Children's Book, Best Friends Forest, Bets on Reforesting with Playgrounds

Palm Beach GARDENS, Fla., Sept. 6, 2017 /PRNewswire/ The new children's book, Best Friends Forest, and its Best Friends Forest Foundation, announced a partnership with preeminent South Florida playground designer, Leathers & Associates to create eco-friendly accessible playgrounds for at risk youth.

Jupiter, FL resident, Melissa Pellicci wrote Best Friends Forest to focus on the wonder of nature and the power of play. In her work as a life coach and yoga therapist, she saw children losing trust in the positivity of nature and the universe, which frequently induces anxiety, illness, and personal difficulty in teens and adults. She sees the book, filled with brilliant colors, smiling trees and happy creatures, as a way to rebuild trust in nature and each other.

The dream of bringing the imagery of Best Friends Forest to life in real playgrounds came true in a meeting with Marc Leathers, the second generation of the company that creates playgrounds based on the ideas and dreams of children. Leathers envisioned the Best Friends Forest Playground as illustrated by Romanian artist, Alexandra Zgondea, filled with the book's vibrant trees, flowers, cuddly creatures and embraceable Mother Earth. He enthusiastically committed to design and help build the playgrounds that can improve our neighborhoodsand world.

Leathers & Associates, located in Jupiter, FL and Ithaca, NY, for over 45 years, has created over 3,400 well-recognized playgrounds in 50 U.S. states and seven countries, including Tatum's Garden, Salinas, CA, Sugar Sands Park, Boca Raton, FL and MR. Rogers and Sesame Street TV sets. The company also traveled to tsunami-torn India to build playgrounds for its children.

The Best Friends Forest Foundation, funded by book proceeds, grants, corporate and personal donors who support the goal of bringing the power of play to neighborhoods, plans to debut its first playground in a South Florida needy neighborhood.

Best Friends Forest Playgrounds will be inclusive for children and adults with disabilities and will provide a template for others. Features may vary, depending on climate, budget and size, but all will revolve around the theme of Best Friends Forest. "Often, children, caretakers or grandparents have disabilities, so playgrounds need to be equally accessible and engaging," Leathers explains.

Best Friends Forest also partnered with non-profit, One Tree Planted; $1 from each book purchased will plant a tree and help in reforesting.

Find Best Friends Forest in hardcover ($19.99) on Amazon and Barnes and Noble, or direct download at www.bestfriendsforest.com

For information: WOW Health Marketing, Tanya Abreu, tanya@wowhealthgroup.com, 561-358-5230.

About Melissa Pellicci:

As an entrepreneur and life coach, dietary consultant, and yoga therapist, Pellicci has created a business around helping people find their true potential. She was raised to live a life of love with the belief that anything is possible with focus"no matter what anyone else says," she states.

Enthusiastic in sharing her gifts with children as well, she wrote Best Friends Forest to reach people of all ages and to demonstrate that love and trust in the Universe is the key to a happy and abundant life

About Leathers & Associates:

Leathers & Associates was founded in 1971 by world-renowned architect, Bob Leathers and has been headed by his son, Marc, who worked in the firm since his teenage years. The firm has more than 45 years of experience creating custom-designed playgrounds, zoos, science centers and community gathering places throughout all 50 states and seven other countries. Leathers & Associates has celebrated the openings of more than 3,400 community-build playgrounds around the world including those featured on popular children's television programs like Mister Roger's Neighborhood and Sesame Street.

Contact: Marilyn DeMartini
954-564-7234
174979@email4pr.com

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