A quirky and bright introduction to meditation and Buddhism and an appealing addition to the subgenre of books on children’s...
A cat who lives in a Hawaiian ashram demonstrates yoga poses in this picture book.
Bindi is a stray calico cat that spends one of her nine lives at an ashram after being adopted by Ramakrishna, who lives there. Though deemed scrawny and ugly at first, the cat blossoms at her new home, and seven years later she’s purred her way firmly into the heart of her new owner and become an integral part of the ashram community. Life at the ashram includes seva, or unselfish service to others, a duty Bindi fulfills by teaching a group of diverse students her own style of kitty yoga (“Sometimes we have classes with all Japanese students, so I’ve learned to speak Japanese! It’s so wonderful to know a foreign language!”). Bindi also inspires her owner to overcome obstacles, such as figuring out how to get down from the branches of the ashram’s bodhi tree when he becomes stuck. As Bindi narrates her story, she includes observations inspired by Buddhist principles, such as, when people “meditate they find that god exists right inside of them,” and “even though we all look different on the outside, we are all the same inside.” At the end of the story, the cat explains how to perform a basic mindfulness/meditation technique that focuses on deep breathing and mentally expressing gratitude for positive people and influences. In this engaging book, Michaels (Growing Old with Grace, 2015) builds a charming tale for children around Buddhist ideas and practices. Illustrator Porter’s (The Puzalings and the Puzville Pollution, 2016) artwork enhances the story with lush Hawaiian flowers and cheerful ashram scenes, rendered in warm hues. The underlying philosophy expressed in this colorful book may be too much for parents who’re merely looking for yoga instruction geared to children, but it never gets too heavy. Bindi may even inspire kids to get on the floor and try a few poses—especially Cat-Cow.
A quirky and bright introduction to meditation and Buddhism and an appealing addition to the subgenre of books on children’s yoga practice.Pub Date: Sept. 1, 2016
ISBN: 978-0-9978810-1-1
Page Count: 38
Publisher: Moana Publications
Review Posted Online: Feb. 6, 2017
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 1, 2017
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
A whimsical tale calculated to teach kids mathematical concepts.
A small butterfly is keen on big numbers in Benun’s picture book.
Pebbles, a monarch butterfly, loves to count. One day, he begins to wonder what the biggest number is, and he flutters around asking his animal friends about the biggest numbers they know. A camel knows the temperature of the sun, an eel mentions the number of volts of electricity in a lightning bolt, and a group of ants describe what 20 quadrillion of something looks like. Pebbles continues his quest until, after a narrow, eagle-assisted escape from a tsunami (“Thanks a sextillion,” the newly number-savvy Pebbles enthuses), he meets another butterfly who teaches him about the concept of infinity. Pebbles’ journey takes him to many global ecosystems where, with the help of characters including the East Asian Ms. Scientist, he learns about numbers, other animals, and weather phenomena like avalanches and earthquakes. Helpful “Number Notes,” which provide mathematical information along with additional facts about animals in small sidebars, are peppered throughout the narrative. The adorable full-color illustrations by Watson are set against mixed-media collaged backgrounds, which add layers of depth to the images. The representation of a female scientist is a lovely touch as well. Benun’s engaging story will appeal to children of a variety of ages and levels of mathematical skill.
A whimsical tale calculated to teach kids mathematical concepts.Pub Date: Jan. 24, 2022
ISBN: 9781737818601
Page Count: 48
Publisher: The Biggest Number LLC
Review Posted Online: Feb. 8, 2023
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
Floyd and Denise update “The Tortoise and the Hare” for primary readers, captioning each soft-focus, semi-rural scene with a short, simple sentence or two. Rabbit proposes running to school, while his friend Turtle takes the bus: no contest at first, as the bus makes stop after deliberate stop, but because Rabbit pauses at a pushcart for a snack, a fresh-looking Turtle greets his panting, disheveled friend on the school steps. There is no explicit moral, but children will get the point—and go on to enjoy Margery Cuyler’s longer and wilder Road Signs: A Harey Race with a Tortoise (p. 957). (Easy reader. 5-7)
Pub Date: Aug. 1, 2000
ISBN: 0-15-202679-7
Page Count: 20
Publisher: Harcourt
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 1, 2000
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