With clever photographs and carefully-chosen words Darcie Nuttall has written her second book in the mindfulness series. A small bear has imagined that the physical symptoms of worry and guilt are caused by a monster only he can see. In time, by making good choices, the bear lessens the size and pains of his invisible monster. Reading this story with a child gives teachers and parents opportunities to talk about the physical symptoms of stress and how they can be alleviated by making the right choices. Five Stars for Ms. Nuttall's creative use of mindfulness awareness.
The first book in the Mindfulness Series is Yipper and his Journey of Mindfulness. Here is a review I posted in November of that book:
Yipper and his Journey of Mindfulness is a new book for children, written by a new author, Darcie Nuttall. Ms. Nuttall is a licensed mental health counselor and her first book is written with calming phrases that repeat throughout the story.
Darcie has included photographs of cuddly stuffed animals to add a visual component of reassurance and caring. The pace of the story and the frequency of illustration will help any adult reading to a child engage the child in discussion around the story.
With gentle rhymes opening the story, and a reassuring adult dog accompanying Yipper on his journey, Nuttall takes the young pup on a physical journey and through the mother-dog's voice adds a nurturing component of emotional awareness.
By traveling safely with his mother, Yipper learns that fear will pass as he moves through whatever situation is causing it. And he learns to keep the memory of overcoming fear, as that will help him address fears as they arise.
This is a very thoughtful and thought-provoking book, attractive both to children and to the adults who love and care for them. I'm looking forward to more stories of Yipper, and am sure they, too, will evoke helpful conversations between children and adults.
Yipper and his Journey of Mindfulness is available at Amazon in print and in Kindle editions.
