In a high-stress world, mindfulness is becoming more and more necessary. Kids have their fair share of anxieties, and any way we can encourage more calm and emotional regulation is welcome. These picture books about mindfulness help kids learn to find quiet amid the noise and stay present regardless of the chaos around them.
30+ Picture Books About Mindfulness
Here are 30+ calming picture books about mindfulness:
Mindful Mr. Sloth
Published: September 1, 2021
Sasha has one speed―fast. She loves to do lots of things, all at once, as fast as possible. Mr. Sloth has one speed―slow. He loves to do things one at a time, at a nice, easy pace. Can Mr. Sloth’s mindful ways teach Sasha to slow down and enjoy life? Best-selling author Katy Hudson gently weaves a mindfulness theme into this unlikely friendship tale between an energetic girl and a sloth, encouraging children to stop, breathe, and be present in every moment.
I Am Peace: A Book of Mindfulness
Published: September 26, 2017
Mindfulness means being fully in the present moment. Children can learn how to manage their emotions, make good choices, and balance their busy lives by learning to be mindful, express emotions through speech, find empathy through imagination, and wonder at the beauty of the natural world.
Take a Breath
Published: April 5, 2022
Every morning, the birds are flapping with excitement for their first flight of the day…except for Bob. Bob doesn’t get the whole flying thing; when the other baby birds go up, up, up, he goes down, down, down. Bob can’t help worrying…what if he never learns how to fly?
His friend Crow tells him, “All you need to do is breathe, Bob.” Of course, Bob breathes all the time, but there’s breathing and then there’s B-R-E-A-T-H-I-N-G. And it might just be the thing to calm Bob’s ruffled feathers.
Quiet
Published: October 9, 2018
Everything is in such a hurry, busy as busy can be.
The birds are flying so fast, the dragonfly is zooming over the water—even the trees are waving their leaves.
So what if we sit here, you next to me…and we can just be?
Ten Ways to Hear Sno
Published: October 13, 2020
A snowy day, a trip to Grandma’s, time spent cooking with one another, and space to pause and discover the world around you come together in this perfect book for reading and sharing on a cozy winter day.
One winter morning, Lina wakes up to silence. It’s the sound of snow — the kind that looks soft and glows bright in the winter sun. But as she walks to her grandmother’s house to help make the family recipe for warak enab, she continues to listen.
As Lina walks past snowmen and across icy sidewalks, she discovers ten ways to pay attention to what might have otherwise gone unnoticed. With stunning illustrations by Kenard Pak and thoughtful representation of a modern Arab American family from Cathy Camper, Ten Ways to Hear Snow is a layered exploration of mindfulness, empathy, and what we realize when the world gets quiet.
Now
Published: July 11, 2017
This is my favorite cloud. . .because it’s the one I am watching.
This is my favorite tree. . .because it’s the one where I’m swinging.
This is my favorite tooth. . .because it’s the one that is missing.
Finding Om
Published: May 12, 2020
Finding Om is an illustrated children’s book that shares the story of Anu, an Indian African girl who explores the mantra Om with her beloved grandfather, Appuppa. Through this story, she begins to uncover techniques of mindfulness that readers can explore along with her. This wonderful multicultural, intergenerational story is sure to become a staple in classrooms and homes across the world.
I Can Handle It
Published: March 27, 2017
Your child will incorporate the idea of ‘I Can Handle It’ almost immediately after reading this book, even in our current uncertain times.
After reading this book, they will have great ideas for how to ‘handle’ tough situations!
- When they are tired of having to stay home, they will think ‘I can handle it’!
- When they are missing their friends, they will think ‘I can handle it’!
- When they are feeling worried about the future, they will think ‘I can handle it’!
Even if they aren’t saying the words out loud, this mantra will become a part of their self-talk. Over 300 5-star reviews say so!
Hurry Up!: A Book About Slowing Down
Published: May 19, 2020
A busy boy and his dog learn to slow down and enjoy life together in this lyrical, rhyming picture book perfect for hurried families everywhere.
For one busy boy, life is all hurry up, hurry down, hurry round and round and round! That is until he takes a big breath…and a big break…and slows down to see all the wonderful things in the world around him.
