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I Am...
I Am Peace: A Book of Mindfulness
New York Times bestselling author and illustrator!
Companion to I Am Love and I Am Human
“A gentle, helpful tool for cultivating kid mindfulness.” — Kirkus Reviews
Discover the power of mindfulness in this companion to New York Times bestsellers I Am Human and I Am Love !
Mindfulness means being fully in the present moment. Children can learn how to manage their emotions, make good choices, and balance their busy lives by learning to be mindful, express emotions through speech, find empathy through imagination, and wonder at the beauty of the natural world.
“There are times when I worry about what might happen next and what happened before. The thoughts in my head are like rushing water, and I feel like a boat with no anchor . . . being carried away. I give myself a moment. I take a breath.”
Mindfulness encourages us to pay attention to our experiences (our feelings, sensations in the body, emotions, surroundings) without judgment but with kindness and curiosity. Scientific research has proven that there are many benefits to practicing mindfulness. With so many children suffering from anxiety, there is no better tool than learning to be mindful. And it’s never too early to get started.
Here is a gentle expression of the tenets of mindfulness, encouraging young children to breathe, taste, smell, and be present in the here and now. I Am Peace is a reflection of the power of mindfulness in all our lives. It is a perfect guide with which parents and teachers can help children pay attention to their feelings and learn to control their worry and anxiety.
Includes a guided meditation.
Also
I Am Me
I Am Yoga
I Am One
I Am Human
I Am Love
I Am Courage
I Am . . . A Box of Goodness!
Companion to I Am Love and I Am Human
“A gentle, helpful tool for cultivating kid mindfulness.” — Kirkus Reviews
Discover the power of mindfulness in this companion to New York Times bestsellers I Am Human and I Am Love !
Mindfulness means being fully in the present moment. Children can learn how to manage their emotions, make good choices, and balance their busy lives by learning to be mindful, express emotions through speech, find empathy through imagination, and wonder at the beauty of the natural world.
“There are times when I worry about what might happen next and what happened before. The thoughts in my head are like rushing water, and I feel like a boat with no anchor . . . being carried away. I give myself a moment. I take a breath.”
Mindfulness encourages us to pay attention to our experiences (our feelings, sensations in the body, emotions, surroundings) without judgment but with kindness and curiosity. Scientific research has proven that there are many benefits to practicing mindfulness. With so many children suffering from anxiety, there is no better tool than learning to be mindful. And it’s never too early to get started.
Here is a gentle expression of the tenets of mindfulness, encouraging young children to breathe, taste, smell, and be present in the here and now. I Am Peace is a reflection of the power of mindfulness in all our lives. It is a perfect guide with which parents and teachers can help children pay attention to their feelings and learn to control their worry and anxiety.
Includes a guided meditation.
Also
I Am Me
I Am Yoga
I Am One
I Am Human
I Am Love
I Am Courage
I Am . . . A Box of Goodness!
32 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2017
About the author
Susan Verde
27 books145 followersSusan Verde is a New York Times bestselling children’s author, children’s yoga and mindfulness expert, former teacher, and parent. By 2022 she will have more than 20 picture books in the marketplace. She is a highly sought after speaker at conferences, festivals, and schools across the nation, and spends half the year on the road working with children and families. Verde is a frequent contributor to online magazines and has appeared on multiple podcasts speaking about writing, parenting, mindfulness, and yoga. She lives in East Hampton, New York.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 264 reviews
August 18, 2018
This is an awesome book. It is easily in my Top 5 Books of the Year. I spent last trimester meditating daily and this book does a great job so kids can understand the process and illustrating what you are trying to do. I need to own this little gem.
Being present and taking a breath can help us with our emotions. This book takes this subject and easily make it accessible for young kids. Both kids enjoyed the book. They gave it 4 stars. The nephew is so wiggly that he has a hard time sitting still while the niece is able to. They both understood the concept of noticing what you are feeling. We got out stuffed animals and noticed how it felt on our hands. They had great experiences of what the sensations felt like. It was fun.
