10+ Children's Books About Mindfulness

Last month, I wrote several posts about recognizing signs of anxiety in children and how mindfulness techniques can help alleviate some of the anxiety children feel.   Mindfulness is about staying in the present moment... not worrying about what already happened and not anxious about what might happen in the future... just staying here in the now.  Listed below are 11 books about mindfulness that were written for children.  They teach children about recognizing their feelings, how to manage those feelings, and how they can practice staying present in the moment.

Disclosure: Affiliate links to Amazon are included in this post.

The Bubble Book by Elizabeth Ember

Use Belly Breathing to blow the bubbles bigger and bigger! Of course, you must pop them as well! The Bubble Book was written to introduce and excite my preschool classroom about Belly Breaths through a fun, interactive experience. We use these Belly Breaths as a tool to get our bodies calm and settled after a rough moment on the playground, before nap time, or just to get feeling good again. Belly Breaths are an important first step towards emotion regulation and mindfulness. They bring more oxygen to the brain so we can process what is happening and think more clearly. I use this book to simply introduce the term “Belly Breaths” to my kiddos in a fun and engaging activity. Then, when the time comes, I can say, "Remember the Belly Breaths? Let’s give them a try!”

🍎 Title: The Bubble Book

🍎 Author: Elizabeth Ember

🍎 Illustrator: Elizabeth Ember

🍎 Publisher: self-published

🍎 Date: July 29, 2020

🍎 Pages: 30

Uni and Drago: A Fun Boring Day by Sylvie Pham

This was one of those Boring days that Uni and Drago have. They did not have any plans...no birthday, no party, no flying class... nothing.  What should they do?  What changed their day?  Uni & Drago - A Fun Boring Day tells the story of a day of Uni & Drago that started to be boring, but turned out to be a fun day.  This book will help kids to:

• Learn to relax and enjoy nature and the world around them,
• Learn that everybody is friends and you can always make friends with people around no matter, what they look or where they come from,
• Learn to respect nature and all the creatures in nature, and
• Develop their imagination.

🍎 Title: Uni and Drago: A Fun Boring Day

🍎 Author: Sylvie Pham

🍎 Illustrator: Sylvie Pham

🍎 Publisher: Mizu Books

🍎 Date: July 1, 2020

🍎 Pages: 26

Good Morning, Little Butterfly! by Emese Varga

Have you ever noticed that mornings and on to school is never an easy task?  In fact, it's one of the most frustrating routines for most families and can cause a lot of disconnects.  What if we can help our children with a little story that sets our kids up for the best they can be? This meditation storybook is about a little butterfly, who visits her friends and learns important lessons from every one of them.  Whether you homeschool or traditional school, we all can use a little encouragement each morning.  Words have great power, you can choose to add more positive ones to your and your child's days with this book. You never know the words of encouragement from you that your kids will carry with them for years.

🍎 Title: Good Morning, Little Butterfly!

🍎 Author: Emese Varga

🍎 Illustrator: Emese Varga

🍎 Publisher: self-published

🍎 Date: June 9, 2020

🍎 Pages: 41

I Am Peace: A Book of Mindfulness by Susan Verde

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.  From the bestselling team that created I Am Yoga, I Am Human, I Am Love, and I Am One comes a gentle expression of the tenets of mindfulness, encouraging children to breathe, taste, smell, and be present in the here and now.

🍎 Title: I Am Peace: A Book of Mindfulness

🍎 Author: Susan Verde

🍎 Illustrator: Peter H. Reynolds

🍎 Publisher: Abrams Books for Young Readers

🍎 Date: September 26, 2017

🍎 Pages: 32

Right Now: I Am Fine by Dr. Daniella Owen

Dr. Daniela's Owen, Ph.D., an assistant professor of clinical psychology at the University of California, Berkeley, has published her first book specifically to help children deal with the complications of stress and anxiety from the COVID Epidemic. This book is a mindfully written self-help guide to aid children in dealing with stress and anxiety, by uncovering their emotions and following a simple calming routine.