Alphabreaths: The ABCs of Mindful Breathing
Published: May 28, 2019
In Alphabreaths, children will learn their ABCs and the basics of mindfulness through playful breathing exercises. Breaths like Mountain Breath and Redwood Breath will connect them with nature, while breaths like Heart Breath and Wish Breath will help them remember to fill their heart with gratitude and send good wishes to others.
Here and Now
Published: September 3, 2019
A stunning celebration of mindfulness, meditation, and enjoying each moment, from the team behind the award-winning Windows. This lush picture book is a fantastic tool for engaging children 3-7 who are schooling from home who are eager to feel connected to their world while managing new anxieties.
My Mindful Walk with Grandma
Published: April 1, 2020
When a girl walks through the woods with her grandma, she’s so excited about reaching their destination that she misses out on what’s around her. But with Grandma’s help, she learns how to breathe, be peaceful, and notice the little surprises along the way. Find mindfulness in nature through this gentle story.
The Boy and the Sea
Published: May 11, 2021
In this lyrical picture book, readers follow one boy through his life as he returns to the seashore beside his home. The boy likes to think, and his thoughts turn into questions. He brings these questions to the sea. At times, he thinks he can hear the sea whisper to him: Dream. Love. Be.
So he does. He dreams—a young boy imagining all that he might do. He loves—a teenager, reaching out from a lonely place to make friends. He allows himself to just be—now grown, sharing the seashore with his daughter.
A Little Space for Me
Published: July 28, 2020
Sometimes, when it’s too loud, too crowded, too messy, too smelly, or for no reason at all, you might just need a little bit of space to feel like yourself again.
Crying is Like the Rain: A Story of Mindfulness and Feelings
Published: September 15, 2020
Is it possible we’ve misunderstood crying all along? That’s the discovery one big sister sets out to share with her little brother as they walk to school and get caught in a storm. Along the way they explore sadness, loneliness, fear, frustration, anger and more, through gentle metaphor. Their journey examines our tears revealing how they begin, why they happen, and what to do with them. Throughout the book, the message received is that we are safe in our emotional experiences and that feelings, like the weather, come and go. This is an empowering story about navigating and understanding our feelings as a healthy, important, and very natural part of our lives. Have you ever noticed you feel differently after you cry? That’s because Crying is like the Rain.
Being a Dog: A Tail of Mindfulness
Published: April 5, 2022
Join a young child and their dog as they experience every minute of the day to its fullest—from the second they wake up to the moment they fall asleep. Readers will love barking, wagging, and sniffing along with the gentle cues in the book.
Interactive backmatter includes prompts for a mindfulness walk that engages all five senses as well as a guided breathing exercise.
You Are a Lion! And Other Fun Yoga Poses
Published: March 15, 2012
With simple instructions and bright, clear illustrations, award-winning artist Taeeun Yoo invites children to enjoy yoga by assuming playful animal poses. And she sparks their imagination further by encouraging them to pretend to be the animal – to flutter like a butterfly, hiss like a snake, roar like a lion and more. Yoga is great for kids because it promotes flexibility and focus – and it’s relaxing good fun! The charming pictures of children and animals and the lyrical text make this gentle introduction to yoga a book to be treasured.
Breath with Me: Using Breathing to Feel Strong, Calm and Happy
Published: January 1, 2019
When you’re mad or worried or can’t wake up in the morning, what can you do? Use the amazing superpower that you already have―breathing.
Our newest offering from the bestselling creators of Good Night Yoga teaches kids fun and easy breathing practices based on the proven methods of yoga and mindfulness meditation.
Sample practices:
When something makes you mad or even feels unfair,
try this counting breath and you’ll feel calmer there.
Sit up and let your spine grow tall.
Take a deep breath in, counting silently 1 . . . 2 . . . 3.
Then let your breath out slowly, counting 1 . . . 2 . . . 3.
When you go somewhere you’ve never been and you aren’t sure what to do,
you can use a dandelion breath to feel more comfortable trying something new.
Sit up and let your spine grow tall.
Put one hand on your chest.
Place your other hand on your belly.
Take slow deep breaths and feel your chest and your belly move up and down as the air goes in and out of your body.
At night when it’s hard to fall asleep because your mind is busy and your body feels tight,
try balloon breath to get relaxed and ready for a good night.
Lie down on your back and let your hands rest by your sides, palms up.
