors..
Martina and Peter are best friends who met in California. They share a bond in their individual journey to find a home away from home. Despite now living on opposite sides of the world, their friendship blossomed into the creation of this book.
Peter Trio is a Landscape Architect, artist, and storyteller whose work centers on belonging, emotional resonance, and connection to the natural world.
Martina Weifenbach is an educator, writer, and researcher focused on emotional intelligence, mindfulness, and human connection.
This story is their story.
peak inside the book!
why parents & educators love popi
Children today are navigating a world full of change — new schools, new friends, new places to call home. Popi - The Journey to Belong offers a gentle, joyful way to help them make sense of those big feelings.
Popi’s journey invites children to explore what it means to belong, to be different, and to find connection in unexpected places. Through vibrant illustrations and playful encounters with creatures of the prairie, forest, and city, young readers learn that curiosity and kindness can help them feel at home wherever they go.
This book supports:
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Social‑emotional learning (SEL)
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Early literacy and vocabulary development
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Conversations about identity, courage, and friendship
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Ecological awareness and noticing the natural world
Perfect for:
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Parents seeking meaningful, heart‑centered stories
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Educators building classroom community
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Librarians curating SEL and nature‑themed collections
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Children navigating transitions or new environments