Book Review of Grandma’s Breath
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The Children’s Book Review
Grandma’s Breath
Written by Mother Moon
Illustrated by Anastasiya Kanavaliuk
Ages: 4-6 | 22 Pages
Publisher: Mother Moon (2023) | ISBN-13: 9798989368624
What to Expect: Pandemic, anxiety, mindfulness, native culture, family, and grief.
Kaiah struggles with anxiety—and her anxiousness gets even worse when the COVID-19 pandemic shuts schools, forces people indoors, and starts making people sick. It’s only with the help of her wise grandmother that Kaiah learns how to manage her fear and anxiety through mindfulness, being present, taking action to keep herself safe, and taking deep, centering breaths. Then, her grandmother falls sick with the virus herself. As she gets sicker and sicker and starts to fade away, Kaiah wishes and prays desperately for help and hope. Will she be able to remember the important skills her grandmother taught her even through her grief?
The COVID-19 crisis brought anxiety to many children across the world and highlighted the need for empathetic and practical teaching of emotional regulation skills. Grandma’s Breath uses gentle storytelling to teach practical skills for managing anxiety, including deep breathing, paying attention to the physical body, and staying active. It also models for readers the importance of education and agency for managing anxiety in situations you can’t control. Softly colored digital illustrations use weather imagery, perspective, and facial expressions to emphasize emotions, underscoring the social-emotional learning message of the story. At the end of the book, a glossary and instructional section support readers in learning the mindfulness techniques they have read about for themselves.
Grandma’s Breath is a beautifully written resource for young readers on grief, mindfulness, and anxiety.
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About the Author
Mother Moon is passionate about making a positive impact on young minds. With a background in child psychology and experience in the mental health field, she recognized the importance of creating children’s literature that promotes mental well-being. Her stories delicately tackle difficult topics while empowering readers with valuable coping skills. Mother Moon aspires to serve as a caring guide, encouraging empathy, fostering kindness, and instilling hope. Beyond her literary pursuits, she finds solace in composing music and adventuring in nature.
For more information, visit https://www.mothermoonbooks.com/.
About the Illustrator
Anastasiya Kanavaliuk is a Belarusian illustrator based in Poland. As a little girl, she loved creating handmade things, reading outside, and redrawing characters and scenes from her favorite comics. With her parents’ support, her hobby became her career, and now she creates her own characters and illustrates their adventures. When not busy drawing, Anastasiya loves traveling, spending time with her family and friends, and learning Korean.
For more information, visit https://anaoseynn.com/.
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