Inhale through your nose and imagine filling your body with breath like a big balloon.
Exhale and blow the air out through your mouth.
What color is your balloon?
Visiting Feelings
Published: September 16, 2013
Do you have a feeling that’s visiting today?
Can you open your door and invite it to play?
Visiting Feelings harnesses a young child’s innate capacity to fully experience the present moment. Rather than labeling or defining specific emotions and feelings, Visiting Feelings invites children to sense, explore, and befriend any feeling with acceptance and equanimity. Children can explore their emotions with their senses and gain an understanding of how feelings can lodge in the body, as conveyed by common expressions like “a pit in the stomach” or “lump in the throat.”
Children can cultivate this emotional intelligence and nurture a sense of mindfulness. In essence, mindfulness is tuning into yourself and paying attention to the present moment without judging or analyzing what you are thinking or feeling. Practicing mindfulness can enhance many aspects of a person’s well-being, help develop insight and empathy, and enhance resiliency.
Taking the time to practice mindfulness as a family is a remarkable gift for parents to give to their children, and will help children as they navigate the teen years and adulthood.
Includes a “Note to Parents” to provide more information about emotional awareness, and suggests ways to seamlessly incorporate mindfulness practices into your child and family’s daily routines.
What Does It Mean to Be Present?
Published: July 30, 2010
What does being present look like? Noticing when someone in your class needs help and taking the time to help them. Sound like? The rain outside your window. Smell like? Briny seaweed at the beach. Taste like? A bite of orange. Feel like? Allowing the rhythm of your breath, in and out … to make you feel peaceful.
Follow a group of friends at school, at home, and at the beach as they experience just what it means to be present.
The Lemonade Hurricane: A Story of Mindfulness and Meditation
Published: September 1, 2015
Emma doesn’t really like hurricanes. After a busy day of school and activities, Emma likes to sit still and rest. Her little brother, Henry, does everything but. She calls him The Lemonade Hurricane.
Henry is a lot of fun when he’s not storming through the house, so Emma decides to teach him how to be still. By showing him how to sit, bow, and breathe, Emma is able to calm the hurricane within Henry.
Puppy Mind
Published: September 13, 2016
In this picture book for children and adults, illustrated by Jim Durk, who is adored by thousands of children for his many Clifford the Big Red Dog and Thomas the Steam Engine books, a young boy discovers his mind is like a puppy, always wandering away, into the past or the future. He sets about learning to train his puppy mind to heel to the present moment. Through remembering to breathe, the boy becomes a stronger and more caring master of his puppy mind, keeping it in the present, if only for a moment. Includes a discussion guide for parents and teachers.
Moody Cow Meditates
Published: September 1, 2009
It all started one stupid, rotten day when everything went wrong…
Peter the cow is having a BAD day. After missing the bus and wiping out on his bike he loses his temper and gets in trouble. To make matters worse all the other kids are teasing him, calling him Moody Cow. Peter’s day just seems to get worse until his grandfather comes over and teaches him how to settle his mind and let go of his frustration through a simple and fun exercise.
Breath Like A Bear
Published: December 5, 2017
Breathe Like a Bear is a beautifully illustrated collection of mindfulness exercises designed to teach kids techniques for managing their bodies, breath, and emotions. Best of all, these 30 simple, short breathing practices and movements can be performed anytime, anywhere: in the car to the grocery store, during heavy homework nights at home, or even at a child’s desk at school.
A World of Possibilities: An Exercise in Mindfulness
Published: February 13, 2017
A pausability is taking a pause just for you, to stop and notice what you feel, think, and do.
A pause is being in the moment and giving yourself a break.
There’s no wrong way to pause so it’s hard to make a mistake.
In our increasingly hectic world, even children are often inundated with responsibilities and activities, and end up feeling overwhelmed and stressed. Mindfulness helps focus our attention on the present—without judgment, and without worrying about the past or future. It can help us to enjoy the moments we might normally miss, as well as cope when emotions are hard to handle. We just need to take a pause!
Everyone has the capacity to be mindful, including (especially!) children. A World of Pausabilities is a gentle reminder to stop, take a break, and notice details even as we go about our busy days. Sometimes the simplest moments are the most important ones—if
we don’t let them pass us by!
