(2) K-3 Two succulent-looking sentient plants search for meaning in this philosophical picture book. Easygoing Worthi seems content with life, but Nelli is restless and wonders about finding one's purpose: "I heard it gives you strength when life gets tough." Worthi drags Nelli into the forest to look for answers. The friends try to contemplate (and not be overwhelmed by) the scale of either the concepts they're considering or the natural world they explore, with amusing results: a purpose is satisfying and comforting, but it is not a baked potato. The pair then meets a charming cast of mindfulness-centered characters introduced one by one with a steady, rhythmic pace. A frog stuck in a spiderweb questions goodness; a meditative stinkbug encourages looking within; and a bee endorses following one's heart. The dialogue-only text is full of care and curiosity, with scaffolding for readers new to the comics format provided by color-coded speech balloons and lots of white space. The digital illustrations have a dreamlike texture to them, with fuzzy, misty edges and jeweled hues. When the day is through, the tiny plants haven't found any answers, but they enjoyed the journey and look forward to continuing their quest and thinking more tomorrow.

Reviewer: Elisa Gall | Horn Book Magazine Issue: May, 2024

(1) 4-6 Illustrated by Chan Chau. Middle-schooler Binh isn't happy about his Vietnamese American family's trip to a silent Buddhist meditation retreat. His beloved Game Boy is taken away, and, worse, Binh has to write an apology for shoving the school bully to the ground after he'd directed anti-Asian racist remarks at Binh. During the retreat, through Sister Peace's skillful teachings and meditation, Binh learns to set aside his angst and anger and find the inner wisdom, strength, and community to handle life's challenges. Frequent cool colors in dynamically composed panels made for a sweet and surprisingly soothing comic. Siddhartha Gautama's path to enlightenment and the Jataka tales (fables connected to Buddha's prior forms) are made accessible by framing them through Binh's perspective, with some video-game allusions and nature imagery, talking animals, and spirits. Both reader+s who are unfamiliar with the religion and those who practice it will enjoy this refreshing, modern Buddhist primer, complete with a bibliography that lists other educational texts. As Sister Peace says, "The journey to becoming a B uddha is long, and not one that should be traveled alone."

Reviewer: Michelle Lee | Horn Book Magazine Issue: July, 2023

(3) K-3 Exploring Our Community series. Five friends learn about mindfulness to help them cope with strong feelings--especially Pedro, who's anxious about moving. Over the course of a day together and a sleepover that night, the kids focus on nature in the park, use their sense of smell at a community garden, contend with negative thoughts during a rainstorm, mindfully eat dinner, perform a "body scan," and visualize positive outcomes. The text's light tone is carried over in Bob Graham-esque illustrations. The book concludes with a few "Mindful Games" and a brief glossary.

Reviewer: Kitty Flynn

(3) YA Illustrated by Libby VanderPloeg. "Your life is only ever happening right here, right now." Gates makes the case to tweens and teens that mindfulness is a way of life and the simplest path to health and happiness. Her chatty guide includes chapters on the practices of mindful breathing, yoga, and meditation, all with easy "try it" activities; "five-day mindfulness challenges" at the end should help readers translate these new skills into a lifestyle. Bib.

Reviewer: Katrina Hedeen

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Michelle Polizzi. This book describes a simple deep-breathing technique to help young readers "push out" sad, mad, or worried thoughts and "feel calm." The watercolor illustrations effectively visualize the "magic breath" by using light-colored swirls to show the happy thoughts and breath, and darker, blue-toned swirls for the sad thoughts and breath ("Remember that happy thought? Use it to push out your sad thought"). Useful for sharing in mindfulness-practicing families or classrooms.

Reviewer: Bridget McCaffrey

(4) 4-6 Illustrated by Stacy Peterson. This self-help book offers a "toolbox of mindfulness practices" with directions for meditation exercises, visualization techniques, and other strategies for handling emotions, stress, and negative thinking. Stewart's persistent "MINDFUL ME" branding is distracting, and her tone can be preachy. That said, her descriptions ("Meditation is like a personal pause button") and the black-and-white illustrations are both kid-friendly, and the topics (technology, social media) are timely.

Reviewer: Tanya D. Auger

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Peter H. Reynolds. A boy describes his personal characteristics, such as having "a playful side" and "endless curiosity," and also enumerates the broader qualities of being human, including making mistakes and making amends. Reynolds's recognizable expressive vignettes extend the mindfulness-themed text; an author's note describes the benefits of empathy, love, and compassion, and gives instructions for a loving-kindness meditation.

