Kaya's Heart Song

July 1, 2018

PreS-Gr 2-Many children will be able to see themselves in this beautifully illustrated story. Kaya hears her mother singing to herself while meditating. Her mother explains that "happy hearts have their own songs." Kaya sets out to discover her own heart song. She passes unhappy looking children on electronic devices on her way into the jungle. In the lush landscape she comes across an abandoned carousel comprised of colorful elephants. Kaya works to free them from vines. As her imagination takes hold, she discovers her heart song. The story has a positive message of mindfulness and imagination. The gorgeous and expressive digital artwork is the star of this book. The elephants come to life in bursts of color and patterns. The spread showing the children peeking out of the leaves is particularly captivating. VERDICT The story and images blend together in perfect sync to make this an eye-catching keepsake. A terrific choice for mindfulness classes and for one-on-one sharing.-Kris Hickey, Columbus Metropolitan Library, OH

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