Review - Deep Breaths

Deep Breaths
by Carol Thompson
Date: 2019
Publisher: Rodale Kids
Reading level: C
Book type: picture book
Pages: 32
Format: e-book
Source: library

Take a deep breath, and learn to manage strong emotions through mindfulness with this pair of feuding best friends, Dolly and Jack!

Dolly the pig and Jack the rabbit are best friends, but even best friends don't always get along. When Dolly and Jack get into a big disagreement, they go from happy to mad, to sad...and then back to happy!

Both hilarious and instructive, Deep Breaths is a refreshing picture-book portrait of real friendship, and sets an example of how to manage strong emotions and resolve differences through simple mindfulness and meditation techniques.

(synopsis from Goodreads)

Deep Breaths is a cute story about two friends, Dolly the pig and Jack the rabbit, who have an argument one day. Through using meditative techniques, they are able to calm down and eventually make up.

I've read a few books about emotional regulation for kids, and they can come across as a bit preachy. This one, however, doesn't; the techniques that Dolly and Jack use to calm down after their argument are woven seamlessly into the story. The depiction of their friendship is really adorable, so you're hoping these two do resolve their differences and make up.

I'd definitely recommend this one, especially to young children who might need a gentle nudge when dealing with resolving conflicts.

Quotable moment:

Premise: 4/5
Meter: n/a
Writing: 3/5
Illustrations: 3/5
Originality: 4/5

Enjoyment: 4/5

Overall: 3.67 out of 5