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When Mama Grows with Me
In When Mama Grows with Me, a mama and her son create their own garden, starting with just a few small seeds and ending with a beautiful display of flowers. They observe how pollinators help the earth stay healthy, learn how to care for plants, and meet other critters that live in their garden, all while playfully shaping their bodies into yoga poses inspired by nature. Not only do Mama and her son learn valuable lessons about their garden, but along the way, they also learn to practice patience. By pairing lessons with movement, Rebecca Wheeler helps young readers make connections between the natural world and their own emotional experiences. Learn the value of patience and practice some fun yoga poses in this beautifully illustrated children's book. Includes a step-by-step guide to each yoga pose!
32 pages, Paperback
Published September 19, 2023
8 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
September 26, 2023
Having done a little yoga in my lifetime (and promises to myself to do more), combining the story of growing plants and gardening with yoga is genius!
The poses introduced in the book compliment the story so nicely. And the progression from planting a seed to seeing it emerge from the ground (or pot) is simplistic and understandable for the youngest child. This will be a great book to read to kindergarten through about second grade, leading them through the poses - a double delight - activity and reading!
I wish I were still involved with a library so I could do a 'books and babes' with it. However, it will be shared with my Extension Master Gardener group who does do outreach to young children. This would make for a great program!
In the meantime, it will have a place on my shelf for my grandson-to-be. I look forward to reading this book to him in the future.
The poses introduced in the book compliment the story so nicely. And the progression from planting a seed to seeing it emerge from the ground (or pot) is simplistic and understandable for the youngest child. This will be a great book to read to kindergarten through about second grade, leading them through the poses - a double delight - activity and reading!
I wish I were still involved with a library so I could do a 'books and babes' with it. However, it will be shared with my Extension Master Gardener group who does do outreach to young children. This would make for a great program!
In the meantime, it will have a place on my shelf for my grandson-to-be. I look forward to reading this book to him in the future.
September 20, 2023
This picture book is a beautiful marriage of Rebecca Wheeler's love for gardening and yoga.
The book begins with a child getting ready to plant a garden with his mother. The theme is introduced in the second paragraph: "Sometimes it's hard to wait, but waiting teaches me to be patient and helps my mind grow. Our plants do so much work before flowers appear. If the plants are patient, I can be too!"
The boy plants the seeds in little pots. He imagines the seeds waking up when he sprinkles them with water. "I pretend to be a seed and stretch my arms like roots in the earth."
After two weeks, sprouts appear. As he waits, the little boy shapes his body into a blossom.
The mother and son do an airplane pose as they pretend to be birds looking for something to eat. He has to wait patiently while the plants grow, so he watches frogs jump out of the water pitcher, and of course, imitates them.
In late spring the seedlings are finally ready to be transplanted into the garden. He and his mother shape themselves into trees to provide shade in the afternoon for the new plants.
In the summer, after the flowers blossom, the little boy and his mother wait for the pollinators. "Parents can learn a lot from pollinators," Mama says. "The insects focus on one flower at a time, rather than trying to do lots of things at once."
"I sit in the grass and imagine that my legs are wings. First, I point my knees up to the sky like butterfly wings and then I stretch them open like a sleepy moth."
In the fall, "we hide bulbs in the earth for next spring's flowers..."
"Just because we can't see them, doesn't mean the plants aren't growing on the inside," Mama says.
"Just like people," I say. "When we wait, we grow on the inside."
"That's right," Mama whispers. "Waiting is growing."
I smile because I know in all seasons, Mama grows with me.
****
This child's voice in this informative and lyrical, STEM picture book which makes it kid-friendly for early elementary students. I picture a classroom of kindergarteners learning about pollination and doing the butterfly pose on the floor of their classroom! In the back of the book, Rebecca's daughter demonstrates the yoga poses.
The book begins with a child getting ready to plant a garden with his mother. The theme is introduced in the second paragraph: "Sometimes it's hard to wait, but waiting teaches me to be patient and helps my mind grow. Our plants do so much work before flowers appear. If the plants are patient, I can be too!"
The boy plants the seeds in little pots. He imagines the seeds waking up when he sprinkles them with water. "I pretend to be a seed and stretch my arms like roots in the earth."
After two weeks, sprouts appear. As he waits, the little boy shapes his body into a blossom.
The mother and son do an airplane pose as they pretend to be birds looking for something to eat. He has to wait patiently while the plants grow, so he watches frogs jump out of the water pitcher, and of course, imitates them.
In late spring the seedlings are finally ready to be transplanted into the garden. He and his mother shape themselves into trees to provide shade in the afternoon for the new plants.
In the summer, after the flowers blossom, the little boy and his mother wait for the pollinators. "Parents can learn a lot from pollinators," Mama says. "The insects focus on one flower at a time, rather than trying to do lots of things at once."
"I sit in the grass and imagine that my legs are wings. First, I point my knees up to the sky like butterfly wings and then I stretch them open like a sleepy moth."
In the fall, "we hide bulbs in the earth for next spring's flowers..."
"Just because we can't see them, doesn't mean the plants aren't growing on the inside," Mama says.
"Just like people," I say. "When we wait, we grow on the inside."
"That's right," Mama whispers. "Waiting is growing."
I smile because I know in all seasons, Mama grows with me.
****
This child's voice in this informative and lyrical, STEM picture book which makes it kid-friendly for early elementary students. I picture a classroom of kindergarteners learning about pollination and doing the butterfly pose on the floor of their classroom! In the back of the book, Rebecca's daughter demonstrates the yoga poses.
