Our story
Every child deserves to grow up knowing they are loved.
For over a quarter of a century I have cared for children one exam room at a time. I love that room. But I kept thinking about all the children who will never sit in it.
So initially I picked up a paintbrush. I started writing rhymes. Later I learned to use my own art and travel memories to create digital art.
And so, Mama-Doc's Habitat Habits was born.
Why I made these books
I wanted to help more children — not just the ones on my schedule — grow up with four things every pediatrician wishes she could prescribe.
To know they are loved
Said out loud, on every page, again and again. Especially when it feels like we already said it.
To connect with you
A book read together is lap time, eye contact, giggles at the rhymes, and questions at bedtime.
To build character
Kindness, courage, loyalty, and grit, taught by animal friends kids actually want to be like.
To unplug and explore
An engaging alternative to electronics, no screen required. Every book is a little lesson in art, animals, nature, geography and kindness.
From big virtues to little habits
What will they say about our children someday?
There are two kinds of virtues. One kind goes on a résumé. The other kind is what people remember about you when it matters most.
Résumé virtues
Grades, trophies, titles.
Eulogy virtues
Was she kind? Was he brave? Did they show up for the people they love?
Eulogy virtues are the ones that last. So I made them kid-sized — a habit a four-year-old can practice today.
Love → putting another first
“I let my friend go first.”
Modeled by the gentle calf in Let's Go to the Farm!
Loyalty
“I stick with my friends.”
Modeled by the zebra who stands by her herd on the savannah.
Leadership
“I look out for others and show the way.”
Modeled by the tall, steady giraffe.
Resilience
“When I fall down, I get back up.”
Learned on the ice in Let's Go to the Tundra!
Listening
“I listen with my ears and my heart.”
Learned from our quiet Arctic friends.
Grit
“I keep trying, even when it's hard.”
Practiced in every habitat, all around the world.
An alternative to screens
Trade a screen for a story.
Screens are bright. A lap is warmer. Every page is a picture made from Mama-Doc's own artwork, and every line is a rhyme made to be read out loud — at bedtime, in the car, on a rainy afternoon.
Instead of
- Autoplay
- Scrolling alone
- Glowing at bedtime
- Endless clips
- Zoning out
Try
- Art: hand-painted pictures
- Animals: friends to love
- Nature: real habitats
- Geography: a trip around the world
- Kindness: lessons in every rhyme
No batteries. No buttons. Just you, your child, and an adventure.
Tucked into every adventure
Healthy habits a pediatrician would prescribe — disguised as fun.
Nutrition
Eat the rainbow
Colorful foods, happy tummies, and strong growing bodies.
Exercise
Move like the animals
Hop, waddle, stretch, and stomp. Wiggles are welcome.
Gratitude
Name three good things
A simple thank-you practice that makes hearts feel full.
Social connection
Find your herd
Friends, family, and the joy of belonging somewhere.
Seven habitats, one big world
Where will we go next?
Jungle
India
Available now
Tundra
Iceland
Available now
Desert
Sonoran Desert
Available now
Ocean
Galápagos
Available now
Farm
Normandy, France
Coming soon
Backyard
Japan
Coming soon
Savannah
Tanzania
Coming soon
You are loved. You are an extraordinary learner and explorer. Let's go on an adventure together.
Every book is my way of sitting beside your family — a warm friend with a medical degree, a paintbrush, and a rhyme — helping your child grow strong in body, kind in heart, and steady in who they are.
Thanks for reading!
Mama-Doc (Dr. Seamae Erfani)