Judith Orloff, MD Believes Sensitive Children Can Save Our Tumultuous World

A pioneering psychiatrist and leading voice in the empath movement, Judith Orloff MD makes her debut as a children’s book author with a reassuring story to help kids embrace their empathetic gifts as a strength   

Feeling deeply. Crying easily. Worrying about others. Needing to be alone. And being bullied and shamed for it all. Life as a sensitive person is often challenging and exhausting for grownups—especially in a world swirling in turmoil. Imagine what it’s like for kids.  

In THE HIGHLY SENSITIVE RABBIT (Sounds True; October 7, 2025; $18.99 US Hardcover), Dr. Judith Orloff speaks directly to children who feel confused and overwhelmed by their feelings. A psychiatrist and trusted expert on thriving as an empath, Dr. Orloff offers comforting insights and teaches kids and their parents simple strategies for coping with big, sometimes scary emotions through the relatable story of a sensitive cottontail named Aurora who loses her home.

Aurora loves living in the Sonoran Desert. But her siblings don’t want to play with her because she cries and is “too sensitive.” She feels alone and different. When a flash flood destroys her family’s burrow, Aurora must face the pain of loss and then rebuilding as she confronts her sensitive nature. She meets a loving Javelina who is sensitive too, and other animals who share lessons about kindness, self-care, and healthy boundaries.

Based on Dr. Judith Orloff’s teachings on the gifts of sensitivity, this captivating story shows us all how to live with dignity, empathy, and joy. Written with Jennifer Adams, the bestselling author of the BabyLit series, with exquisite illustrations by Katy Tanis, this book is for the inner children in all adults and destined to become a family favorite. Published in October, National Bullying Prevention Month, THE HIGHLY SENSITIVE RABBIT offers parents, grandparents, and teachers a gentle way to open discussions about empathy and acceptance. Along with helping children recognize highly sensitive qualities in both themselves and others, Dr. Orloff presents the perfect gift for reading together on World Kindness Day, November 13.  

The book is available for preorder on all online venues now.




JUDITH ORLOFF, MD, is a psychiatrist who serves on the UCLA Psychiatric Clinical Faculty and an empath. She is a New York Times bestselling author whose most recent books are The Genius of Empathy (2024) and The Empath’s Survival Guide (2017). Specializing in treating highly sensitive people in her private practice, she also offers Empathy Training Programs to organizations. She has spoken at the American Psychiatric Association, Google, Fortune’s Powerful Women’s Summit, and TEDx. She has appeared on The Today Show, CNN, PBS, and NPR. Her work has been featured in The New York Times, O, The Oprah Magazine, USA Today, Teen Vogue, and Scientific American.

To learn more, visit drjudithorloff.com.