Just Breathe: Meditation, Mindfulness, Movement, and More

Gr 3–8—A comprehensive and approachable guide to managing stress and understanding one's body and mind through meditation. Directed at middle graders, the book presents specific practices and meditations to calm breath and slow down thoughts. The introduction endorses an accessible, flexible approach at meditation for beginners, with an emphasis on doing what is most comfortable. The book is divided into six different sections and presents a refreshingly wide variety of actions, from sleeping and breathing exercises to being aware of the taste of food to reflecting on gratefulness. Each meditation is described in simple, easy-to-follow steps, along with the time needed and ideal location to complete the exercise ("a dark room," "a quiet place"). While this book is written for young people, counselors and caregivers seeking meditation activities will also find this guide useful. Color illustrations of children engaged in mindful activities are sprinkled throughout and instruct readers on how to position themselves.