About the Books

Honeycake – “A Helping Hand”

Amazon Best Seller Hot New Release

In the sixth installment of the delightful Honeycake book series, Nala’s uncles, Victor and George, take her to a fundraiser where she meets Alexis, a girl with an artificial arm. Through her interactions, Nala learns that you are never too young to lend “a helping hand,” that it’s okay to be different, and that being different doesn’t stop you from doing great things in life.

The book tour: A Helping Hand, Medea Kalantar | Awareness Tour

Already won the Literary Titian Gold book award!

Book 1 – Honeycake – A Family of Spices

 

To purchase a live voice-over reading by the Author, Medea Kalantar, to provide a personal audio/visual experience of each story, Click Here

 

A Family Of Spices, Introduces readers to a diverse, multi-cultural family that is full of love.

A grandmother explains why she calls her grandchildren “Honeycakes” while she teaches her granddaughter, Nala, how to bake a honey cake.

Through imagination, the grandmother details how each delicious ingredient represents a different family member and his or her unique ethnic background.

This charming book also includes a recipe and step-by-step instructions on how to bake your own delicious batch of honey cake with your Honeycakes!

No matter where we come from, or what colour our skin is, we are all one race… The human race. We are all one! “

Book 2 – Honeycake – “Help I Swallowed A Butterfly”

To purchase a live voice-over reading by the Author, Medea Kalantar, to provide a personal audio/visual experience of each story, Click Here

Help I Swallowed A Butterfly” is the second book in the delightful Honeycake series. In this sequel, Nala gets stage fright at school. But with the help of her mom, Nala learns how to get rid of those pesky butterflies in her tummy.

This charming book empowers young readers to practice mindfulness and meditation so that they are able to meet life’s challenges head-on in a healthy and balanced way.  “Help I Swallowed A Butterfly” is clearly written and incredibly relatable, with step-by-step instructions and guided meditation exercises for young readers.

This book is also a valuable resource for caregivers who want to provide a positive introduction for children to the world of self-care and managing those butterflies.

Life can be stressful at any age, but with the right tools and mindset, we can overcome any obstacle!

 

Book 3 – Honeycake – Special Magical Powers

To purchase a live voice-over reading by the Author, Medea Kalantar, to provide a personal audio/visual experience of each story, Click Here

In the third instalment in the charming Honeycake Book Series, Nala brings her outgrown toys and clothes to Rainbow Hall, and spends the day with her Grandma and Uncle JD discovering a special magical power we all have, called ✨KINDNESS✨

Kindness is a “Special Magical Power” we all have inside of us. When we show kindness, it’s like spreading sunshine everywhere we go — no matter what the weather is like outside.

Could you imagine how much nicer the world would be if everyone smiled at each other or did a random act of kindness every day? We are kind when we use our manners by saying please and thank you, or by opening a door, or by giving our seat on a bus or train to a stranger in need.

Kindness is a gift we can all afford to give. Though it doesn’t cost a thing, your kindness can mean everything to another person.

Use your “Special Magical Powers” and spread kindness everywhere you go!

Book 4 – Honeycake – A Circle of Trust

To purchase a live voice-over reading by the Author, Medea Kalantar, to provide a personal audio/visual experience of each story, Click Here

 

 

In the fourth installment of the delightful Honeycake series, Nala goes into her papa’s office without permission and breaks his favourite mug. Nala panics and hides in her bedroom. 

With the help of her parents, Nala learns a valuable lesson of trust and how to have an open and honest communication in a safe space. 

Nala also learns that trust takes a long time to build and can easily be destroyed in a split second!

With “A Circle Of Trust” there is no beginning and no end, which signifies that your love for one another is endless and will last forever.

Book 5 – Honeycake – Counting All My Blessings

To purchase a live voice-over reading by the Author, Medea Kalantar, to provide a personal audio/visual experience of each story, Click Here

In the fifth installment of the delightful Honeycake book series, Nala’s mama and papa are celebrating the birth of their newborn son. But, when baby Luka receives so many presents and all the attention, Nala becomes angry and green with envy.

This book teaches children the importance of gratitude and how to focus on what matters most in life. Showing gratitude is a great way to find balance in the materialistic culture we live in today.

With the help of her grandmother, Nala learns the importance of gratitude and how being thankful for all the wonderful things she has in her life equips her with a powerful tool to make those icky feelings of jealousy from the “Green-Eyed Monster” disappear.

Count all your Blessings, and be grateful for all the wonderful things in your life. ????????????

About the Author

Medea Kalantar, a Reiki Master and Practitioner, a Guinness World Record Holder and a Multi-Award-Winning Best Selling Author of a children’s book series titled Honeycake.
Inspired to write these books when she learned she would become a grandmother, Kalantar’s stories are based on her own family, whose members come from many ethnic backgrounds. This unique mix is a perfect recipe—just like the spices in a honey cake. That is why she calls her grandchildren her little Honeycakes.