Being present and taking a breath can help us with our emotions. This book takes this subject and easily make it accessible for young kids. Both kids enjoyed the book. They gave it 4 stars. The nephew is so wiggly that he has a hard time sitting still while the niece is able to. They both understood the concept of noticing what you are feeling. We got out stuffed animals and noticed how it felt on our hands. They had great experiences of what the sensations felt like. It was fun.
December 7, 2017
I recently read I am Peace: A Book of Mindfulness by Susan Verde and I loved it! It is colorful and well-illustrated. The words and pictures allow the reader to relax and enjoy the beauty of the book and being mindful.
I can see myself using this book in my classroom during free time or to get a student to relax after an episode. I also plan to share the book with my ED 360 class when I present my Genius Hour Project.
My favorite parts of the book are the illustrations and how colorful but calming they are. The media the illustrator used to create them was well thought out and mindful. Mixing watercolor, torn paper and stamps to create the images allows them to be bold and simple. They are bright and subtle all together.
I can see myself using this book in my classroom during free time or to get a student to relax after an episode. I also plan to share the book with my ED 360 class when I present my Genius Hour Project.
My favorite parts of the book are the illustrations and how colorful but calming they are. The media the illustrator used to create them was well thought out and mindful. Mixing watercolor, torn paper and stamps to create the images allows them to be bold and simple. They are bright and subtle all together.
December 19, 2017
A very nice introduction to meditation for children (an adults) that is focused on mindfulness and connection to the present.
October 11, 2018
Most of these self-help books for kids don't work that well for me. I'm an adult, so I should be able to get something out of them. But, often, the message is confusing or weak, and I'm left feeling rather unsatisfied.
This book was written and illustrated by the same team that did The Water Princess, which I really liked. But I'm afraid I Am Peace fell a bit flat for me, for a number of reasons. First, the illustrations aren't as good. The Water Princess had beautiful backgrounds; in this book, the character is placed against a white background. While the illustrations are striking and colourful, I also found them kind of boring. Second, the first two-thirds of the book are way too airy-fairy. Only at around the 67% mark do we start to get some good suggestions about practicing mindfulness (noticing what your senses are telling you, etc.). It seems way too late, and I was already getting frustrated with the book at that point; I can't imagine kids would have much more patience (especially if they actually need a book on mindfulness).
There is a guided meditation in the back of the book that sounds okay. It's mostly about noticing your breathing. It's simple enough for kids to follow, and adults might get something out of it as well.
But I still question the value of a book like this, especially if it's just handed to a kid without any discussion. Much of the first part of the book is taken up by the boy letting his worries go, without much instruction on how to do that; if it were that easy, we wouldn't need books like this in the first place.
This book was written and illustrated by the same team that did The Water Princess, which I really liked. But I'm afraid I Am Peace fell a bit flat for me, for a number of reasons. First, the illustrations aren't as good. The Water Princess had beautiful backgrounds; in this book, the character is placed against a white background. While the illustrations are striking and colourful, I also found them kind of boring. Second, the first two-thirds of the book are way too airy-fairy. Only at around the 67% mark do we start to get some good suggestions about practicing mindfulness (noticing what your senses are telling you, etc.). It seems way too late, and I was already getting frustrated with the book at that point; I can't imagine kids would have much more patience (especially if they actually need a book on mindfulness).
There is a guided meditation in the back of the book that sounds okay. It's mostly about noticing your breathing. It's simple enough for kids to follow, and adults might get something out of it as well.
But I still question the value of a book like this, especially if it's just handed to a kid without any discussion. Much of the first part of the book is taken up by the boy letting his worries go, without much instruction on how to do that; if it were that easy, we wouldn't need books like this in the first place.
November 22, 2019
This is an adorable little book with beautiful pictures to introduce children to mindfulness. I wanted to read it because I am beginning to learn mindfulness and thought it would be nice to start out at a child's level with it. I really enjoyed the simple introduction and highly recommend this to parents of young children.
