Follow Your Breath!: A First Book of Mindfulness (Exploring Our Community)
by Scot Ritchie (Author) Scot Ritchie (Illustrator)
Friends Yulee, Nick, Martin and Sally are at Pedro's house for a sleepover. Pedro is moving in a few days, and he's been feeling both sad about leaving his old house and worried he won't be happy in his new one. To try to help Pedro feel better, his mom decides to teach the five friends about mindfulness, which is, as she describes it, “being aware of what is happening right now.” As the children practice focusing on their bodies, using their senses, paying attention to their feelings and accepting life as it happens, Pedro learns there are many ways to manage the stress of his upcoming move.
As with all the titles in the popular Exploring Our Community series, award-winning author Scot Ritchie tells an engaging story about five culturally diverse friends while also providing comprehensive factual information on each spread. Fun mindfulness activities follow the story. Studies have shown the many benefits of mindfulness for young children --- from increased attention and self-control to decreased stress and disruptive behavior --- and teachers are using it more and more in the classroom. By learning how to incorporate mindfulness into their lives, children gain lifelong coping skills they can use to stay physically and mentally healthy. All the facts in the book have been reviewed by a mindfulness expert.
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School Library Journal
PreS-Gr 2--Ritchie introduces children to the importance of mindfulness, with highly detailed pictures and a warm palette. The book follows Pedro and his friends at a sleepover. He is anxious because his family is moving. Mrs. Rivera, his mom, offers ideas for practicing mindfulness, including books, apps, and websites. As the story progresses, Mrs. Rivera points out different opportunities to practice mindfulness. The children demonstrate some of the challenges of learning how to notice "what is happening right now, in the moment." The illustrations of Pedro and his friends depict a variety of skin tones. Pedro and his mom have brown skin and textured hair. Each page reminds readers that mindfulness is something that gets easier with practice and that even adults struggle with mindfulness. This is a very pertinent topic at the moment, with a growing emphasis on social emotional learning in schools. Activities to improve mindfulness are shared throughout the text; back matter includes "Mindful Games" and a glossary. The text and pictures will appeal to very young readers, but the book is appropriate for older kids or adults. VERDICT A must-have for social emotional learning. Ritchie provides an excellent overview of mindfulness for youngsters.--Debbie Tanner, S D Spady Montessori Elem., FL
Copyright 2020 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.Review quotes
JNF053050 - Juvenile Nonfiction | Social Topics | Emotions & Feelings
JNF024000 - Juvenile Nonfiction | Health & Daily Living | General
Mindfulness (Psychology)