With all the negativity in the world today, Kalantar’s series is a much-needed glimmer of positivity. The Honeycake series teaches valuable life lessons, giving children the tools to overcome obstacles in their everyday lives.


The Honeycake books teach children about diversity, kindness, mindfulness, trust, and gratitude. This series will enlighten, empower, educate, and entertain children for generations to come. 

“No matter where we come from or what colour our skin is, we are all one race … the human race. We are all one!” says Kalantar.


Canadian author Medea Kalantar immigrated from Georgia U.S.S.R. when she was four years old. She has two beautiful grown children that are married, and one grandson who was the inspiration for the Honeycake book series. 

 

 

News

Featured on:

Kultur’D AM 640 Radio Show Interview – March 22, 2019
https://www.facebook.com/kultur.d/videos/1218843324959296?sfns=mo

Toronto Guardian Feature – March 18, 2019
https://torontoguardian.com/2019/03/medea-kalantar-life-lessons-honeycake/

Find Your Inner Geek Feature – March 8, 2019
https://findyourinnergeek.ca/2019/03/fyig-chats-with-author-medea-kalantar/

Defective Geeks Feature – March 13, 2019
https://www.defectivegeeks.com/2019/03/13/medea-kalantar-author-of-honeycake-a-family-of-spices/

Durham Region Interview – April 20, 2019
https://www.durhamregion.com/whatson-story/9279724-diversity-acceptance-celebrated-in-oshawa-author-s-series/#.XLsSPEBHZvU.facebook

Occhi Magazine  Interview – April 1, 2019
https://occhimagazine.com/diversity-and-acceptance-celebrated-in-honeycake-a-family-of-spices-by-author-medea-kalantar/

SXM Canada Now Talks Interview with Host Jeff Sammut April 12, 2019

NamaSlay interview with Host Melissa Melottey                 
May 1, 2019

Tina Brigley Interview with Medea Kalantar – May 16, 2019

Rogers TV Durham interview fast forward to 8:09 to see interview – May 27, 2019

https://www.rogerstv.com/media?lid=237&rid=2&gid=314344%E2%80%AC

Nerdy Girl Express Feature – April 28, 2019

https://thenerdygirlexpress.com/2019/04/28/interview-with-medea-kalantar-from-kleffnotes/

CHCH morning Live Interview – April 26‬, 2019

https://www.chch.com/honeycake-a-family-of-spices/

CTV Kitchener Interview – April 30‬, 2019

https://kitchener.ctvnews.ca/video?clipId=1683300&binId=1.3594896&playlistPageNum=1

‪EAST of the City Magazine Interview digital copy pages 16-19 – May Issue 2019

What She Said Talk on 105.9 The Region Interview            June, 18 2019

Book Trailer for Honeycake: “Help I Swallowed A Butterfly” July 16, 2019

The Magenta Show Interview with Moira Bush                        June 17, 2019

You Got This Girl (YGTG) Feature – July 19, 2019

https://www.ygtgofficial.com/femmefeaturefriday?offset=1564156848131

Our Canada Magazine Fall Issue – Aug/Sept, 2019

Literary Titan Gold Star Book Award

Literary Titan Book Awards September 2019

Book Trailer for Honeycake: Special Magical Powers November 22, 2019

Women Of Worth Magazine Feature

WOW GAL JANUARY 2020

https://wowsstillbeingcelebrated.yolasite.com/m-kalantar.php

Literary Titan Gold Star Book Award

Literary Titan Book Awards January 2020

AllAuthor Interview February 2020

https://allauthor.com/interview/honeycakebooks/

Book Trailer for Honeycake: A Circle Of Trust                          April 1, 2020

Honeycake: A Family Of Spices was included in this wonderful article on how to teach young children about diversity written by Estelle Bardon. – June 19, 2020

https://medium.com/illumination/how-to-teach-diversity-to-our-young-children-2eabc9c26608

Annie J Koshy from GTA South Asian Network, Gives a wonderful testimonial about the Honeycake Book Series May 3, 2020

Magnetic Entrepreneur – May 20, 2020

Cantastic Authorpalooza online magazine interview          June 8, 2020

Cantastic Authorpalooza: Medea Kalantar

Dela’s Voice Interview – June 22, 2020

Medea Kalantar/ Honeycake books chats with author, Natalie Reeves Billing book reading  – June 1, 2020

Story time: Book reading by Natalie Billing Reeves and Medea Kalantar – July 15, 2020

Collaboration Medea Kalantar and the Honeycake Book Series with I Dare U2 Bee

At I Dare U 2 BEE we love our Diversity program that we incorporate within our school curriculum. The program is called YOU,ME,WE are DELICIOUSLY DIFFERENT! And with what the world has been rising up as one with #blacklivesmatter our diversity program is needed within schools now more than ever. It is why our company fell in love with Medea Kalantar and her Honeycake Book Series a children’s book collection that teach children about diversity, kindness, mindfulness, trust and gratitude. We are proud to have Medea and her gift of literacy be part of our company in doing our part in developing all kids to be kind!