October 17, 2017
Just like with the book I AM YOGA, just sitting down and reading I AM PEACE is enough to put your mind and heart at ease. A wonderful sense of calm seriously did wash over me as I was reading this book.
November 24, 2017
I really love her books. The pictures are amazing and the story is great. Teaching kids about mindfulness and how to be at peace when their minds are thinking about so many things. Really enjoy reading these kinds of kids books.
Read
July 22, 2023غالبًا كتب التنمية للبالغين لا تنفعني، فكيف بواحدٍ للأطفال؟ لكن هذا الكتاب كان مختلفًا، اختصر على قارئه كيفية التصرف مع حالات كنوبات الهلع والقلق أو حتى التوتر الطبيعي، وكيفية استخدام تلك الطاقة فيه ما يعين في باقي اليوم، وما يساعد الغير. مفيد وظريف للغاية!
September 11, 2022
A simple reminder to find peace in Now.
March 3, 2018
I thought perhaps the text of the book was in itself a "guided meditation," but instead, there is a script at the back of the book to say aloud to someone else to allow them to experience guided meditation.
It could be used that way, though - as an adult reads it to a child, the child could experience a sort of guided meditation.
If that's not what they're experiencing, I'm not sure what else they might be getting out of this book.
Anyway, I'm sure there are plenty of adults who are looking for just this book: a gender-neutral hippy kid (there are peace symbols on the necklace & knit beanie) pondering anxiety, and letting it all go in favor of a calm, meandering, mental "trip" where a dropped seed grows into a tree that can be hugged...etc.
I'm not one of them. If a kid is upset, I want to find out why and figure out what we can do together to address the situation that caused the anxiety or anger.
It could be used that way, though - as an adult reads it to a child, the child could experience a sort of guided meditation.
If that's not what they're experiencing, I'm not sure what else they might be getting out of this book.
Anyway, I'm sure there are plenty of adults who are looking for just this book: a gender-neutral hippy kid (there are peace symbols on the necklace & knit beanie) pondering anxiety, and letting it all go in favor of a calm, meandering, mental "trip" where a dropped seed grows into a tree that can be hugged...etc.
I'm not one of them. If a kid is upset, I want to find out why and figure out what we can do together to address the situation that caused the anxiety or anger.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 19, 2017
This is a children's book about mindfulness, beautifully illustrated with watercolor drawings. The idea of being in the present by appreciating the world around one and performing acts of kindness is simple and profound.
November 12, 2017
This book does bring on a feeling of peacefulness, and I liked the way that it explained that inner peace can in turn be shared with others.
Read
March 19, 2018Very interesting and has this good feeling to it if you like peace read this book.
October 10, 2020
This is such a sweet, simple story. The child in the book reminds us to stop and look at the world around us, to take joy in the simple things you find in nature. It also includes instructions on mindful breathing in simple language for kids. The illustrations are not detailed but that's probably intentional. The simple sketches of a child reflects a modern, multicultural world and the child has a unique sense of style I think nephew #2 will appreciate. This book is great to read with small children (3-5) or have beginning readers read on their own.
November 14, 2020
This story uses choice words and pleasant imagery to very gently teach children what they can do to be present in the moment. It is soothing to read and offers children feelings that they can relate to and ways to manage these feelings in a way that will benefit them and others. I would definitely use this book in my classroom as a read aloud to teach about emotional regulation or at times when the class needs help calming their energy during the day. I would provide it in my classroom library as well.
copyright-2017
themes-peace, emotional regulation, mindfulness
copyright-2017
themes-peace, emotional regulation, mindfulness
September 23, 2018
Picture book about mindfulness. Illustrations are colorful, fun, and add meaning to the text, though I wonder if children would connect more with a modern-looking child rather than a 60s-style hippie of indeterminate age. Includes a simple mindfulness exercise and an author's note about the importance of being mindful.
February 2, 2024
Simple easy read…
December 5, 2020
A nice introduction to mindfulness.
