Kirkus
Copyright © Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

What do you do with a thought? “Do you ever think, / What’s a thought?” Those things that float in your head can be as warm and cozy as a hug or as frightening as a monster. At some point, thoughts you don’t like may overwhelm you. What do you do then? Husband-and-wife team McGlauflin and Zisman have teamed up to offer kids some answers. First, they advise, close your eyes and take a deep breath. Then “think about a quiet space, / a calm kingdom of your own.” A light-skinned, brown-haired child imagines riding a seal to an undersea sand castle and riding a bird to the top of a tree. The little one also thinks of a favorite color (purple!) and bids those scary thoughts goodbye, replacing them with thoughts of kindness and bravery. Open your eyes, the authors instruct. Those bad thoughts are gone, the “storm of thoughts” a thing of the past. “This calming quiet won’t last long,” the authors acknowledge, but now readers have tools to deal with anxiety or fear. In simple language and bright, watercolorlike illustrations, McGlauflin and Zisman have created an upbeat take on meditation that will help little ones ride out unwanted thoughts. A solid primer on mindfulness for the younger set. (Picture book. 2-6) Copyright © Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.