All summer I’ll be sharing books for kids of all ages on topics that will interest them or offer them a new interest to learn about. Most of the time these will be nonfiction books, but sometimes we can learn how to be better people or learn empathy from fictional stories too.
So, I hope you will stay tuned to these posts. They will always have Summer Read-to-Learn in the title and in the tags. There will be books from some of my favorite publishers like National Geographic, plus, some from independent publishers.
YOGA ANIMALS
A Wild Introduction to Kid-Friendly Poses
By: Paige Towler with a foreword by Tara Stiles
Published: April 2, 2020
Publisher: National Geographic Children’s Books
Non-Fiction
I’ve written about the benefits of yoga several times as well as getting children started on yoga. In subbing at the elementary levels, I’ve added yoga during brain breaks and even during PE class and the kids love it.
What makes this book so fun and approachable for kids is they can mimic the animals in various positions. Paige and Tara have combined to make this great book for kids and even parents/teachers to join in the fun. Paige puts the rhyming words with Tara’s yoga moves. Add in excellent National Geographic photography and you have a winning book for kids to jump right in and get excited about yoga.
On each page, the animal is in the position with a human photo example on the right side. There is a brief example of how to perform the yoga position. Each of the positions flows easily through the pages as well.
At the end of the book, there is an Animal Yoga Guide that explains the benefits of the particular pose as well as a brief educational paragraph about that particular animal. I think kids will enjoy realizing that animals, like humans, need to jump and stretch and move their bodies. This book offers a fun and easy introduction to yoga for kids.
I love this book so much and can’t wait to take it to school with me. I think the kids will love doing the poses during daily brain breaks or quiet time.
Be sure to check out these two videos of Tara Stiles introducing a couple of the YOGA ANIMALS stretches.
Paige Towler is an author and editor who lives in Washington, D.C. Her poetry has appeared in anthologies such as HEY BABY! and NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC KIDS NATURE POETRY, and she has written books for National Geographic, National Geographic Kids, Scholastic, and more.
Tara Stiles is the founder of Strala, the revolutionary approach to being, moving, and healing. Strala is practiced in more than 100 countries, and thousands of Guides are leading Strala classes around the globe. Tara has authored several best-selling books, including Yoga Cures, MakeYour Own Rules Diet, and Strala Yoga. She has been profiled by The New York Times, Times of India, The Times (UK), and featured in most major national and international magazines. Tara is a sought-after speaker on topics of entrepreneurship, health, and wellbeing. Harvard profiled Tara’s work in a case study, and she has spoken with students at Harvard and New York University about her experience and approaches to creativity and leadership. Tara supports The Alliance for a Healthier Generation, an initiative with the American Heart Association and Clinton Foundation, to combat childhood obesity. She is married to Strala co-founder Mike Taylor. They enjoy practicing yoga and spending time in nature with their daughter, Daisy. For more on Tara Stiles, check out her website, HERE.
To purchase a copy of YOGA ANIMALS, click the photo below:
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Thanks to the publisher for sending a copy of this book for the purpose of this review. This review is my honest opinion. If you choose to make a purchase through the above links, I may receive a small commission without you having to pay a cent more for your purchase.
Posted Under animals, Book Review, Children's books, Kid Konnection, non-fiction, Paige Towler, Summer Read-to-Learn, Tara Stiles, yoga