School Library Journal Review
| Gr 3-7-A great guide for middle graders looking to incorporate mindfulness into their daily lives. The book presents mindfulness as a means of helping young people manage emotion, stress, anxiety, and concentration. Mindfulness and self-care strategies, which are referred to as "Mindful Me Practices," make up the majority of the book's content. This gives it a hands-on, practical perspective. Chapters are divided based on various different contexts for mindfulness, such as emotions, thoughts, actions, and how to be mindful in and out of one's home. Each section features various techniques presented with step-by-step directions, which often includes meditation and breathing exercises, as well as journal prompts for further reflection. Straightforward language and Peterson's kid-friendly drawings make an abstract topic accessible to late elementary and early middle school-aged readers. This volume can serve as a helpful resource to both students and caregivers. VERDICT A practical toolkit for processing emotions through mindfulness techniques and an excellent purchase for schools incorporating mindfulness into their curriculum.-Kathryn Justus, Renbrook School, West Hartford, CT © Copyright 2018. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted. |
Booklist Review
| Starting with the premise that there are no easy fixes to life's problems, only changes one can make within oneself, the author of this mindfulness toolbox introduces tween readers to techniques for handling their lives with wisdom. The book offers pointers for using mindfulness techniques such as meditation, present-moment awareness, and journaling to manage the inner self, emotions, thoughts, actions, the heart, the home, and the outside (community). Although the book is organized by topic, it suggests that readers might find some areas more useful to themselves than others and recommends exploring the techniques that work best on an individual basis. It also stresses that learning mindfulness is a process and takes practice. The writing, though slightly didactic, is clear and avoids dropping trendy descriptors without explaining them. There is mention of a corresponding workbook, but this can be used on its own. Inclusive illustrations portray children of different ethnicities, genders, and physical abilities, reinforcing the idea that everyone can become a mindful me.--Dean, Kara Copyright 2018 Booklist |
