Today's read... Alphabreaths Too: More ABCs of Mindful Breathing by Christopher Willard

Ieme of mindful breathing. Now, it's no secret that I'm extremely picky when it comes to these types of books for young readers...there are so many out there and many are too preachy for my taste. So, when I discover one, which manages to escape this downfall, I get a little excited. And this book does just that.

ALPHABREATHS TOO

More ABCs of Mindful Breathing

by Christopher Willard &

Daniel Rechtschaffen

Illustrated by Holly Clifton-Brown

Sounds True

Picture Book

32 pages

ages 4 to 8

Teach children the basics of mindful breathing—along with their ABCs—in this playful and interactive picture book.

In Alphabreaths Too, children learn their ABCs along with the basics of mindfulness through fun exercises and illustrations they’ll want to come back to again and again. Each letter of the alphabet teaches a simple mindfulness, or compassion-based, practice to help kids focus their thoughts, feel calm, express gratitude, and hold positive feelings for others. A great standalone title or a companion volume to Alphabreaths: The ABCs of Mindful Breathing, this is a perfect book for the classroom or home library.

Breaths like Astronaut Breath and Fireworks Breath help children use their imaginations, while breaths like Gift Breath and Kite Breath help them fill their hearts with gratitude and send good wishes to others. They can breathe with a partner using Drawbridge Breath, relax with Ocean Breath, or get their wiggles out using Pirate Breath.

Alphabreaths offers a meaningful introduction to mindfulness for children, all while keeping them delighted with imaginative inspiration and hours of fun. It’s as easy as A-B-C!

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MY TIDBITS

While I wondered if mixing ABCs with breathing skills would really win young readers over, this book surprised me and proved that it can...and even be a ton of fun along the way.

This is the companion book to Alphabreaths: The ABCs of Mindful Breathing, a book I have not read. But that isn't an issue, since this one is very much a book all on its own. These pages center around the idea of making kids more aware of their breathing and offers fun techniques. Starting with 'A' (Astronaut Breath), various breathing and movements are connected with scenes and emotions in a fun and imaginative way. Each one of these encourages young listeners to do the movements themselves. From backhoes to bridges to dinosaurs and more, young listeners learn to breath in certain ways and play along. It's simply fun and will have young listeners very engaged.

The text, while only carrying a short paragraph, is appropriate for those, who are very sure of their words, and is best used as a read-aloud. It is written in a way the age group can understand and will recognize what is happening. It flows smoothly and offers the opportunity for pause between each letter, so listeners can join in and do each motion.

The illustrations made me smile. I, honestly, wasn't expecting these to be as well done as they are and had fun simply flipping through. The scenes are gentle, yet pack joy and imagination. The characters are friendly, diverse, and invite listeners to play. It's a warming read and stays positive the entire way through. Each scenes is easy to recognize and will be familiar to young listeners.

This is a fun read which will have listeners working right along with each letter and breath. I can recommend it to groups as well as individuals.