If there’s one thing we’ve learned during these pandemic times, it's the importance of learning to be mindful of our thoughts and feelings, of the present and of the world around us.
This is a great lesson for anytime, really. It’s easy to get caught up in the routines of our day, moving fast, almost without thinking, from one activity to another. But learning to be mindful can help us appreciate the day and even navigate times of uncertainty.
These picture books are about just that: staying present and learning to breathe in a way that centers our thoughts. Why not give it a try?
Here and Now by Julia Denos; illustrated by E.B. Goodale
ebook available from Overdrive.
Illustrations and easy-to-read text celebrate mindfulness and the connectedness of everything on Earth. A stunning celebration of mindfulness, meditation, and enjoying each moment.
Outside In by Deborah Underwood; illustrated by Cindy Derby
ebook available from Overdrive.
Outside is waiting, the most patient playmate of all. The most generous friend. The most miraculous inventor. This thought-provoking picture book poetically underscores our powerful and enduring connection with nature, not so easily obscured by lives spent indoors. Rhythmic, powerful language shows us how our world is made and the many ways Outside comes in to help and heal us, reminding us that we are all part of a much greater universe.
Breathing Makes It Better: A Book for Sad Days, Mad Days, Glad Days, and All the Feelings In-Between by Christopher Willard; illustrated by Alea Marley
ebook available from Overdrive.
Read aloud and breathe along with this sweet story teaching children how to navigate powerful emotions like anger, fear, sadness, confusion, anxiety, and loneliness. With rhythmic writing and engaging illustrations, this book helps guide children to breathe through their feelings and find calm with recurring cues to stop and take a breath. Simple guided practices, like imagining you are a tree blowing in the wind, follow each story to teach children how to apply mindfulness techniques when they need them the most.
Slow Down: 50 Mindful Moments in Nature by Rachel Williams; illustrated by Freya Hartas
ebook available from Overdrive.
All around us, nature is working wonders. Every day, hour by hour, magical transformations happen right in front of you. But it's not always easy to see them. In this beautiful illustrated collection, 50 moments in nature are paused for you to watch them in detail. Then you should go outside, and explore, and see what you find when you take the time to slow down. Gorgeously illustrated, this charming collection celebrates the small wonders happening all around us every day.
Hurry Up! A Book About Slowing Down by Kate Dopirak; illustrated by Christopher Silas Neal
ebook available from Overdrive.
For one busy boy, life is all hurry up, hurry down, hurry round and round and round! That is until he takes a big breath—and a big break—and slows down to see all the wonderful things in the world around him.
Alphabreaths: The ABCs of Mindful Breathing by Christopher Willard; illustrated by Holly Clifton-Brown
ebook available from Overdrive.
Children will learn their ABCs and the basics of mindfulness through playful breathing exercises. Breaths like Mountain Breath and Redwood Breath will connect them with nature, while breaths like Heart Breath and Wish Breath will help them remember to fill their heart with gratitude and send good wishes to others.
Be sure to check our catalog and Overdrive Kids eReading Room, for these titles and many more being added!
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