Oprah’s Favorite Things 2025: 'Rosie & Raven', the Must-Have Book for Every Child
- Christianne Klein
- 2 days ago
- 4 min read
The groundbreaking children’s book Rosie & Raven just earned a coveted spot on Oprah’s Favorite Things 2025 list - and I couldn’t agree more. I can say without hesitation that this is one of my favorite children’s books of all time. Rosie & Raven isn’t just a story; it’s a fully immersive, multi-sensory experience that has never been done before. In short, it's revolutionary. Spend one minute peeking through the lens to see the world of Rosie & Raven come to life, and you can see how this book will transform the book industry for years to come.
Created by artist and author Kayla Silber, Rosie & Raven fuses fine art, storytelling, and cutting-edge augmented reality (AR) and AI technology to deliver a reading experience that captivates children and adults alike. The beautifully illustrated hardcover can be enjoyed as a traditional storybook, but when viewed through a smartphone or tablet, the pages come alive with animation and original songs sung by the author - like stepping into a storybook musical right from the page. As Oprah notes on OprahDaily.com, “This AR illustrated book sings- literally. Hover a phone or tablet over some pages and young readers can see hidden worlds pop and move in real time. Gayle is excited to read it to her granddaughter.”
The story itself is as heartwarming as it is imaginative. When Rosie, a kind-hearted young fairy, becomes stranded outside her magical world in a snowstorm, she must team up with Raven, a lonely little girl, to help her return home. Their only way back is through a rose - together, they must discover the secret to coaxing a single, late-blooming rose to open before it’s too late. The book has already won the prestigious Gold Medal Moonbeam Children’s Book Award and been hailed as “a love letter to imagination and the future of storytelling.”
In an interview with FoodFamilyTravel.com, Kayla told me the story behind the concept. “I had a dream in 2016 so vivid it felt more like a memory. I was holding an old, mysterious book that looked like an illuminated manuscript, with an intricate rose on the first page. But the rose wasn’t still - it was three-dimensional, moving in a way my mind couldn’t comprehend. Somehow, I knew I had created this impossible thing, though I didn’t yet understand what it was.”
Kayla tells me that the concept began to take real shape after discovering augmented reality in 2018, but she still had to wait several more years to bring it to life. “On January 1st, 2024, a complete concept dropped into my mind. It came in the form of a children’s book, and I immediately realized that the dream I’d had eight years earlier was ready to be born into reality. That very night, I began writing, and the story poured out of me like water, flowing from that original vision of the rose.”
The journey to bring Rosie & Raven to life was not without challenges. “I faced obstacles at every turn,” she tells FoodFamilyTravel.com. “During the design and illustration phase, I had to stay true to my vision even when others said it wouldn’t resonate with kids. I was experimenting with AI tools that were far from perfect, and creating a consistent look and feel required hours of trial and error. Self-publishing was even harder - print runs, quality control, and distribution were all new territories. But seeing everything finally click was worth every challenge.”
What sets Rosie & Raven apart, she says, is how the technology enhances the story without overpowering it. “Other AR books make characters leap off the page, but the story often takes a backseat. Rosie & Raven uses technology to deepen engagement while honoring the timeless magic of the printed page. It’s a musical in a book - a completely new art form,” she tells me. Conversation prompts allow parents and children to reflect together before activating the animations, adding layers of curiosity, connection, and fun.
Being recognized on Oprah’s Favorite Things list is surreal, Kayla tells FoodFamilyTravel.com. “Oprah has been on my vision board since the day I started writing Rosie & Raven. I self-published, and yet the book found its way to her. It’s a testament to the power of the messages in the book.” She tells me that the discovery happened serendipitously at a New York tradeshow, where the creative director of O Magazine walked by her booth during a live brand feature. Five weeks later, the book was in Oprah’s hands and selected as one of her Favorite Things for 2025.
Reader reactions have been equally magical. Kayla tells me, “After a reading, an 8-year-old asked, ‘What kind of commitment does it take to create a book like this?’ Parents have sent videos of their children singing along to my songs. A 7-year-old girl with Down’s Syndrome calls it her Magic Book and wants to read it every night. Quite honestly, I’ve been brought to tears hearing people’s beautiful feedback.”
With Rosie & Raven, Kayla hopes to inspire more than just enjoyment. “I want this book to stand as a shining example of what happens when you follow your vision. I want it to open the door for other artists to create work in this genre and set a high standard for how technology and traditional storytelling can work together,” she tells me.
Rosie & Raven is more than a children’s book - it is a revolutionary reading experience that blends art, music, technology, and heart in a way the world has never seen before, and now, it’s being celebrated as a new benchmark in storytelling for the next generation.
Disclosure: I was asked to help get the word out about Rosie & Raven, which I am thrilled to do. This post contains affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission if you make a purchase through them. All views, opinions, and enthusiastic praise expressed here are entirely my own.
Christianne Klein is an Emmy® and Edward R. Murrow Award-winning TV Host, journalist, travel and lifestyle expert, and founder of FoodFamilyTravel.com.
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