These fun and colorful introductions to the concepts and practice of yoga will appeal to a wide audience. Appreciating nature and creative play are also part of the equations as children learn to work on their balance, breath, and focus.

Beliveau, Kathy. By the Sea. illus. by Denis Holmes. 32p. (The Yoga Game: Bk. 1). Simply Read Bks. 2014. Tr $16.95. ISBN 9781927018491.

PreS-Gr 1 –This delightful book on yoga builds community. Readers are presented with a brief riddle of a different yoga stance, paired with a charming image of a children acting out the pose. For instance, the author writes, “Sleek and graceful in the sea,/on land I flop more awkwardly./Smooth and round with flippered feet./Think if all the fish I eat” to describe a seal pose. The book emphasizes critically thinking while encouraging calmness, inner and outer poise, and flexibility. Young and old readers alike will enjoy this selection. Children will be captivated by the varying sentence structure and the twist of words, as they learn to honor the spirit in themselves and in others. Namaste.–Tracey Wong, P.S. 54/Fordham Bedford Academy, Bronx, NY

Lolley, Sarah. Emily and the Mighty Om. illus. by Sleepless Kao. 32p. Simply Read Bks. 2014. Tr $16.95. ISBN 9781897476352.

PreS-Gr 1 –This comical tale illustrates how children can often be misunderstood by well-meaning adults. Emily meets Albert, her new neighbor who teaches her yoga and gets stuck in a pose. Her attempts to help him results in several adults imposing their own interpretations of what Albert is saying and needs. Vibrant colors and great yoga pose illustrations bring the book to life as readers inwardly chuckle over the various characters’ confusion over the yoga word om, hearing instead phone, gnome, poem, dome, Rome, and alone. The book is a great tool to empower student voice, discuss character traits, or build accountable talk. A wide variety of children will enjoy listening to it as a read aloud or reading it independently as they learn the magic of the word om, which brings peace, light and understanding to everyone, even the most stubborn adults. This simple story is a solid addition to any school library collection.–Tracey Wong, P.S. 54/Fordham Bedford Academy, Bronx, NY