I Am Peace: A Book of Mindfulness

By Susan Verde, illustrated by Peter H. Reynolds. Abrams Books for Young Readers, 2017. 32 pages. $14.95/hardcover; $13.46/eBook. Recommended for ages 4ā€“8.

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The young person in these pages starts out feeling ā€œlike a boat with no anchor beingĀ carried away,ā€ but after remembering to notice the breath and to use the senses to notice what isĀ happening, states, ā€œI have found my anchor.ā€ There are tangible examples given, such as feeling theĀ ground, watching a cloud, and touching a tree: all ways to reconnect and to quiet the anxious mind.

Peter Reynolds uses ink, gouache, watercolor, and tea to make his vibrant yet simpleĀ illustrations. There is a warm palette of yellow, orange, deep pink, and plum, with blue and greenĀ making occasional appearances. Dove gray visits several pages.

The last page includes detailed instructions for the accessible exercise ofĀ focusing on the breath. This simple practice could be beneficial in a family setting or asĀ part of a First-day school lesson. This book is a great addition for family, classroom, andĀ meetinghouse libraries. It shares a story that offers benefits to all people, and presentsĀ mindfulness as a practice useful to people of all faiths. Susan Verdeā€™s book extends aĀ beautiful sentiment to readers: ā€œNow I share my peace with others and hope it is carriedĀ to those who need it.ā€

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