April 16, 2020
We enjoyed this book read by the author online.
September 17, 2021
I Am Peace: A Book of Mindfulness is a children's picture book written by Susan Verde and illustrated by Peter H. Reynolds, which tells a story about the importance of mindfulness and celebrates it with vivid metaphors and beautiful illustrations. This is a companion book to I Am Yoga.
Verde's text is rather simple, straightforward, beautiful, and soothing. It is a story about a boy who is anxious and couldn't get his mind to rest. So she slows down and instinctualy does some meditation to center him and sort out his mind through his breathing. I liked that there was a guide in the back of simple meditation techniques. Reynolds' illustrations are wonderful and beautiful and reminiscent of watercolor paintings and depict the text exceptionally well.
The premise of the book is rather straightforward and has a soothing aspect. A little boy's is having anxiety of things of the past and future and is worried about it. So he slows down, takes a breath, and does some meditation to centers himself and to live in the moment – in the present and become mindful of his actions and about spreading peace. In the end, the little boy worries are quenched and has a more peaceful outlook in life. The text in combination of beautiful illustration demonstrates the importance of slowing down, meditate, and being mindful.
All in all, I Am Peace: A Book of Mindfulness is a wonderful children's book celebrating the joys and importance of slowing down, meditation, living and being in the present, and about mindfulness – an excellent book for both children and adult alike.
Verde's text is rather simple, straightforward, beautiful, and soothing. It is a story about a boy who is anxious and couldn't get his mind to rest. So she slows down and instinctualy does some meditation to center him and sort out his mind through his breathing. I liked that there was a guide in the back of simple meditation techniques. Reynolds' illustrations are wonderful and beautiful and reminiscent of watercolor paintings and depict the text exceptionally well.
The premise of the book is rather straightforward and has a soothing aspect. A little boy's is having anxiety of things of the past and future and is worried about it. So he slows down, takes a breath, and does some meditation to centers himself and to live in the moment – in the present and become mindful of his actions and about spreading peace. In the end, the little boy worries are quenched and has a more peaceful outlook in life. The text in combination of beautiful illustration demonstrates the importance of slowing down, meditate, and being mindful.
All in all, I Am Peace: A Book of Mindfulness is a wonderful children's book celebrating the joys and importance of slowing down, meditation, living and being in the present, and about mindfulness – an excellent book for both children and adult alike.
September 28, 2017
Given today’s fast-paced technologically stimulated world, I Am Peace is a gentle and loving reminder for kids to appreciate living in the moment, calm their emotions, be patient and kind with themselves and others, and respect the simplicity of nature. It is an engaging and interactive picture book. Susan Verde has penned an original and joyful story about self-discovery. Peter H. Reynolds’ illustration have his signature whimsical appeal. His use of soothing watercolors gracefully captures the peaceful poses as the child meditates, watches clouds, and shares seeds of kindness where ever he/she goes. Mindfulness will benefit children for a lifetime and help them change their world. l Am Peace is a companion book to I Am Yoga, written and illustrated by this dynamic duo.
October 11, 2017
With so many things to navigate through in a day this book is a breath of fresh air. With great illustrations from Peter Reynolds, Susan Verde is able to show that there are great moments in the present. Worrying and waiting do not help and this book is a reminder to be engaged now.
Think of a time when you were worried about an upcoming event. Can you even remember what happened besides that one thing? Now let’s go outside and write down what we see. What makes you happy out here? What can you see, hear, smell? Write these down. Why do you think it’s important to think of things that make us happy?
Verde, S., & Reynolds, P. H. (2017). I am peace: a book of mindfulness. New York: Abrams Books for Young Readers.
Think of a time when you were worried about an upcoming event. Can you even remember what happened besides that one thing? Now let’s go outside and write down what we see. What makes you happy out here? What can you see, hear, smell? Write these down. Why do you think it’s important to think of things that make us happy?
