Take a Breath

K-Gr 3–Bob, a vibrant red, teardrop-shaped bird has not yet figured out how to fly. While all of his fellow birds can fly, Bob is left to entertain himself (and readers, in one hilarious aside after another) on the ground. When Bob begins to overthink his problem, helpful Crow stops to encourage Bob and talk him through a classic, deep breathing mindfulness activity. Told through humorous text and simple illustrations, Rim creates an accessible mode to introduce readers to the power of mindful breathing, in bird terms—“Reach our wings up to the sky / Stretching our feather tips away from our tail / Breathe in and out deeply through our beaks”—in a way that doesn’t feel overly clinical. Readers will immediately connect with Bob, especially through his self-deprecating humor in the beginning pages that will in turn make them more receptive to engaging in the activity.