Boyogi: How a Wounded Family Learned to Heal

by David Barclay Moore, Noa Denmon (Illustrator)

When his daddy comes home from the service struggling with PTSD, a young boy discovers that learning yoga together can be a source of healing.

Ever since Daddy returned from the war, he’s been different. At first, Butta Bean thinks it’s his fault—that maybe his daddy doesn’t love him anymore. But Mama explains that Daddy's mind is hurt from things that happened while he was away. When Mama takes them all to yoga class at their local YMCA, Daddy doesn’t want to go at first, and Butta Bean thinks it looks weird. But as Daddy and Butta Bean get better at the yoga poses (Daddy says he’s a real boyogi), Butta Bean starts to see a change in Daddy. He seems more and more like his old self. In a picture book gently tuned to a child’s understanding, award-winning author David Barclay Moore and Caldecott Honor recipient Noa Denmon celebrate the transformative power of yoga, therapy, and abiding love for your family.

Genres: Picture Books, Mental Health, Family, War, Childrens, Mental Illness, Sports

32 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 10, 2023

About the author

Photo: Timothy Greenfield-Sanders

Follow DAVID BARCLAY MOORE online at DavidBarclayMoore.com, on Twitter at @dbarclaymoore and on Instagram at dbarclaymoore.

David is a Coretta Scott King / John Steptoe Award-winning author whose novel, The Stars Beneath Our Feet, is being made into a film by actor/director Michael B. Jordan.

Wanna know more?

Writer, filmmaker, photographer, super geek, cherry cobbler gobbler. Knows the Death Star plans backward and forward. Adores Mark Twain, Haruki Murakami and old Prince songs. Loves the ocean. Sincerely wants to fly. David is constantly trying to see the world differently.

He was born and raised in Missouri where he read too many novels and comic books as a child. After studying creative writing at Iowa State University, film at Howard University in Washington, D.C., and language studies at l’Université de Montpellier in France, David moved to New York City, where he has served as technical producer for Sony StudiOne, communications coordinator for Geoffrey Canada’s Harlem Children’s Zone and communications manager for Quality Services for the Autism Community.

David has received grants from the Ford Foundation, the Jerome Foundation, Yaddo, and the Wellspring Foundation. He was also a semi-finalist for the Sundance Screenwriters Lab.

He now lives, works and eats Twizzlers in Brooklyn.

Reviews

[Anthony · Rating 4 out of 5]

When a young boy's father returns home from serving in the military and suffering from PTSD, the boy misinterpreted that his father is mad at him for some reason. But through the sharing of yoga together, questions are answered as behavioral changes occur.

[Katy Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is about a dad struggling with PTSD from serving overseas. And how as a family they healed together using yoga. I would use this book to talk about mental health with my class in a way that is easy for students to grasp. Also, I would talk about healthy practices and have the class do yoga after.

[Aolund · Rating 4 out of 5]

A thoughtful book about PTSD and family healing through shared physical activity, in this case yoga.

Themes: Healing, PTSD/Trauma, Exercise, Family,
Age range: Elementary

[Beth · Rating 4 out of 5]

What would’ve made this a 5-star book instead of 4 is if there had been some backmatter about mental health and PTSD along with maybe some information about yoga and some of the different poses.

[Barbara · Rating 3 out of 5]

Butta Bean is confused at the change in his father now that he's home from his stint overseas, presumably in the military. While his father is physically present, he no longer seems joyful or engaged in the daily activities he once enjoyed. The young boy asks his mother for an explanation, and she discusses how certain experiences can affect the mind, which is what's troubling his father. His mother takes the family to the YMCA where Butta Bean's parents take a yoga class. At first the boy simply watches, but over time, he decides to try the yoga poses, and he and his dad spend time together mastering various poses. As they both heal, they are able to share how doing yoga has helped them deal with their fears and various emotions. The accessible text, raw emotions, and child's point of view make this a book that will appeal to many youngsters who may find comfort in yoga as well as seeing their own parents in Butta Bean's. The digital artwork features dark and light colors for different scenes so that readers are aware of the emotions the characters are feeling. I particularly liked how Butta Bean is able to express his concerns to his mother and receive an honest response and not just be handed platitudes, and I also liked how the text doesn't specify what exactly has caused this PTSD in his father but does acknowledge that he's not the same dad he was when he left. It's important that youngsters realize that the adults in their lives have emotions and struggles too, and seeing the family heal through yoga was encouraging and hopeful.

