ABC for Me

April 9, 2018
This board book addition to the ABC for Me series, featuring lively and kinetic art spreads, offers an alphabetic presentation of words relating to mindfulness. Light, rhyming verses accompany each word. Engel includes terms that expressly reference mindfulness practices, like “Meditation” and “Namaste,” along with more general ones relating to positive emotions and experiences, such as “Kindness,” “Love,” and “Outdoors.” Engel’s collagelike art features rich colors and uplifting scenes of children engaging with nature, creating art, and being joyfully present. The ending contains a description of what it means to be mindful (“paying attention to the present moment”), as well as four ideas for mindfulness-focused projects, including creating “Emotion Rocks” with painted faces (“Whenever it’s hard to talk about your feelings, try using an Emotion Rock to say it instead!”), and decorating a “Thankfulness Tree,” with ornaments that name things readers are grateful for. A sweet and multifaceted introduction to a nuanced concept. Ages 3–6.

May 1, 2018

PreS-Gr 1-Using an ABC format, this title introduces readers/listeners to a different word on each page related to mindfulness and a short description of what it means. Pictures are large and help provide clues to unfamiliar words. For example, A is for Awareness, the text says, "Pay attention to your world. It's full of surprises. Beautiful things in all shapes and sizes!" The illustration shows a young child and her mom sitting on a blanket that overlooks a river and mountain range. They are looking up at birds and butterflies. Although a board book format, this title would work well with early elementary school children because some of the concepts are more complex and there are also activities included. For example, children are encouraged to collect rocks and paint faces on them to create "Emotion Rocks." "Whenever it's hard to talk about your feelings try using an Emotion Rock to say it instead!" VERDICT This title offers readers an introduction to mindfulness. It will have a likely audience in communities where this concept is embraced.-Robin Sofge, Prince William Public Library System, VA

Copyright 2018 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

July 1, 2018
Concepts such as "compassion," "giving," and "meditation" are introduced one letter at a time. As with previous titles in Engel's ABC for Me series, this book is printed on thick, sturdy pages that are filled with bright, cartoonish images of happy children with varied skin tones. A word connected (however tangentially) to the concept of mindfulness is introduced with brief, rhyming text on each page. The final pages present a definition of mindfulness and a few activities for practice. While the concepts are all positive notions that most people would agree are healthy for young children, problems with this book's execution become immediately apparent with its cringeworthy appropriation of images from various cultures and spiritual traditions. Symbols such as dream catchers, Buddha statues, prayer flags, and culturally specific words such as "Namaste" and "Zen" are all used without providing any context on their origins or significance. The text also struggles, often forcing itself to fit the rhyme structure. "Pay attention to your energy. Is it high or very low? / Either way, just remember it will always flow." Further, the book confuses mindfulness--the nonjudgmental awareness of the present moment--with other concepts and actions that, while well-intentioned, don't necessarily have anything to do with mindfulness, such as "sleep" and "vegetables."Positive and healthy behaviors and practices clumsily mixed together with, ironically, seeming unawareness of the book's overall effect. (Board book. 3-7)

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