BREATHE DEEP

Community members spending time at the park practice calming techniques.

A family picnicking together, an older caregiver biking with a child, and an adult and a youngster rowing a boat on the water all pause to take deep breaths and center themselves. “Quiet your toes, quiet your feet. / Quiet your legs and just breathe.” “Quiet your neck, unclench your teeth. / Quiet your tongue and just breathe.” Following these directions, Leeds invites readers to count to 10 twice. Each set of people practices this exercise, and the format offers young readers an opportunity to try these calming activities; adults looking to help kids calm down in times of stress should find the book useful. Backmatter includes additional techniques, along with music for an accompanying song (whose lyrics are comprised of the book’s text); a QR code links to a singalong with video animation. Quintino’s bold, brightly colored illustrations have an appealingly scribbly look, as though created by a crayon-wielding youngster. At times it can be difficult to interpret the action, but the expressions on people’s faces offer clues to their emotions.

Useful and simple guidance for helping preschoolers quiet their roiling emotions.