Verde, S., & Reynolds, P. H. (2017). I am peace: a book of mindfulness. New York: Abrams Books for Young Readers.
December 2, 2017
Sometimes life is so hectic that it pushes us out of balance. This gentle story teaches kids how to find a still quiet within themselves so that they can learn to calm the noise around them and find their peace. Colorful illustrations offer a bit of humor regarding what it could look like when our emotions carry us away. But these soothing images and colors also depict how children can tune in by using all five senses and calm themselves.
Author Susan Verde teaches that mindfulness is being engaged, paying attention to our feelings, body and surroundings. The back of the book shares meditation techniques for kids to practice being mindful. Parents and teachers can use this guide to help children find the quiet and they can have peace of mind when life throws them into chaos.
Author Susan Verde teaches that mindfulness is being engaged, paying attention to our feelings, body and surroundings. The back of the book shares meditation techniques for kids to practice being mindful. Parents and teachers can use this guide to help children find the quiet and they can have peace of mind when life throws them into chaos.
November 6, 2017
Summary: He begins drifting away in a sea of thoughts, with no anchor to secure himself down. He then takes a moment to take a deep breath and tell himself it is all right. Suddenly, he starts to notice the HERE and the NOW, and becomes peace. Guided Meditation included.
Activity: Students in a first-grade classroom setting will be given a worksheet labeled “My Peaceful Place”, and will draw their version of a peace, happy place. Listed at the bottom will include 3 ways they can find their peaceful place while in a time of doubt.
Citation: Verde, S., & Reynolds, P. H. (2017). I AM PEACE: A Book of Mindfulness. New York: Abrams Books for Young Readers.
Activity: Students in a first-grade classroom setting will be given a worksheet labeled “My Peaceful Place”, and will draw their version of a peace, happy place. Listed at the bottom will include 3 ways they can find their peaceful place while in a time of doubt.
Citation: Verde, S., & Reynolds, P. H. (2017). I AM PEACE: A Book of Mindfulness. New York: Abrams Books for Young Readers.
October 13, 2017
Kids have a lot going on and it seems like there is always something to worry about. This picture book gives young readers the basic steps to calm oneself into a state of mindfulness. The simple, warm, and welcoming illustrations reach out to all and make it seem like an easy thing to let go of worry and stress and focus on peacefulness and kindness. I know that mindfulness and meditation is something I’d like to learn more about, and this book is a terrific resource for classrooms and households.
February 19, 2018
A nice introduction to the concept of "mindfulness"...although featuring a "stereotypical hippie" as the main character (literally hugging a tree at one point in the story) somewhat contradicted the story's intention. *Anyone* can practice mindfulness--not just "hippie types"--and I believe the story could have been strengthened through the use of multiple characters from diverse backgrounds. Peter H. Renolds seldom disappoints...but the underlying message of this story was worthy of more than he delivered here.
January 25, 2018
I loved this book! All about teaching children how to take a breath and deal with anxieties they have. The illustrations and message was very therapeutic and reminded me of a meditation. The size of the book is too small to share during storytime but would make a great one-on-one story for elementary children.
October 14, 2017
Books on mindfulness are incredibly important these days. I’d say adults could learn quite a bit from these as well as students. Peter Reynolds and Susan Verde are an amazing team who have written some amazing books that will make a difference with people of every age.
October 18, 2017
Genre: Children's Literature
Grade level: preschool-3rd
Unique feature: This book takes a reader on a journey of practicing mindfulness. It is filled with beautiful illustrations, and I love that the end of the book includes ideas of practicing mindfulness for adults and children.
Grade level: preschool-3rd
Unique feature: This book takes a reader on a journey of practicing mindfulness. It is filled with beautiful illustrations, and I love that the end of the book includes ideas of practicing mindfulness for adults and children.
April 20, 2018
What a pretty, groovy, and well, peaceful book! The illustrations are filled with color and depict a variety of calming and peaceful situations. A section in the back gives advice on mediation and mindfulness for both kids and adults.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 264 reviews