Each Breath a Smile Book

Each Breath a Smile, a story told by Sister Susan, but based on the teachings by Thich Nhat Hanh, a Vietnamese Zen Master, is verse based on mindful living for children. The text describes peaceful and calm activity and awareness. Such as, "Listen to the wind. Listen to the birds. Listen to the crickets and the frogs. Listen very quietly to you breathing...Breathing in, I am blooming like a flower. Breathing out, I feel fresh. Flower, fresh." The watercolor illustrations correlate nicely with the fluid and relaxed message of the text. Additionally, the illustrations are seemingly culturally balanced; representative of a variety of ethnic backgrounds. I appreciated the note at the back of the book for parents and teachers: Mindfulness is being present each moment of the day, being aware of what is happening here and now. In addition, the 'About the Authors' information is interesting, and provides a bit of history behind conscious living and breathing. This is great for pre-K through 1st or 2nd grade. This would be great to introduce outside during a poetry unit; students could use the author as a mentor, and use some of the beautiful literary style used in Each Breath a Smile.