[Stephanie Tournas · Rating 5 out of 5]

A little boy, Butta Bean, is worried about his Daddy. Before he went overseas, Daddy used to talk a lot and was fun to be with, but not now. Now, Daddy has nightmares and is angry all the time. When Butta Bean asks Mama if Daddy is sad because of him, his Mama explains that bad things happened to Daddy when he was away, “And those things made him sick…those bad things harmed his mind.” When Butta Bean starts doing yoga at the YMCA with his Daddy, he starts to feel like a super hero. He and his Daddy become yogis, and Daddy feels better.

Barclay Moore really nails a child-friendly definition of post traumatic stress, and it’s heartwarming that the father and son are able to share yoga as an active part of healing. Denmon’s beautiful digital artwork shows a Black family in Brooklyn, NY, centering each image around the people. The pages showing Daddy in his depression are tinted gray, easily communicating his state of mind. Yoga aficionados will enjoy the panels of different yoga poses, especially the panels of Butta Bean and Daddy together, gazing at one another.

[Faith Silver · Rating 4 out of 5]

When Butta Bean's father, a soldier, comes home from overseas ,his whole behavior changes. The boy's mother tries to to explain to her bewildered son that his daddy experienced some bad things which affected his mind. Trying to help him, she convinces him to come to a yoga class with her and
their son. Daddy likes it so much that he takes Butta Bean to class regularly. The two of them bond over practicing yoga and Daddy starts to feel like his old self again. Telling this Black family's ex-
perience highlights the desire for helping oneself and the importance of having supportive and loving relationships in healing veterans' wounded emotions.Accompanying the test are digital illustrations nicely depicting varying emotions. The illustrator used somber blue and gray tones showing sadness
with yellow and orange showing happier emotions. This book is recommended for ages 6-9 by the SEPA School Library Book Reviewers.

[Meredith Kaupp · Rating 5 out of 5]

This touching book covers a topic that is not often discussed in children's literature - but it absolutely should be. A young Black boy is scared and sad when his dad returns home after being gone for a long time. The father returns wearing an army uniform and is not the same as when he left. Throughout the story, illustrations beautifully depict the differing emotions felt by the young boy (called Butta Bean by his family). As the father begins to take yoga classes together (and the father gets counseling), the healing begins for the family. So many children will relate to this story as their own families are impacted by PTSD. It's a must-have for any library collection.

[Alice · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars
A boy's dad returns from away with trauma and anxiety caused by all he has seen and experienced. Mama drags the whole family to the YMCA for a yoga class. Even after Mama stops, the boy and his father continue their practice and become yogis, yoga practitioners. The mindfulness of yoga calms Daddy and the boy as they grow in strength in their poses and it gives them a bonding experience that is peaceful and positive.

I read a digital advanced reader's copy courtesy of the publisher.

[Caroline · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a very thoughtful and needed book about a father who returns from deployment with PTSD and his son who is eager to help him get better. Through yoga, the father-son duo begin to heal. This book is handled in a compassionate and developmentally appropriate way with an emphasis on self-care and healthy conversations between family. The conversation that young Butta Bean has with their mother is especially poignant and effective. The illustrations use color to juxtapose healing and hurt and the subtle introduction of gold mirrors Daddy's healing journey. So needed and so well-done.

[Cris · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really liked the story. The son's observations and questions seemed very realistic.