Reviewer: Bridget McCaffrey

(3) 4-6 Savvy: Stress-Busting Survival Guides series. Illustrated by Veronica Collignon. With Karen Bluth. Emphasizing mindfulness and directed at tweens and adolescents, these upbeat self-help books include meditations, physical exercises, crafts (e.g., an anti-stress ball), recipes (a single-serve "Treat Yourself" cupcake), suggested music, organizational tips, and more, all illustrated with photos and pastel-colored art. Appropriately, each volume ends with lists of symptoms requiring professional help, referral organizations, and suggestions for supportive adults. Reading list. Review covers these Savvy: Stress-Busting Survival Guides titles: Happiness Hacks, Me Time, and Stress Less.

Reviewer: Gail Hedges

(3) 4-6 Savvy: Stress-Busting Survival Guides series. Illustrated by Veronica Collignon. With Karen Bluth. Emphasizing mindfulness and directed at tweens and adolescents, these upbeat self-help books include meditations, physical exercises, crafts (e.g., an anti-stress ball), recipes (a single-serve "Treat Yourself" cupcake), suggested music, organizational tips, and more, all illustrated with photos and pastel-colored art. Appropriately, each volume ends with lists of symptoms requiring professional help, referral organizations, and suggestions for supportive adults. Reading list. Review covers these Savvy: Stress-Busting Survival Guides titles: Happiness Hacks, Me Time, and Stress Less.

Reviewer: Gail Hedges

(3) 4-6 Savvy: Stress-Busting Survival Guides series. Illustrated by Veronica Collignon. With Karen Bluth. Emphasizing mindfulness and directed at tweens and adolescents, these upbeat self-help books include meditations, physical exercises, crafts (e.g., an anti-stress ball), recipes (a single-serve "Treat Yourself" cupcake), suggested music, organizational tips, and more, all illustrated with photos and pastel-colored art. Appropriately, each volume ends with lists of symptoms requiring professional help, referral organizations, and suggestions for supportive adults. Reading list. Review covers these Savvy: Stress-Busting Survival Guides titles: Happiness Hacks, Me Time, and Stress Less.

Reviewer: Gail Hedges

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Margarita Surnaite. Gates leads readers through very simple steps for mindfulness meditations, with emphasis on breathing and listening. A clear text with occasional rhymes effectively distills the practice into kid-friendly terms ("Flex your arms, and squeeze tight. Now let it all go, and be loose like spaghetti"). Surnaite's digital illustrations in a soothing, cool palette show anthropomorphized animal-children acting out each step.

Reviewer: Katrina Hedeen

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Jeremy Bondy. Clara is mostly a happy and funny child, except for her "very BAD TEMPER." Her outbursts result in losing friends until a wise-cracking, sunglasses-wearing bird teaches her to meditate. Now, Clara can "decide how to respond" to problems. This picture book is full of useful tips on reactivity and mindfulness, but the cartoony art and belabored speech-bubble jokes do the worthwhile content no favors.

Reviewer: Katrina Hedeen

(3) 4-6 The volume's initial chapters introduce yoga and plug the benefits of practice on the mind, body, and spirit. Rissman then guides young yogis through an "energizing yoga sequence" and a "calming" one, breathing exercises, and beginner mindfulness meditations. The step-by-step instructions and illustrations of each pose are clear and accessible, and the book's encouraging, compassionate tone should help newcomers feel at ease. Websites. Glos., ind.

Reviewer: Katrina Hedeen

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Anni Betts. Separated into five sections titled "Be Calm," "Focus," "Imagine," "Make Some Energy," and "Relax," this high-interest volume offers child-suited mindfulness exercises. Though there are redundancies across the thirty "mindful moments," clear, simple language and bright cartoon illustrations make each one accessible to the elementary-aged set. Useful for family sharing or therapeutic settings.

Reviewer: Katrina Hedeen

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Jennifer E. Morris. Emma's little brother Henry gets rowdy when his days are "too busy and too full." Lamenting these times ("Henry's fun when he's not a hurricane"), Emma teaches the boy to chill out through simple mindful meditation. Despite a too-easy wrap-up, the story (supplemented with instructional back matter) is a welcoming introduction to the practice. Morris's illustrations capture calm and chaos equally well.

Reviewer: Katrina Hedeen

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Sally Rippin. Stewart describes nine mindfulness meditations to help children deal with emotions and stress, increase focus, make decisions, and more. Astute yet kid-friendly language lends approachability to the concepts ("You'll learn to watch your feelings pop up and disappear like soap bubbles"), while soft cartoon illustrations starring a chilled-out elephant and monkey underscore the friendly vibe. Six FAQ are addressed at book's end.

Reviewer: Katrina Hedeen