The Show · Leaders of the Cosmos

The Eight Children

A diverse ensemble of children, each leading in their own way. Designed at age eleven by Fi Hailyn.

Sasha

Leads with color · Paris dreamer

Sara

Leads with light · brother bond

Sakari

Leads with stillness · nature

Mei

Leads with sound · music

Kai

Leads with joy · Caribbean

Desi

Leads with movement · lake-time

Harsith

Leads with questions · curiosity

Hope

Leads by staying · the heart

The Mentors

Two real historical psychologists — guides who appear through magical means to walk with the children. They listen. They wonder. They never lecture.

Dr. Adler

Dr. Alfred Adler

The Founder · Individual Psychology

A wise gentle man in his 60s. Was a sick child until age 5. Became a doctor because of the compassionate care he received. Believes in The Cosmos, in social interest, in encouragement over correction.

Dr. Janet

Dr. Pierre Janet

The Time-Traveler · French wisdom

A French gentleman in his 50s. Survived war. Carries grief gracefully. Arrives in a time-traveling hot air balloon. Gives the children permission to dream, to play, to invent.

Fourteen named animals. Fourteen virtues.

Every animal carries a virtue. Every animal has a name. They are the recurring presence of the natural world — and the children's quiet teachers.

★ Memory

Robin

Red cardinal · one-legged · sings most beautifully. Named in tribute to Dr. Robin Steier Goldberg.

★ Social Interest

Small pony · breaks ice in winter for the other animals · superhero of the Cosmos.

★ Peace · Justice

Peace & Justice

Two rabbits · always together · the path-finders.

★ Patience · Wisdom

Patience & Wisdom

Two turtles · steady · slow knowledge from before-time.

Reflection · Dawn · Dusk · Integrity · Courage · Inclusion · Truth · Kindness · Safety · Empathy · Harmony · Compassion

All Six Episodes

Episode 1 debuts at the American Library Association · Chicago · June 27, 2026, alongside Mary's signing for the Mom's Gold Choice Awards.

↳ Sunflower field · drums · sunset at the lake

Episode 01 · 5–7 min

The Leader of the Parade

Source: Book 1
Mentor: Dr. Adler
Theme: Belonging, equality, "everyone leads."

The children meet Dr. Adler at the foot of a mountain. They walk through the Cosmos and discover — every one of them leads in their own way.

↳ Hot air balloon · bubble ceremony · "All hate evaporate"

Episode 02 · 5–7 min

Bubbles, Balloons and Birds

Source: Book 2
Mentors: Dr. Adler & Dr. Janet
Theme: Coping, mindfulness, healing.

Dr. Janet arrives in a time-traveling hot air balloon. The children learn to send their hardest feelings up — and let them go.

↳ Caribbean ocean · goggles · sea plants swaying

Episode 03 · 5–7 min

Kai's Caribbean Ocean

Lead: Kai
Theme: Cultural identity · ancestral healing.

Kai visits the island his family comes from. With his goggles on, he watches the sea plants sway — and swims his cares away.

↳ Stream · Si the pony · "stay anyway"

Episode 04 · 5–7 min

Hope Learns to Swim

Lead: Hope · Si the pony
Theme: Resilience, naming fears, asking for help.

Hope is afraid of the water. Si stays with her. The other children stay with her. She learns that courage is staying.

↳ Sound waves as color · Paris café echo · Robin's flute

Episode 05 · 5–7 min

Mei's Sister Sings Across Distance

Lead: Mei
Theme: Connection across separation, music as a bridge.

Mei's sister is far away. With Dr. Janet and Robin the cardinal, she discovers that music carries voices across any distance.

↳ Constellations form the Cosmos · bubble ceremony at scale · fireworks

Episode 06 · Finale · 5–7 min

All Hate Evaporate

Lead: Full ensemble
Theme: Collective action, the world the children will build.

The children return to the mountain a year later. They send up their bubbles. The animals appear in the stars. They are — every one of them — leaders of the Cosmos.

Behind the show

A small studio, a few generations, a clear vision.

Author · Source IP

Dr. Mary McCluskey, DSW, LCSW

NYU Silver School of Social Work · The Empowerment Opportunity

Original character designs

Fi Hailyn

Drew every character and animal in the books at age eleven

Background paintings

Mary's mother & Mary

The watercolor worlds the children walk through

Animation studio · Showrunner

Vivian "Quil" Thomas

Animate My Storybook · Country Mungrel TV

Six Episodes. One Cosmos.

The Eight Children

The Mentors

Fourteen named animals. Fourteen virtues.

All Six Episodes

Behind the show

Stay close as we build this