Medea, thank you for your love and partnership we are blessed by your love.

Sneak peak interview with Medea Kalantar on the Outliers TV Show – July 16, 2020

Book Trailer for Honeycake: Counting All My Blessings   August, 3,  2020

Upcoming  Media Events and Features:

Honeycake Books are now available online at:

 

Reviews

Story Mommy

https://www.storymummy.com/kids-book-review/8ancj4ldf5r8rkrasn6259r56l45yj

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“I want to start off by saying that the authour has a recipie for Honeycakes at the end of the book, which looks delicious. And I will certainly be making that recipie (doesn’t look too hard, I promise), when I get back from Colombia.  

The premise of the book is a simple and powerful one and one which bears repeating, especially in this current climate of increasingly violent attacks driven by racism and xenophobia. We are all part of the human race. We all bring different ingredients and flavours to create something big and beautiful, like a honey cake. Our differences, nay, our diversity, is our strength. 

This simple message is shown through the means of a Grandma of Russian heritage and her beloved granddaughter, who is of mixed ethnicity, baking Grandma’s honeycake. Seeing the illustrations and following the story gives a warm, fuzzy feeling, as I thought back to my late Grandmother and spending time with her in the kitchen, watching her whip up yet another legendary dish.  

i will say that with many independently published children’s books, the font style and colours seem off, kind of amateurish, when put against the illustrations. It didn’t fit the tone and look of the story

Finally, I liked the authour’s decision to make the pages of her book a warm, honeycake colour, too. Made me hungry!”

Editorial Review By: Literary Titan

Honeycake: A Family Of Spices

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“Nala’s grandma is one smart cookie. She is determined for her granddaughter to know exactly how special she is. She has a unique way of explaining to Nala that she is a blend of all of her parents’ and grandparents’ heritages. When Nala stops by for a visit with her grandma, the two of them set about making her family’s famous honeycake. Nala, ever curious, asks her grandma why her pet name is “Honeycake,” and the story begins.

Medea Kalantar’s Honeycake: A Family of Spices gives young readers a fantastic story with which to relate. Nala, the story’s main character visits with her grandmother and hears from her exactly how special her family’s background is. As her grandmother proceeds to bake with Nala, she explains in detail the ancestry of each side of Nala’s family and how the two families blend together to make unique individuals.

It is quite uncommon to find stories explaining heritage to children of elementary age, and Kalantar has certainly delivered a memorable story. When Nala’s grandmother relates cultural diversity to the many spices and ingredients required to make her honeycake, young readers are handed a scenario that is easy to follow and is presented in a manner that has been carefully crafted to demonstrate to readers the way in which they, too, are extraordinary.

Perhaps the most important aspect of Kalantar’s writing is her comment on the human race. The author is careful to emphasize that no matter one’s ancestry, we are all part of one race. This is a message seldom seen in books for young readers and is quite refreshing.

As an elementary teacher, I highly recommend Honeycake: A Family of Spices to anyone looking to teach or emphasize the appreciation of diversity to young readers.”

Editorial Review By: Literary Titan

Honeycake: Help I Swallowed a Butterfly

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“Nala is nervous. In fact, she’s more than a little nervous. When she is asked to read in front of her elementary classroom, she feels a stirring from within. As her teacher explains that she has butterflies in her stomach, Nala begins to picture a literal tangle of butterflies she must have swallowed by accident, and her misunderstanding continues to blossom before she can arrive at home and be set straight by her mother. Honeycake: Help, I Swallowed a Butterfly, by Medea Kalantar, is a precious account of one little girl’s misunderstanding of the idiom, “butterflies in your stomach.”

From beginning to end, Kalantar takes young readers on a journey to understanding the ways this simple phrase can be literally defined and how it relates to nervousness and apprehension. Through young Nala’s conversation with her mother, readers hear the explanation of the idiom and are given breathing techniques for reducing nervousness as Nala’s mother helps her plan for the next time she is faced with anxiety. As an elementary teacher, I can see Honeycake: Help, I Swallowed a Butterfly being used a couple different ways. Figurative language is a huge part of our third grade curriculum, and this is the perfect piece of literature to use in introducing it to students. In addition, I can see Honeycake: Help, I Swallowed a Butterfly as an important tool in an elementary guidance program. The techniques for calming oneself are more than helpful for young students as they face the stresses of everyday life.

Medea Kalantar has succeeded in providing young readers with yet another touching story revolving around Nala and her loving family. The educational value of each of Kalantar’s Honeycake books is unrivaled. Kalantar carefully crafts her stories to touch readers of all walks of life and always includes valuable life lessons for both children and adults.”

