Book Review: Yoga Friends and Yoga Cards for Children

Authors: Mariam Gates & Rolf Gates
Illustrator: Sarah Jane Hinder

From the Book Jacket: From the creators of Good Night Yoga and Good Morning Yoga comes a beautifully illustrated adventure that introduces children to the delights and benefits of partner yoga. Perfect for teaming up with a friend, sibling, parent, or caregiver, each easy practice shows how cooperation helps us to imagine, move, and have fun in a whole new way. 

Why It's On My Bookshelf: I have been trying to explore more ways to do Yoga Groups in my school counseling program and teaching kids to do partner yoga seems like a fun way to boost lessons and engagement from kids. It would be a great way to teach cooperation, empathy, and perseverance. The authors always put a visualization activity in the end of their books and this time they included an activity called Mirror Me for yoga partners. Absolutely love this book and it will be a great introductory read for my groups. 

Yoga for Children Yoga Cards
by Lisa Flynn Founder of ChildLight Yoga and Yoga 4 Classrooms

About This Resource: This interactive deck includes more than 50 cards featuring Mindful Me mindfulness activities, Time to Breathe breathing exercises, Strike a Pose yoga poses, and Rest & Relax relaxation exercises. Together, you'll learn the many benefits of the various activities while strengthening your connection with your child. Complete with full-color, easy-to-follow photographs, Yoga for Children - Yoga Cards will help you teach your child to be more resilient, confident, and calm - on  yoga session at a time. Help your kids de-stress, get healthy, and have fun!

Why It's On My Bookshelf: So excited to add these cards to my Yoga Groups, Classroom Lessons, and my Calming Corner. I have been in major need of better visuals when I am teaching Mindfulness and Yoga with students. It's also given me some better ideas on poses and activities to use.  These will be easy to incorporate into my program and I'd like to even frame a few to use in my calming corner. 

One of the cards I am really excited about is the Rest with Breathing Buddies. This is an activity I have taught before using a stuffed beanie/animal. Watch the video below to see the exercise in practice:



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Book Review: Mixed - A Colorful Story

Author/Illustrator: Arree Chung

From the Book Jacket: In the beginning, there were three colors...Reds, Yellows, and Blues. All special in their own ways, all living in harmony - until one day, a Red says, "Reds are the best!" and starts a color kerfuffle. When the colors decide to separate, is there anything that can change their minds? A Yellow, a Blue, and a never-before-seen color might just save the day in this inspiring book about color, tolerance, and embracing differences. 

Why It's On My Bookshelf: My daughter has read this book about ten times since we got it. I cannot wait to share it with students. The message of kindness, getting along, and respecting one another is exactly how I would like kids to start their school year. Too many times our differences keep us apart and can sadly create an environment that does not feel inclusive or accepting. Building a positive school community is what matters most to me. Mixed - A Colorful Story supports that mission and will help children to be kind and caring towards one another. This one is a must for your home, classroom, and counseling curriculum!

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Book Reviews: The Fox Wish and The Snail and the Whale

Found both of these heartwarming books in the Spring and they are such great choices for read alouds about kindness, generosity, and friendship. I used them as reinforcement s when I had teachers asking for extra lessons around being caring and kind. Many times when I read books I am very focused on skill building. These ones helped students develop character and opened up a space for discussion on acts of kindness. Loved them!

Author: Kimiko Aman

Illustrator: Komako Sakai

From the Book Jacket: Have you ever had a wish come true? Have you ever felt the hand of a kid smaller than you? Have you ever found something you didn't know you believed in? Have you ever talked to a fox? In this subtle, sensitive glimpse of magic, sister, brother, and reader alike find that the trusted familiar often lives right next to the truly extraordinary - if only you have the eyes to see it. 

Author: Julia Donaldson

Illustrator: Axel Scheffler

From the Book Jacket: When a tiny snail meets a humpback whale the two travel together to far-off lands. It's a dream come true for the snail, who has never left home before. But when the whale swims too close to shore, will the snail be able to save her new friend? This is a touching tale of adventure and friendship that reminds us that even the smallest creatures can help others in a big way. 

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