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King Calm: Mindful Gorilla in the City
“This lively and edifying children's book…makes a good case for mindfulness as a spiritual practice that brings alive our senses of tasting, seeing, feeling, smelling, and listening…Highly recommended!”—Spirituality & Practice
Have you ever sat in a movie theater with a bag of popcorn on your lap, and when you looked down, somehow the popcorn had disappeared? Or have you set a book down somewhere, and then had no idea where you put it?
It happens to all of us. We’re paying attention—we’re just not thinking about what it is we’re paying attention to!
Now, meet Marvin. He’s is a gorilla living in a great big city. He doesn’t approach life with a thump, thump, ROAR. Instead, Marvin mindfully experiences the world around him through all of his senses. He’s calm. He’s peaceful. He’s mindful.
And he's about to teach his grandpa to be a king of calm, too!
Includes a Reader’s Note loaded with information about mindfulness and living mindfully. Also included are simple ways to increase awareness to become calmer, more focused, and more peaceful by engaging your senses just like Marvin and seeing, feeling, smelling, and listening to the great big world around you!
Have you ever sat in a movie theater with a bag of popcorn on your lap, and when you looked down, somehow the popcorn had disappeared? Or have you set a book down somewhere, and then had no idea where you put it?
It happens to all of us. We’re paying attention—we’re just not thinking about what it is we’re paying attention to!
Now, meet Marvin. He’s is a gorilla living in a great big city. He doesn’t approach life with a thump, thump, ROAR. Instead, Marvin mindfully experiences the world around him through all of his senses. He’s calm. He’s peaceful. He’s mindful.
And he's about to teach his grandpa to be a king of calm, too!
Includes a Reader’s Note loaded with information about mindfulness and living mindfully. Also included are simple ways to increase awareness to become calmer, more focused, and more peaceful by engaging your senses just like Marvin and seeing, feeling, smelling, and listening to the great big world around you!
- GenresPicture BooksChildrens
32 pages, Hardcover
First published October 17, 2016
21 people want to read
About the author
Brenda S. Miles
23 books3 followersBrenda S. Miles, PhD, is a pediatric neuropsychologist who has worked in hospital, rehabilitation, and school settings.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
July 26, 2021
Young Marvin teaches his grandfather a thing or two about experiencing the world around him with surprising results.
March 18, 2017
This is an engaging and entertaining book about Marvin, who is a calm and gentle character who notices things other people miss because they are distracted or too busy to care. When Marvin slowly eats his banana he notices the bright yellow outside and the sweet ripe inside. His grandfather doesn’t understand Marvin because he’s impatient with life, gobbles his food and is ready to move on to their next activity. While Marvin is very observant, Grandpa never really takes a moment to stop to enjoy his surroundings.
I am pleased to see the growing number of books that encourage kids to slow down, pay attention to whatever they are doing in the moment, and notice the beautiful world around them. It is good to introduce mindfulness practice to children. Start at a young age, when they are open and eager to explore everything they see, smell, taste, touch, and hear. Bryan Langdo’s illustrations are colorful, lively, diverse and expressive. Children will enjoy studying the detail on each page.
I am pleased to see the growing number of books that encourage kids to slow down, pay attention to whatever they are doing in the moment, and notice the beautiful world around them. It is good to introduce mindfulness practice to children. Start at a young age, when they are open and eager to explore everything they see, smell, taste, touch, and hear. Bryan Langdo’s illustrations are colorful, lively, diverse and expressive. Children will enjoy studying the detail on each page.
August 10, 2021
I really needed this book tonight. I have felt like someone else has been "controlling" my everyday actions and that I am just watching from behind. I have been very overwhelmed and have been on autopilot for several days. This book has really taught me to SLOW DOWN and be mindful of what is truly happening in the present moment.
I love this book and hope others learn from it as well.
I love this book and hope others learn from it as well.
October 22, 2018
A simple yet powerful reminder to slow down and enjoy, notice, and absorb all the details of life. I especially like how Marvin and his Grandpa travel and experience things in the city, which makes the story that much more accessible.
Highly recommend for any age!
Highly recommend for any age!
January 7, 2017
A decent book for teaching mindfulness to children.
Emotions
Emotions
November 12, 2018
Gorilla teaches his grandpa how to take his time and notice his senses and appreciate things in a calm and mindful way. Will be a great read-aloud for talking about mindful noticing.
January 15, 2019
Cute for introducing the ideas of mindfulness to elementary students. Great for Kinder and up!
November 16, 2023
This book was about a calm and mindful gorilla who taught his grandpa about how taking your time makes life so much more enjoyable. I really enjoyed the message about taking life slow.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews