Meena and her classmates decide to produce a play, and to her dismay, Meena has difficulty focusing. She spills the paints, she stumbles and trips, and when she tells her parents that she really isn’t interested in performing or participating, her father assures her that she’s alright. With the encouragement from her caring, patient parents, teacher and aunt, who introduces her to yoga, Meena plays the role of a tree. She must stand still, and the deep breathing she has learned in yoga calms her down. Painterly acrylic forms convey nuances of Indian culture and Meena’s facial and body contortions as she learns her roles on stage and in yoga class. Krishnaswami aptly conveys the essence and impact of yoga on a child. Youngsters often struggling to keep their little bodies from wriggling, their attention from drifting, will be comforted to know that they are not unique and that something as basic as breathing and yoga incorporated into a kid’s life can be a practical solution. Backmatter includes additional information about yoga and resources for children. (Picture book. 5-8)
