Today

This slow-paced meditation by the team behind Listen considers, via a lens of mindfulness, the way that time can seem to quicken and slow. A caring voice addresses a button-nosed, tousle-haired child, portrayed with brown skin, who packs a suitcase, then sits on it in a hall, "counting hours until you'll see Pop-pop and your cousins again." As the trip kicks off, the child's perception of time depends on the feelings that accompany each moment. The day "takes FOREVER... when your parents yak-yak-yak with the neighbors." When the family arrives, at last, at a summer cottage, excitement makes today seem as if it's "passing in a flash"--until a wasp sting makes the child wish to "fast-forward away" from the day. Digitally finished multimedia artwork by Graegin mixes vignettes and full spreads to picture slice-of-life experiences among a cast portrayed with various abilities and skin tones. Snyder's concentration on the sensate ("the smell of blueberry crisp") leads to techniques for forming memories "you can visit again and again," even when "today stretches long." Back matter includes mindfulness exercises. Ages 4-8. Author's agent: Natalie Lakosil, Irene Goodman Literary. Illustrator's agent: Steven Malk, Writers House. (Jan.)

Gr 1-3--Snyder showcases the anticipation and struggle of waiting for a particular "Today" to arrive; the days leading up to summer, vacation and reuniting with family can drag out so slowly, but a great Today will pass quickly. Yet the best Today can have ups and downs, be quiet or loud, and may turn into a memory that will last a lifetime. The book closes with a breathing exercise and a call to remember moments, be mindful, and to appreciate time as it passes. Peaceful pencil and watercolor illustrations, rendered mainly in blue and green, reinforce the serene feel of the story's message. This is a difficult concept to illustrate to the very young, but Graegin and Snyder have created a starting point. VERDICT With the right leader or educator for simple guided meditation, this could serve as an excellent reminder to take things as they come, and of the importance of slowing down and appreciating time.--Jennifer LaBurre