Sit with Me

November 23, 2020
Justa Bug, a gray insect wearing saffron-colored robes and wielding a pointer, serves as the patient narrator of this step-by-step instructive picture book, aiming to teach readers “seven-point posture... if you want to be a buddha, too.” Kanjuro’s peppy rhyme scheme (“So, sit with your chin/ just a little tucked in,/ and notice the balance/ it brings you within”) keeps the insect’s directions quick-paced and colloquial, while Lawson’s digital illustrations portray each of the points with an assorted cast of humans (a Black child and a white child) and anthropomorphic animals (mainly a raccoon and a turtle). Though Lawson’s illustrations lack outlines, lending the art an unfinished look, Kanjuro’s helpful similes (“Keep your spine straight/ like an arrow/ or coins stacked on a plate”) further illustrate the correct steps. A fun primer for those interested in Buddhist meditation. Ages 4–8.