Puppy in My Head: A Book About Mindfulness

Kids experience anxiety and can feel overwhelmed just like adults do, and this picture book serves as both a story and a step-by-step guide to help calm kids down. Ollie is the puppy living inside of our narrator's head, and when Ollie panics or is too energetic, the narrator feels that way, too! But she learns to handle the situation with her breath and her mindfulness, and by talking it out with an adult.
In plain language and with a rare sense of understanding and compassion, Elise Gravel tackles anxiety in children head-on with bold colors and whimsical illustrations. This picture book also features a note from a pediatrician on the importance of mental health.
Perfect for bedtime or the classroom, readers will walk away a little more well-equipped to handle the puppies in their own heads.\nFrom School Library Journal\nPreS-Gr 2-Have you ever wondered why it's hard to focus when you are scared, excited, or worried? Gravel explains mindfulness for preschoolers and lower-elementary grades. The narrative is told from the perspective of an unnamed child who has tan skin and brown hair. A puppy named Ollie lives in her head. When Ollie needs to calm down, the narrator describes how she controls her dog using her magical leash. This invisible leash is actually her breath. The narrator practices deep, slow breathing. This is a clever narrative tactic to introduce the concept of mindfulness. The child encourages people to take time to listen and accept themselves (and their inner Ollie). It may sound a little meta for a nonfiction picture book, but, ultimately, thanks in large part to Gravel's signature quirky digital illustrations, it works. The antics of the playful dog are likely to strike a chord with kids, particularly those who struggle to control their emotions. Parents, therapists, and teachers will find the text to be useful in giving children the tools to deal with anxiety. VERDICT Make room for this one-of-a-kind book that explains emotions in a way kids can understand…even if it is a tad abstract.-Jennifer Knight, North Olympic Lib. Syst., Port Angeles, WAα(c) Copyright 2011. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.