I think Moore did a fantastic job of explaining some of the non-physical difficulties service members might exhibit in an age-appropriate way. (Assuming for younger readers.) The generalities also helps the story work for a wide range of issues from PTSD to depression, etc.

The illustrations seemed to fit the story. I can't think of a better way to describe the illustration, but I can see why Denmon is described as "an award-winning illustrator."

[Anne · Rating 3 out of 5]

A young boy's father comes back from his military service but is different than before due to PTSD. The boy struggles to understand and the dad struggles to heal. The family starts going to the local Y to take yoga classes. Mom drops out but the boy and dad find that it helps them find peace and focus.

It's a solid look at mental health issues and one possible alternative to finding some balance. I read this to a class and then followed it up with a yoga video.

[Jame_EReader · Rating 5 out of 5]

👦🏻 review: this book is heartwarming and inspiring. I remember hearing about PTSD on TV and knew that this has to do with anxiety and other issues, but after reading this book it gave yoga a new meaning. We have our yoga poses sometimes in our Health class but I never took it seriously. This book is a great book to help people understand the benefits of yoga.

[Cara Byrne · Rating 5 out of 5]

"How do we make Daddy's head better?" For any child who has witnessed a parent with depression or PTSD, it can be so difficult to understand what is wrong and what they can do to help. This family finds support through practicing yoga at the YMCA, which is where the title "boyogi" (boy yogi) comes from.

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

A boy's dad comes home from military service with PTSD. Mom brings him the family to the YMCA for yoga classes and his symptoms start healing. It's a little too quick a solution for me, although the dad does mention a therapist, so it seems he's getting various forms of help to manage his trauma. A good intro, but I do wish there was a little more to it.

[The Library Lady · Rating 2 out of 5]

Well meaning, and a book on a parent's PTSD is a good addition to the shelf. And Mama's explanation of it is a good one. But though I'm a bit of a yogi myself, I found this, for lack of a better word, smug.
The father does mention his therapist in passing, but this makes yoga feel like a magic cure for PTSD. If only that were so.

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

I see a trauma therapist, so I really appreciated this book. I can't imagine the trauma a soldier goes through overseas. But I do know that the people who bounce back from traumatic events are the people who have a support system. I imagine it would be really hard not to shut yourself off from the world, but you have to have positive relationships with people and get out and do things.

[Jason · Rating 4 out of 5]

(2024 - #36)
Mental health; family; father and son; military; understanding; the mind; yoga; healing; POC; effective and affecting color design; beautiful artwork across some horizontal double-page spread pages; boyogi - boy and yogi.
Enjoyment: 4

[Seren Lindsey · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is so nice. It explains trauma in a child friendly way. It almost made me cry

[Shoshanna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dealing with the effects of war on soldiers, mental health, masculinity, and the power of a loving family.

[GS Dachslove · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good for a family with a service member who comes home different. Also potentially for any child whose parent is suffering from mental illness.

[Brooke - TheBrookeList · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read as a nomination in the Fiction Picture Book book award category as a panelist for Children's and Young Adult Bloggers' Literary Awards (Cybils Awards).

[KDV · Rating 5 out of 5]

Unique and exceptional. Nothing else like it.

[little free lib-rei-ry (•̀ᴗ•́)و ̑̑ · Rating 5 out of 5]

more books that show children's perspectives of their parents healing from trauma! especially BIPOC perspectives! more strong father figure books!

[D · Rating 3 out of 5]

3+

[Marisa Gettas · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful book about a father home from war and a family trying to heal together and in community. I have PTSD and this book made me weep 😢

[Y.Poston]

a beautiful book about yoga
helping a veteran re-enter life

[Tangie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very simple and sweet. I think it's a great intro to conversations about mental health, Veterans, the importance of movement and the idea that adults don't always have all the answers. Got it for my niece for veterans day and i'm hoping it will start conversations for years to come.