First Day of School Worries: A Story with a Calming Mantra and Mindful Prompts
April 1, 2023
Children's musician and mindfulness expert Willey helps children learn to assuage first-day-of-school jitters. On the way to school, Bear encounters her pal Bird and confides that she's got "butterflies in her tummy." Bird admits that he's worried, too--what if the other classmates don't like his feathers? Owl overhears and suggests a mantra to calm their anxiety. She breathes deeply and says, "Breathe in, breathe out. / Everybody has a heartbeat. / Breathe in, breathe out. / It's a rhythm we all share." Realizing that Bear's fur and Bird's feathers "may look very different...but they do the same job," the pals feel much better and continue on their way. They come upon Fawn, who's worried that his preference for eating grass is strange, so Bear and Bird teach him the mantra and breathing technique. Arriving at school, they see Owl, who, unsurprisingly, is their new teacher, leading the class in the mindfulness activity. Discussion questions for readers, related to Bear's, Bird's, and Fawn's concerns, are interspersed, with the final one intended to instill confidence about children's own uniqueness: "What makes you special?" Though the text is somewhat wordy and the Disney-esque cartoon illustrations are a bit saccharine, overall the story gets its message across effectively. The book ends with a link to Willey's song "Everybody's Got a Heartbeat." (This book was reviewed digitally.) A practical approach to anchoring oneself in the face of uncertainty. (author's note) (Picture book. 4-8)
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May 1, 2023
PreS-Gr 2-This newest entry in the "Mindfulness Moments for Kids" series finds a young bear both excited and anxious for her first day of school. As she makes her way there, she encounters various forest animals who help her talk through her feelings, including an owl who offers a breathing exercise and a mantra to help "change how you feel." Along the way, the animals notice the ways in which they are unique and remind one another to celebrate their differences. By the time they arrive at school (only to find that Owl is their teacher), Bear feels ready to face the day. Throughout the story, young readers are guided to repeat the breathing exercise and mantra-which originates from one of Willey's songs. Reflection questions are also included on almost every spread, inviting readers to think about their feelings, habits, and identity. While the story doesn't offer anything especially new to a crowded field of books addressing the first day of school, fans of the series or those looking for offerings on mindfulness or coping with worry will likely be satisfied. Betts's digital illustrations are whimsical and rendered in a soft, pastel rainbow palette. VERDICT Best suited for purchase where the author or this series is popular or where titles on mindfulness are needed.-Lauren Strohecker
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