Editorial Review By: Literary Titan

Honeycake: Special Magical Powers

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Honeycake: Special Magical Powers is a wonderful children’s book by Medea Kalantar. This book follows the journey of Nala and how she learns about the magical powers she and everyone else has. She learns a valuable lesson from her family about kindness and how much it can mean to another person. I absolutely love this book. It is adorable and teaches children such an imperative lesson. It also presents the idea of kindness in such an understandable way, even for young children. Nala learns about small things, like smiles, but then the story moves on to a much more serious topic. She is donating her old clothes and toys to a shelter for families; she learns about families who have lost everything. Her kindness of donating her old stuff that she has outgrown shows just how important it is because donating her old things cost her nothing, but it meant everything to those families to have clothing and toys. I love how this book can spark important conversations with children about how some people are less fortunate, and how sometimes you need help and it is okay to ask for it.

There are amazing and cute illustrations along with the book which is also good for children’s development. I think reading this book around Christmas time would be especially important to get children to understand why they may not get as much as another, but also maybe spark the idea of donating their items they have outgrown. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who has children or works with children. Kalantar provides such a beautiful lesson and presents it charmingly.

Review from Story Mummy for Books 2 and 3

https://www.storymummy.com/kids-book-review/wt2674ykbxs9mfngflxmpyjbhyw42k

Review from Story Mummy for Honeycake: A Circle Of Trust 

https://www.storymummy.com/kids-book-review/p38hch48r3h5ss9py5en4zp8z8fn7f

Editorial Review By: Literary Titan

Honeycake: A Circle of Trust

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A Circle of Trust will not only shape a child’s character but will also help moms and dads to adopt effective parenting skills to nurture their children. Sometimes, reading a children’s book can be educational for adults as well. As life gets increasingly complicated books with resonating lessons can remind us of the simplicity and innocence that gets lost along the way

In this fourth installment of the Honeycake series, Medea has imparted a valuable life lesson on building trust between parents and their children. In this book kids learn the importance of honesty and open communication which will ultimately pave way for them to develop healthy relationships in life. Parents will also learn that they must create a safe haven for children so they are not afraid or hesitant to approach them when in trouble or while facing a challenging situation.

It is also equally important that parents continually reinforce the significance of honesty in their children so that it becomes a natural way of life for them. This builds confidence in children and they will be more likely to take the right step. A Circle of Trust was a fun and educational read. I highly recommend it for all children.

Book Excellence Awards Book Review for Honeycake: A Circle Of Trust

Honeycake: A Circle of Trust written by Medea Kalantar is a delightful short story featuring a little girl named Nala who finds herself in a dilemma when she accidentally breaks her Papa’s favourite mug. This book has a dual purpose, to enlighten children on the importance of trust and open communication as well as to educate parents on the vital need to create a safe space for children to open up from a young age. This book is also excellent for strengthening bonds between parents and children as they read it together and implement the lessons learnt in the story. The author has also skillfully used onomatopoeia that successfully brings more emotion to the story and will thoroughly captivate young kids. Moving on, the illustrations were eye-catching and beautiful making this book a very compelling read for young ones who tend to get distracted easily. If you are a parent or caretaker looking for a fun children’s book that simultaneously teaches valuable lessons, this book will be a perfect fit for you.
Review by the Book Excellence Awards

Honeycake book series books 1-4 review from Twirling Book Princess  July 15, 2020

Review for Honeycake Series Books 1 to 4

Editorial Review By: Literary Titan

Honeycake: A Helping Hand

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Nala is excited to go out to a fancy fundraising party with her two uncles. She does not realize until she is there that it is a fundraiser for amputee children. Nala learns all about the things that those with an amputee can do. After meeting so many children and seeing her new friends’ incredible work, she is inspired to go home and make a difference of her own.

Honeycake: A Helping Hand is an inspiring picture book about the incredible good that children are capable of. This fantastic children’s book shows kids as leaders, motivators, helpers, and genuinely caring individuals. Author Medea Kalantar teaches children about amputees in a compassionate and age-appropriate manner. Kalantar does not oversimplify the facts but presents them in a conversational tone that sounds like two preteen children talking. If readers have additional questions, there is a glossary at the end to help them understand further.

Aside from the topic of amputees in this unique book, Kalantar introduces the concept of blended families and same-sex relationships, normalizing these dynamics. This book has so many examples of inclusion and compassion that it takes a lot. I love that there is so much representation in this short children’s book. Illustrator i Cenizal brings all the different elements to life, adding to the experience.

Honeycake: A Helping Hand showcases the value of helping others, giving back to the community, and doing your best to be a good person through your actions and words. This well-written children’s book is perfect for classrooms and libraries.

Contact Medea


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