Mindful Day

December 15, 2019
Two siblings awake in the same bed and enjoy a slow, deep breath; thus begins a mindful day. Throughout this text, the young characters and their mother are shown connecting to the present moment through their senses--in other words, practicing mindfulness. They fully notice each daily task, from the mundane (crunching breakfast cereal, getting dressed) to the fun (shopping at a fruit stand, visiting the library). They feel the warm sun, hear the sounds of the city, taste the flavors of their food, and practice gratitude. Between each of these moments of purposeful awareness, they breathe intentionally, softly and slowly. Rather than instructing mindfulness to readers, as in Susan Verde's I Am Peace, illustrated by Peter H. Reynolds (2017), this narrative exemplifies how a day may be experienced when mindfulness is organically embedded within it. Mindfulness doesn't render life solely blissful, and the characters are shown responding with urgency when appropriate, as when the day suddenly turns from mild to stormy. However, there is an unshakeable calm in narrative and illustration that permeates each task. The thick lines, bold colors, and emotive faces in the illustrations are appealing and complement the narrative well. All family members are Asian-presenting. A solid demonstration of the benefits of mindfulness practice when it is applied to daily life. (Picture book. 5-9)

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