A worthy and original contribution to the growing kids’-yoga canon, even with its flaws.
If you want to play yoga, you have to know the rules: what to do more, what to do less, how to breathe, and how to move your body.
This picture-book import from Brazil brings with it a unique approach to the instruction of children’s yoga. It is written directly to the child audience, framing yoga as a game. A high point is the inclusion of the yamas and niyamas, the ethical guidelines of yoga that are often overlooked in favor of asana, the physical practice. This title prioritizes these principles, placing a thorough explanation of each before the asana section. Each pose is introduced with a brief story; on the following pages, mixed-media illustrations combine drawings of paper-white children with photographs of real light-skinned children, demonstrating the poses step by step. The overall effect is appealing, a blend of playful and practical. Unfortunately, the narrative falls short of this balance at times. Words and phrases such as “must,” “have to,” “always,” and “right way” show up frequently. While there’s much to be said for maintaining a disciplined practice, the wording is a bit rigid for beginning instruction to children. It’s tough to know if this tone matches with the authors’ intent or is the stylistic decision of the translator.
A worthy and original contribution to the growing kids’-yoga canon, even with its flaws. (Nonfiction. 6-10)Pub Date: Aug. 21, 2018
ISBN: 978-1-61519-493-3
Page Count: 80
Publisher: The Experiment
Review Posted Online: June 24, 2018
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 15, 2018
Time to add this to collections.
Frequent collaborators Adler and Miller launch another one into outer space—literally.
His exploration accompanied by space-themed illustrations and beginning with how the day is broken into smaller units—hours, minutes, and seconds—and the difference between a.m. and p.m., Adler launches into how to read the two types of clocks: analog and digital (instead of using the word “colon,” the text reads that the “numbers [are] separated by two dots, one dot on top of the other”). He concentrates on explaining how to read analog, breaking the book into spreads that define “clockwise,” the three hands and how long they take to travel once around the clock, telling the hour, telling the minutes, and many examples, which also add in useful vocabulary like “half past,” “quarter past,” and “quarter to.” Backmatter includes a glossary of terms boldfaced in the main narrative and an author’s note about sundials, daylight savings time, military time, and time zones (the duo tackled this topic in depth in Time Zones, 2010). Miller’s crisp, colorful art features five astronauts (two present white, two have brown skin, one has green skin; two sport pigtails). Throughout, Adler brings the language and examples to kids’ level—eating a cookie takes a few seconds; passing a tray of them around may take a few minutes; and baking them could take an hour or more—though the concept of a “number-stop” as the distance/time between numbers on the clock face is a bit awkward.
Time to add this to collections. (Informational picture book. 6-10)Pub Date: Dec. 10, 2019
ISBN: 978-0-8234-4092-4
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Holiday House
Review Posted Online: Sept. 28, 2019
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 15, 2019
A book to own and refer to, often.
A comic-book handbook for young audiences about physical and emotional boundaries.
This small-but-mighty resource cleverly mimics popular early-reader series like Elephant & Piggie or Narwhal and Jelly, with heavy-duty binding and a jaunty cartoon feel. But instead of zany friendships, this text carefully takes children through consent, relationship dynamics, and what to do if you experience, cause, or witness harm. The unnamed characters are clothed stick figures with a variety of hairstyles and skin tones of different shades of gray. Early chapters include “You Rule,” about individual boundaries, and “Giving & Getting Consent,” while later ones focus on community and helping others. Brian skillfully balances kid-friendly scenarios (tickling, the gift of an unsuitable pet) with clear but gentle information about safety: a phone with text messages reading “send pics” and “wanna meet?”; a firm note that if a “picture shows someone under 18 without clothes on, it’s a crime.” The text also acknowledges that not all kids have the power to stand up to the adults in their lives: “It’s great when your family supports your choices. But if they don’t, you have a few options,” such as “reach[ing] out to supportive friends” or “think[ing] about what you’ll do differently as an adult.” The twin emphases on clear and direct communication and that it’s OK to change your mind are important messages effectively delivered.
A book to own and refer to, often. (Graphic nonfiction. 6-10)Pub Date: Jan. 7, 2020
ISBN: 978-0-316-45773-6
Page Count: 64
Publisher: Little, Brown
Review Posted Online: Nov. 9, 2019
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Dec. 1, 2019
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