Happy: A Children’s Book of Mindfulness
Published: September 1, 2018
We breathe deep and expand like the galaxy, We breathe out many thousands of stars, And if ever we start to feel panicky, This reminds us of just who we are.
The perfect soothing read for quiet time, Happy gently encourages young readers to explore their emotions and the beautiful world around them. This poetic journey to a place of happiness and calm will inspire and empower your child to enjoy the practice of mindfulness.
Breath and Be: A Book of Mindfulness Poems
Published: November 1, 2017
I breathe slowly in,
I breathe slowly out. My breath
is a river of peace.
I am here in the world.
Each moment I can breathe and be.
Hear thunder crash, feel your toes touch sand, and watch leaves drift softly away on a quiet stream. The simple poems in Breathe and Be help children learn mindfulness as they connect to the beauty of the natural world.
Mindfulness teaches us how to stay calm, soothe our emotions, and appreciate the world around us. Whether we’re watching tiny colored fish darting in the water or exploring the leaves, branches, and roots of a towering tree, the thoughtful words and the lovely art of Breathe and Be remind us how much joy we can find by simply living with awareness and inner peace.
Sloth Wasn’t Sleepy
Published: January 12, 2021
One night at bedtime, Sloth wasn’t sleepy.
“What if I worry when I try to fall asleep?” Sloth said.
“Ah … worries,” Mama said. “We will have to let them go.”
A tough day, a bad dream, a scary noise … these are just a few of the things that can keep kids wide awake and frightened after dark. But Mama Sloth knows the secrets for calming worried minds and getting to sleep―and as she shares them with her daughter, young readers will learn valuable relaxation skills that last a lifetime.
Charlotte and the Quiet Place
Published: September 1, 2015
Charlotte likes quiet. But wherever Charlotte goes, she is surrounded by noise, noise, noise–her yipping dog, Otto; the squeaky, creaky swings; the warbling, wailing sirens. Even in the library, children yammer and yell. Where can Charlotte find a quiet place? Sara Woolley’s magnificent watercolors bring Charlotte’s city to life when Otto leads her on a wild chase through the park. There, Charlotte discovers a quiet place where she never would have imagined!
Meditation Is an Open Sky
Published: March 1, 2015
Feeling mindful is feeling good! You know when you’re having a bad day, you have that wobbly feeling inside and nothing seems to go right? Find a quiet place, sit down, and meditate! In this daily companion, kids of any age will learn simple exercises to help manage stress and emotions, find focus, and face challenges. They’ll discover how to feel safe when scared, relax when anxious, spread kindness, and calm anger when frustrated. Simple, secular, and mainstream, this mindfulness book is an excellent tool for helping kids deal with the stresses of everyday life.
Little Sid: The Tiny Prince Who Became Buddha
Published: January 23, 2018
A spoiled young prince, Siddhartha got everything he ever asked for, until he asked for what couldn’t be given―happiness.
Join Little Sid as he sets off on a journey of discovery and encounters mysterious wise-folk, terrifying tigers, and one very annoying mouse.
My Magic Breath: Finding Calm Through Mindful Breathing
Published: May 15, 2018
Do YOU have the magic breath?
Let’s see…Take a deeeeeep breath in…and BLOW it out…
…and like magic, you can feel better just by breathing! Sometimes it’s hard to feel happy. But with this interactive picture book, children breathe along as they learn how to make angry or sad thoughts disappear.
Taking Time
Published: April 7, 2020
Taking time to listen to a bird’s song on the breeze. Taking time to gather up the blossom dancing free. Taking time to imagine the deep sounds of the sea. Taking time to cherish you . . . and cherish me.
This poem is inspired by principles of mindfulness and invites children around the world to experience the wonders of nature and home.
Mindful Day
Published: January 7, 2020
A bird fluffs his feathers and greets the day with a song. You taste the bright pop of a berry on your tongue, sweet as summer. Raindrops patter down on your hands and face.
When we slow down and pay close attention, we learn what it means to be mindful. And when we experience our day with that kind of special attention, the world becomes a wonderful and magical place.
There they are: 30+ picture books about mindfulness! Which of these have you read and loved? What did I miss?
More Picture Book Lists
- Picture books about feelings
- Great picture books for kids dealing with anxiety
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