Children’s Literature Connected to Mindfulness
Anh’s Anger, by Gail Silver
When Ahn gets angry, his grandfather encourages him to “sit with his anger” and work through his emotions. Anger becomes a central character in the story in order to illustrate for children how they can effectively manage their strong emotions.
Charlotte and the Quiet Place, by Deborah Sosin
In a city full of noise and distraction, Charlotte finds quiet in an unexpected place.
AWARDS: 2015 INDIEFAB Book of the Year Award – Gold Winner, 2016 Independent Publisher Book Award (IPPY) – Silver Medal Winner, 2015 National Parenting Publications (NPPA) – Bronze Award Winner
Everybody Needs a Rock, by Byrd Baylor
A guide to finding the perfect rock to hold on to in order to keep yourself calm.
The Happiest Tree: A Yoga Story, by Uma Krishnaswami
Learning some basic Yoga practices helps a student stay calm and focused, especially in school.
If you Find a Rock, by Peggy Christian
By engaging senses, emotions, and experiences, this book invites children to pay mindful attention to the many different kinds of rocks in their environment.
The Lemonade Hurricane: A story of mindfulness and meditation, by Licia Morelli
Emma tries to teach her little brother how to slow down and be still. She shares some basic mindfulness practices with him in order to help him be less like a hurricane of activity.
The Listening Walk, by Paul Showers
During a walk with her father and her dog, a little girl intentionally keeps quiet and shifts her attention to all the sounds around her.
Mindful Monkey, Happy Panda, by Lauren Aldefer
Panda teaches Monkey about paying attention to what is happening in the moment, instead of letting thoughts jump around from one thing to another.
Owl Moon, by Jane Yolen
A young girl learns how to be comfortable with quiet and the practice of waiting as she anticipates the appearance of an owl in the moonlight.
Peaceful Piggy Meditation, by Kerry Lee MacLean
Facing stressful situations at home or at school is easier if one knows how to breathe and stay calm.
The Quiet Book, by Deborah Underwood
This book invites the reader to pay attention to the many kinds of quiet in our lives.
AWARDS: 2011 ALA Notable Children's Book, 2010–2011 New York Times bestseller, 2011 CCBC Choices, 2011 NCTE Notable Children's Trade Book, 2010 New York Times Notable Book, 2010 Publishers Weekly Best Book of the Year, 2010 School Library Journal Best Book of the Year
Silence, by Lemniscates
Paying attention in the moment is one way to practice mindfulness. Silence invites readers to pause, listen, and reflect on their experiences and the world around them.
The Sound of Silence, by Katrina Goldsaito
A young boy expands his concept of silence while setting out to find his favorite sound in an urban setting.
Steps and Stones - An Anh's Anger Story, by Gail Silver
Ahn learns how to pause and give himself time to manage his strong feelings before he responds to classmates in an unsafe way.
Step Gently Out, by Helen Frost
Close-up photographs of the natural world model for us some ways to experience the natural world differently. If we slow down, and pay attention, we’ll see things from a fresh perspective.
Zen Shorts, by Jon Muth
Stillwater, the bear, teaches some children how to pause, reflect, and manage their emotions in confusing or stressful situations.
Gratitude is affirming that there are good things in the world, gifts and benefits we’ve received, and recognizing that these sources of goodness come from outside ourselves. Emerging research also suggests that helping students develop an “attitude of gratitude” may provide a link between students’ academic and social wellbeing. In addition, adopting a consistent grateful mindset can provide the following benefits for both children and adults in a school community:
- Improved physical and psychological health
- Higher levels of positive emotions
- More joy, optimism and happiness
- Ability to form, maintain and strengthen supportive relationships
- Acting with more generosity, empathy and compassion
- Feeling connected to a caring community
Through funding support from the Greater Good Science Center at the University of California, Berkeley and the Templeton Foundation, Open Circle has developed gratitude activities for all grades and gratitude lessons for students in grades 4 and 5. All components align with Open Circle’s guiding principles and existing curricula strands and focus on gratitude in the context of relationships and grateful thinking in response to acts of kindness. The grades 4 and 5 lessons include one “Grateful Thinking” core lesson and three supplementary lessons: “Practicing Grateful Thinking,” “Expressing Gratitude,” and “Giving Back.” For all grades, a list of children’s literature that connects to gratitude is included along with resource materials for teachers.
Download
Click the applicable link below to download the Gratitude Curriculum Component for your grade level:
Gratitude Grades K-3If you have any questions about these materials, please contact us at info@open-circle.org or 781-283-3277.
Children's Literature
For a more comprehensive list download Open Circle's Children's Literature List (PDF).
Open Circle also curates Children's Literature related to the following topics:
- Bilingual (Spanish/English)
- Mindfulness
- Children’s Literature related to Poetry
- Summer Reading List 2019
- Taking care of yourself and others
Self-Awareness
Recognizing & naming your emotions; having confidence and optimism
The Colors of Us, by Karen Katz
Crown: Ode to the Fresh Cut, by Derrick Barnes
How Are You Peeling? Foods with Moods, by Saxton Freymann
In My Family/En mi familia, by Carmen Lomas Garza
Mama’s Sari’s, by Pooja Makhijani
My Cold Plum, Lemon Pie, Bluesy Mood, by Tameka Fryer Brown
The Three Names of Me, by Mary Cummings
Too Many Tamales, by Gary Soto
Self-Management
Managing emotions and behaviors; working toward personal goals
Big Red Lollipop, by Rhuksana Khan
Grump, Groan, Growl, by Bell Hooks
Jabari Jumps, by Gaia Cornwall
My Name is María Isabel, by Alma Flor Ada (Chapter book)
Serafina’s Promise, by Ann E. Burg (Novel in verse)
Sometimes I’m Bombaloo, by Rachel Vail
Twist: Yoga Poems, by Janet Wong
Upside Down Boy/El niño de cabeza, by Juan Felipe Herrara
Social Awareness
Ability to take perspective of and empathize with others
Halmoni’s Picnic, by Sook Nyul Choi
I am New Here, by Ann Sibley O’Brien
I Lost My Tooth in Africa, by Penda Diakité
My Name is Yoon, by Helen Recorvits
Nadia’s Hands, by Karen English
Rain School, by James Rumford
Suki’s Kimono, by Chieri Uekagi
The Ugly Vegetables, by Grace Lin
Relationship Skills
Building & maintaining positive relationships
Danitra Brown Leaves Town, by Nikki Grimes
Four Feet, Two Sandals, by Karen Williams
Grandfather Counts, by Andrea Cheng
Make Way for Dyamonde Daniel, by Nikki Grimes
Margaret and Margarita/Margarita y Margaret, by Lynn Reiser
Pink and Say, by Patricia Polacco
Sumi’s First Day of School Ever, by Soyung Pak
Yo! Yes?, by Chris Raschka
Responsible Decision-Making
Making decisions considering the well-being of self and others
Harvesting Hope: The Story of Cesar Chavez, by Kathleen Krull
Hello Universe, by Erin Entrada Kelly
King for a Day, by Rhuksana Khan
Mama Provi and the Pot of Rice, by Sylvia Rosa-Casanova
My Heart Will Not Sit Down, by Mara Rockcliff
The One Day House, by Julia Durango
Wings, by Christopher Myers
Wishtree, by Katherine Applegate