July 9, 2023
I really loved reading ‘When Mama Grows With Me’, a brightly colored picture book full of beautiful illustrations and wonderful lessons for little ones. There is so much to be learned from nature, and Rebecca Wheeler shares many interesting facts through a loving story of a child gardening with Mama. Along the way, there are also excellent lessons on emotional health as well as relaxation techniques learned through fun yoga poses. In a world where children have so much screen time every day, a book like this one is extremely valuable and important as it encourages outside time, a love of beauty and nature and spending time with family. I highly recommend this book to everyone who loves and interacts with children!
July 9, 2023
WHEN MAMA GROWS WITH ME follows a child and mother as they plant a flower garden. To learn the patience needed for the long wait, yoga is introduced. Children learn that planting is fun and worth the care and attention needed to grow. The story gently guides readers through the seasons of nature with an abundance of seeds, insects, butterflies and bats. A book to delight all members of the family.
*ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.
*ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.
July 9, 2023
A beautifully descriptive read with interesting facts for children, and done in a interactive way that will loved by all the family. Poignant and thought provoking--a real winner!
This is the second children's book of Rebecca's I've had the pleasure to read. I'm a big fan. Can't wait for more!
This is the second children's book of Rebecca's I've had the pleasure to read. I'm a big fan. Can't wait for more!
March 31, 2024
When Mama Grows With Me, by certified Yoga instructor and children’s author Rebecca Wheeler teaches children about the importance of gardening and takes them from Spring through Autumn and the many changes that take place throughout the seasons. In addition to gardening, the mother in the book teaches her son about the patience that is necessary to reap life’s rewards, along with some fun yoga poses such as Bird, Butterfly, Frog and Tree. In addition to learning about gardening, nature and nurturing the seeds as they sprout into seedings then flowers, children learn about the critical role that frogs, insects and pollinators such as bees, butterflies, hummingbirds and bats in our environment. This book will leave children excited to try their hand at gardening, and get a bit of exercise in the fresh outdoors.
There is a Yoga Pose Practice glossary with easy-to-understand text and illustrations at the end
so that young readers can try the poses out for themselves – hopefully with mom or dad!
There is a Yoga Pose Practice glossary with easy-to-understand text and illustrations at the end
so that young readers can try the poses out for themselves – hopefully with mom or dad!
July 19, 2023
Rebecca Wheeler effortlessly weaves in morals of compassion and patience in WHEN MAMA GROWS WITH ME. A follow-up to her first book in this series, WHEN DADDY SHOWS ME THE SKY, this story once again harnesses the ancient art of yoga to teach us about the natural world. Here, Wheeler focuses on plant life cycles and their ecosystems, as seen through the perspective of a mother and her child tending their flower garden.
This is a wonderful tale for both young and old, with hidden gems in the form of science and philosophy lessons tucked away in every page. I almost can't wait for the next one in this series; however, the story reminds me that "waiting is growing," so I suppose I don't mind waiting just a little bit.
This is a wonderful tale for both young and old, with hidden gems in the form of science and philosophy lessons tucked away in every page. I almost can't wait for the next one in this series; however, the story reminds me that "waiting is growing," so I suppose I don't mind waiting just a little bit.
July 14, 2023
What a lovely read by Rebecca Wheeler; her second in a series that weave yoga and nature together to tell the story. “When Mama Grows with Me” teaches through lessons of mindfulness, movement and the journey of a few small seeds. Our relationship to the environment around us including weather, pollinators, natural predators and protective factors help this story “grow.” Complimenting the prose of this beautiful story are the vibrant, endearing illustrations of Katherine Jordan. I highly recommend this book for young and “older” alike.
October 2, 2023
I don't know what I loved more, the story or the illustrations! This is an excellent way to teach kids about patience, change, nature, and yoga. The yoga guide is easy to follow, and each pose is worked into the story as well. The story is accompanied by fun illustrations, and it would be easy to read the story while trying each pose as it's mentioned. Comparing the poses to different things in nature to help kids understand them better was brilliant. Highly recommend for parents that want to have an interactive reading experience with their kids!
March 30, 2024
The importance of patience and hopefulness is beautifully explained and illustrated in Rebecca Wenrich Wheeler’s “Mama Grows With Me”. The simple act of planning and working together to grow a flower garden will remind many of us of the joy of childhood and sharing time with special people. Yoga poses imitating the natural world are a wonderful highlight throughout the story and a terrific way to introduce the practice. While growth in ourselves and nature takes time, with love and nurturing gardens and children bloom!
July 8, 2023
Rebecca Wheeler's, When Mama Grows With Me, is a thought-provoking story about character growth in combination with growth in the garden. This beautiful story will help a child to understand the delicate balance of nature as it correlates to the delicate balance of inner growth in little minds. The lovely illustrations by Katherine Jordan bring this story to life through her artful beauty of nature. This is a fun read for children and adults.
April 15, 2024
Another wonderful book by Rebecca Wheeler that incorporates yoga practice into a heartwarming story of mother and child. Rebecca is masterful at combining social, physical and emotional lessons in her books and this is no exception. When Mama Grows with Me is a beautiful lesson in patience that every child will enjoy.
April 2, 2024
The author, Rebecca Wheeler skillfully weaves together the growth of plants and the movement of yoga, creating a delightful story for the young and an adult. Whether you are a yoga enthusiast or a nature lover, this book offers the bond between the too and teaches patience when dealing with both!
May 12, 2024
When Mama Grows With Me is a wonderful resource for teaching kids about gardening and yoga. The illustrations are bright and colorful, and enhance the book’s educational content. It’s a perfect book for little sprouting gardeners and yoga lovers.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews