Good Evening, Good Evening: Mindfulness and Affirmations for Babies and Kids.
Written by Kaarjal Agnani
Illustrated by Ekta Makhijani
This is a sweet rhyming picture book for toddlers and preschoolers. It contains short affirmations connected to evening that will calm them down and prepare them for bed, while reminding them of the many beautiful images associated with winding down at the end of the day.
Recommended for children ages two through five to be read aloud as a bedtime lullaby.
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Publisher: Belle Isle Books | ISBN-13: 9781953021519
Publisher’s Book Summary: One day, Odette the ant wakes up feeling stressed. After realizing that all she does is work, Odette decides to leave her anthill in search of the freedom to create her own world. Along the way, she meets Marcus, a lost mouse, and together they discover simple ways to feel better. Inspired by her journey and this wonderful new friendship, Odette finds her way back home to the colony with a new sense of being.
Odette’s Alphabet is a mindful story that offers a map to handle big emotions with kindness, unity, and courage. Fun and easy activities support each of the chapters, along with letters of the alphabet to provide additional opportunities for learning while encouraging young readers to explore meditation practices.
Sandrine Marlier woke up one day in her New York apartment feeling out of sorts. She realized that no matter how many trips she would take around the world, thanks to her modeling career, only a journey within could bring her peace. Eventually, she trained with world-renowned meditation teacher davidji. That training inspired this book, as she found herself drawing an ant and a sound: A, the beginning of all beginnings. Sandrine is a mother, meditation teacher, transformational coach, and Reiki practitioner. She shares free meditations about healing and empowerment on Instagram (@sandrinemarlier).
An alphabet book like no other. Marlier provides her readers with an adventure story that teaches the value of friendship, love, courage, teamwork, and cooperation.
The protagonist, Odette, wakes up feeling stressed. Every day she works hard in the ant colony. Determined to take a break, Odette leaves the colony to find peace and rid herself of stress. Odette meets Marcus, a mouse who is lost. They set off to find his home.
Each part of their adventure features a letter of the alphabet paired with a word. On the bottom of each page, Marlier suggests a meditation or relaxation activity for children and/or adults to practice. Each of these facilitates a peaceful, stress-free state.
By the end of the adventure, children learn many valuable life lessons as well as practical steps to relieve stress and create empathetic community relationships. Simple colorful illustrations enhance the text.
Highly recommended for children ages three to eight but it could be a useful tool for anyone seeking to rid themselves of stress.
GIVEAWAY
Enter the giveaway below for the chance to win a paperback copy of Odette’s Alphabet and a $25 Amazon gift card!
DON’T KNOW HOW TO ORGANIZE FAMILY SCHEDULES WHILE WE ARE ALL WORKING FROM HOME?
Here are a few ideas to keep things running smoothly and making everyone in the family more productive.
Create a To-Do List the Night Before
Instead of waking up in the morning to make your to-do list, make your list the night before. This way you can go to bed relaxed and confident for the next day. You also wake up in the morning knowing exactly what you have planned for the day. You might also consider planning on Sunday night for the upcoming week. Then when you wake on Monday you have a plan in place.
Prioritize
Take a look at the tasks on your list. What tasks offer the largest return? What tasks offer the most value and achievement? For example, answering email or paying bills isn’t a task that offers a large return. However, making a sale or meeting with a client is a very productive task. Put your most profitable or results-oriented tasks first on your list.
Get a Good Night’s Sleep
The quality of your sleep is important to sustain your energy levels throughout your day. Good sleep means you’ll be fresh and energetic all day long. Creating a to-do list is a good way to help you get a good night’s sleep because you can put the day’s stresses to rest.
Also consider adding soothing nighttime rituals to your routine. For example, meditate, stretch or read before you go to bed. Keep a gratitude journal and write before you sleep. Go to bed and wake at the same time to help your body know what to expect.
Eat Healthy
The food you eat has a direct correlation to how energetic and productive you are. Junk food will make you sluggish. Healthy food will help you stay energized all day long. Feed your body well and it will respond by keeping you alert and energetic.
Get Organized
If you spend half your time searching for files, names and numbers, you are wasting time. Make sure any items that you use on a regular basis are easy to grab from your desk chair or find in your computer. They should be easy to find and use.
Take Breaks
Productivity doesn’t mean working from sun-up to sundown. In fact, if you work without stopping, you’re likely to burn out. Instead, commit to taking a break every hour. Walk around or get some air to get the blood moving throughout your body.
Focus
Do you multi-task hoping it’ll make you more productive? Do you manage one task while your mind is already onto the next task? Both habits are unproductive. When you focus on what you’re doing, not only is the task more enjoyable, it also gets done faster and better.
Productivity is possible. With a little planning, attention, and self-care you can get more done in half the time. These tools are simple but effective. Try just one of these steps and watch your own personal productivity improve.
Lolli & The Lollipop: Meditation Adventures for Kids
Written by Elena Paige
An interesting book that teaches children how to use meditation to relax. In this first book, Lolli transports her readers to the Land of Color in three separate stories. These stories can be used as bedtime stories or as a teaching guide to meditation for kids. In the first story, Lolli introduces herself; she brings her readers to a crystal cave where they discover a shiny magic gem. Children who are sad, confused or lonely can find solace in the “land of polka dot undies.” Lolli guides her readers back to her own house in the land of color in the final story, which allows children to create in their minds their unique vision of a comfortable home. The illustrations enhance a child’s ability to imagine the setting.
The author targets the audience as ages four through eleven. Some younger children may succeed, but I believe most children in the eight to eleven age range will be more successful with this approach. Parents and teachers could use this book at bedtime or as a group meditation tool.
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August 11, 2024
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