Mindful Me: Breath by Breath by Paul Christelis (author) and Elisa Paganelli (illustrator)

This mindfulness story book for children includes simple mindfulness activities, which have been shown to help relieve stress and anxiety and improve health and mental well-being.

This book teaches children to notice their breathing and use calming breaths to help deal with feelings of pain, worries and nervousness.

In this story, Sam helps his friends, Lenny and Selina, to feel calm and in control when they find themselves in difficult situations, such as before a school show or after a painful fall.

Mindfulness practices (exercises) are integrated into the story, and expanded on in the ‘Notes to Parents and Teachers’ section at the end of the book. Readers are invited to PAUSE at various points in the story to notice their own present moment experience.

The four stories in the Mindful Me series explore how a mindful attitude to life can enhance enjoyment, promote a sense of calm and confidence, and provide young people with a ‘friend for life’. The books can be used at home or in the classroom, for storytime or as part of the PSHCE curriculum.

The other titles are: Exploring Emotions: A Mindfulness Guide to Dealing with Emotions Get Outdoors: A Mindfulness Guide to Noticing Nature Sleep Easy: A Mindfulness Guide to Getting a Good Night’s Sleep