🍎 Title: Right Now, I Am Fine
🍎 Author: Dr. Daniela Owen
🍎 Illustrator: Gülce Baycik
🍎 Publisher: Puppy Dogs & Ice Cream Inc
🍎 Date: June 1, 2020
🍎 Pages: 48

Krystle Gets a New Crystal: An Introduction to Mindfulness and Meditation by L.M. Ajani

A breakthrough teaching tool for learning mindfulness and self-soothing meant for children ages 3-8 years old.  This book is designed for youth who are:

• Sensitive
• Get overstimulated
• Overwhelmed easily

Krystle teaches us how to overcome overwhelming emotions using intention, focus, and deep breathing techniques. She shows us how to manifest life's treasures through her experience.

🍎 Title: Krystle Gets a New Crystal: An Introduction to Mindfulness and Meditation

🍎 Author: L.M. Ajani

🍎 Illustrator: Illumine Creations

🍎 Publisher: self-published

🍎 Date: July 31, 2020

🍎 Pages: 29

Breathe Like a Bear: 30 Mindful Moments for Kids to Feel Calm and Focused Anytime, Anywhere by Kira Willey

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.  Based on Kira Willey’s Parents’ Choice GOLD Award-winning CD, Mindful Moments for Kids, this one-of-a-kind book is sure to help kids find calm, gain focus, and feel energized during the day, and encourage families to establish a fun and consistent mindfulness practice, whether at home or on the go.

🍎 Title: Breathe Like a Bear: 30 Mindful Moments for Kids to Feel Calm and Focused Anytime, Anywhere

🍎 Author: Kira Willey

🍎 Illustrator: Anni Betts

🍎 Publisher: Rodale Kids

🍎 Date: December 5, 2017

🍎 Pages: 96

I Am Mindful: Self-Regulation Skills by Michael Gordon

Want to teach your children to be more mindful?

• Skills to stay calm, focused and relaxed
• Learn to manage stress and regulate emotions
• Help kids develop a positive outlook
• Solutions that help kids handle their hot feelings in healthier ways

(Mindfulness for kids, anger management, children's books age 3 5, preschool)

🍎 Title: I Am Mindful: Self-Regulation Skills

🍎 Author: Michael Gordon

🍎 Illustrator: Max Larin

🍎 Publisher: self-published

🍎 Date: *may be out of print*

🍎 Pages: 20

I Can Handle It: Mindful Mantras by Laurie Wright

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!'

Positive self-talk is vital for improving and maintaining strong mental health which is exactly what the world needs right now.  Help your child feel emotionally strong along with Sebastien, and provide a tool to help them get through these challenging times.

🍎 Title: I Can Handle It!

🍎 Author: Laurie Wright

🍎 Illustrator: Ana Santos

🍎 Publisher: self-published

🍎 Date: March 27, 2017

🍎 Pages: 24

Alphabreaths: The ABCs of Mindful Breathing by Christopher Willard, PsyD

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.  Simple, playful, and with delightful illustrations, Alphabreaths is the perfect introduction to mindfulness and breath awareness.

🍎 Title: Alphabreaths: The ABCs of Mindful Breathing
🍎 Author: Christopher Willard, PsyD

🍎 Illustrator: Daniel Rechtschaffen MA

🍎 Publisher: Sounds True

🍎 Date: May 28, 2019

🍎 Pages: 32

B is for Breathe: The ABCs of Coping with Fussy and Frustrating Feelings by Melissa Munro Boyd

From the letter A to the letter Z, B is for Breathe celebrates the many ways children can express their feelings and develop coping skills at an early age. Fun, cute, and exciting illustrations, this colorful book teaches kids simple ways to cope with fussy and frustrating emotions. This book will inspire kids to discuss their feelings, show positive behaviors, and practice calm down strategies.

🍎 Title: B is for Breathe: The ABCs of Coping with Fussy and Frustrating Feelings
🍎 Author: Melissa Munro Boyd

🍎 Illustrator: Melissa Boyd

🍎 Publisher: Melissa Boyd

🍎 Date: February 28, 2019

🍎 Pages: 32

Just breathe.  You'll be OK.

(Next Article: The Rounders and the Tallers and The Jellies and the Crunchers)