- Katherine Schwarzenegger Pratt has released a new children’s book, “Kat and Brandy,” inspired by her own childhood experience of overcoming the fear of horseback riding.
- She reveals that the most valuable parenting lesson from her mother, Maria Shriver, was fostering an environment of open, judgment-free communication.
- Pratt credits her support system, including husband Chris Pratt and daily transcendental meditation, with helping her stay present and confident through the “chaos of parenting.”
- She opens up about facing public criticism and relying on her family’s values to navigate the pressures of being a mother in the spotlight.
Author and mother Katherine Schwarzenegger Pratt is pulling back the curtain on her parenting journey, sharing insights from her new children’s book and the invaluable wisdom passed down from her mother, famed journalist Maria Shriver.
A Story of Overcoming Fear
Schwarzenegger Pratt’s latest project is a children’s book titled Kat and Brandy, which hits shelves on November 4, 2025. The story is a personal one, based on her own childhood. It follows a young girl, Kat, who finds the courage to get back on a horse after a scary fall, with the help of a rescue horse named Brandy.
“This book is based off of me overcoming my fears of riding—being afraid of something, getting the confidence to work through it, and then overcoming my fears as a child,” Schwarzenegger Pratt explains. She hopes the book will inspire children to face their own fears, building a sense of confidence that will last a lifetime. Her own connection with animals, particularly her childhood pony Brandy, shaped who she is today. “That acceptance and that unconditional love from an animal that I experienced growing up was definitely a gift,” she shares.
Lessons from Maria Shriver
While navigating motherhood with her three children, Lyla, 5, Eloise, 3, and Ford, 11 months, Schwarzenegger Pratt often leans on the lessons taught by her own mother. She says the greatest gift Maria Shriver gave her and her siblings was a home built on open communication.
“The great gift that my mom gave to us kids from the beginning was always an open line of communication that was judgment-free and criticism-free,” she says. “That allowed us to be able to talk to our mom about anything and everything… That was a huge gift that, as a mother, I really hope to be able to give to my kids.”
Another key tool from her mother was learning how to maintain a positive inner dialogue. “A lot of us can get stuck in negative self-talk and that doesn’t do anything positive for our confidence,” she notes.
Finding Confidence and Staying Grounded
Schwarzenegger Pratt emphasizes the importance of her support system. She describes her husband, Chris Pratt, as a vital teammate in their parenting journey. “Having a partner that you can openly communicate with and share your questions and your concerns… is a really important part of it,” she states.
To stay present amidst the “chaos of parenting,” she turned to transcendental meditation, a practice her mother introduced her to years ago. It became crucial after her sister pointed out she wasn’t fully enjoying the moment. “I need to make a change because this is such a special time in my life and I’ve always wanted to be a mom,” she recalls thinking.
Being a parent in the public eye comes with its own set of challenges, including online criticism. Schwarzenegger Pratt admits that while some comments get to her, she focuses on her core intentions and family values to stay grounded. “If I have one child read this book and see themselves in it and feel that they’re not alone in whatever their fear is… then this book will have served its purpose,” she says.