FINDING CALM IN NATURE
A Guide for Mindful Kids
By: Jennifer Grant
Illustrated by: Erin Brown
Published: March 21, 2023
Publisher: Beaming Books
Non-Fiction
Just being in nature can naturally calm your mind and body. When our kids were little and getting antsy or fighting with each other, off to the park or to the backyard we went. Even as a child myself, I loved going for a walk in the woods or walking in the state park near our home. This book introduces the idea of looking at the world with fresh eyes. You’ve seen the tree in your backyard for years but actually look at the tree today. Notice how it moves in the breeze. Notice the color and shape of the leaves. Notice the birds that spend time in the tree. Go outside and let nature teach you something.
Each chapter explores a different part of nature and connects it to a mindfulness idea. The chapters include:
- I Am Rooted
- I Can Stretch
- I Am Perfectly Me
- I Am In Flow
- I Can Grow and Change
Inside each of those chapters, kids will find pieces of nature that relate to tough times, feeling low or anxious, celebrating differences, standing out or blending in, having strong feelings, and letting go. In learning about Tough Times, kids will learn about dandelions and their resilience, having deep roots, and how we change throughout our lives just like a dandelion from the yellow flower to the seed ball to the seeds blowing in the wind.
I really love the way this book approaches the idea of discovering calm through nature. Kids are taught breathing exercises and stretching exercises as well as the idea of creating a nature notebook where they can log or save items found in nature throughout each season. Even though this book is written for children, adults will need to be part of this reading experience as well. It is definitely written for older elementary kids but some of the concepts could be explained by an adult to a younger child. I actually appreciated the reminders and plan to implement some of the concepts for my own mindfulness practice. You could also definitely take some of the ideas in this book and make them a family activity.
Jennifer Grant is the award-winning author of picture books for children and books for adults. Her books include Maybe God Is Like That Too, Maybe I Can Love My Neighbor Too, and Dimming the Day. Grant’s work has appeared in Woman’s Day, Chicago Parent, Patheos, and Chicago Tribune. Grant holds a master’s degree in English literature with concentrations in creative writing and critical theory from Southern Methodist University in Dallas. A lifelong Episcopalian and mother of four, she lives in Chicago with her husband. Check out her website, HERE.
Erin Brown is a Northern Irish illustrator who lives on the beautiful island of Jersey. She combines her love for hand-drawn lines with the flexibility of adding color digitally. When she’s not working, she can be found exploring the forests and cliff paths of Jersey or down at the seashore.
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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 Book Review, Children's books, Erin Brown, Jennifer Grant, mindfulness, nature, non-fiction