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Animal Antics: Focus and Fun for Little Ones
"An imaginative movement exercise that adults and toddlers can do together to help children focus and transition between activities. One of four stylish board books in the Mindful Tots series, designed to help toddlers manage the ups and downs of everyday emotions"
16 pages, Board book
First published January 1, 2020
6 people want to read
About the author
Whitney Stewart
54 books31 followersWhitney Stewart has interviewed the 14th Dalai Lama, Aung San Suu Kyi, and Sir Edmund Hillary for her young adult biographies. She has traveled all over Europe and Asia to write her books. When she is not writing, she is usually visiting schools and libraries to give talks.
Her personal interests are in reading, traveling, yoga, meditation, and sea kayaking. She lives with her husband and son.
Her personal interests are in reading, traveling, yoga, meditation, and sea kayaking. She lives with her husband and son.
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
April 24, 2020
The reader pretends to be an elephant swinging their trunk, then a frog hopping to a lily pad, then a cat stretching and meowing. Finally, the reader sits cross-legged with folded hands to be themselves and have a quiet moment of focus.
This is such an imaginative book! Imagining that you are an animal is such a fun way to get children to do yoga poses. I love how it prompts children to get all those wiggles out in a constructive and enjoyable way. Each of the activities are wonderful for releasing all that energy and bringing the body and mind into focus. You also get a wonderful yoga stretch along the way.
The illustrations are adorable. The bright colors really catch your eye, and each of the children in the pictures are full of energy and joy. The drawings are also very useful for demonstrating each action that the text is describing. I think it's very cute that actual elephants, frogs, and cats join in the movements, and there is a seeing-eye/ service dog that joins in the fun too!
This sweet board book is perfect for energetic little readers who need help to focus and stay calm.
Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for a free and honest review. All the opinions stated here are my own true thoughts, and are not influenced by anyone.
This is such an imaginative book! Imagining that you are an animal is such a fun way to get children to do yoga poses. I love how it prompts children to get all those wiggles out in a constructive and enjoyable way. Each of the activities are wonderful for releasing all that energy and bringing the body and mind into focus. You also get a wonderful yoga stretch along the way.
The illustrations are adorable. The bright colors really catch your eye, and each of the children in the pictures are full of energy and joy. The drawings are also very useful for demonstrating each action that the text is describing. I think it's very cute that actual elephants, frogs, and cats join in the movements, and there is a seeing-eye/ service dog that joins in the fun too!
This sweet board book is perfect for energetic little readers who need help to focus and stay calm.
Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for a free and honest review. All the opinions stated here are my own true thoughts, and are not influenced by anyone.
April 17, 2020
See my full review here: https://www.yabookscentral.com/kidsno...
MINDFUL TOTS: ANIMAL ANTICS is a way to introduce yoga-like movements to little ones through animals. Children are given instruction to move like an elephant, making a trunk with their arms that they brush through imaginary grass, sip water, and the spray it over their heads. They then pretend to be frogs and cats through similarly guided movements before becoming themselves again, ready to take on their next activity.
Each page features illustrations of diverse children in the poses, illustrating how they should look. Many poses are from yoga, such as the cat, which looks like cat and cow poses plus child's pose (stretching cat). This simplifies the experience for young children with the added bonus of pretending to be animals.
What I loved: The ideas here are really great. If you have an older toddler or preschooler, they should be able to do the poses with you, and this can really help them to focus and center themselves. The illustrations really help to imagine how children can do the poses, and the diversity among the children pictured is also great! The bright colors will have appeal for little ones who will enjoy the illustrations and animals.
This is really a book for parents to share with children while performing an activity. The book is a bit wordy and so it really only works when it is also being performed (as instructions for the actions/poses). Thus, this is not a book just to sit down and read, but more to interact with children and for use as a tool to go through these mindful exercises.
Final verdict: This book is great as a way to introduce yoga and mindfulness to older toddlers and preschoolers. The use of animals is clever and will definitely add charm for young readers.
Please note that I received a review copy. All opinions are my own.
MINDFUL TOTS: ANIMAL ANTICS is a way to introduce yoga-like movements to little ones through animals. Children are given instruction to move like an elephant, making a trunk with their arms that they brush through imaginary grass, sip water, and the spray it over their heads. They then pretend to be frogs and cats through similarly guided movements before becoming themselves again, ready to take on their next activity.
Each page features illustrations of diverse children in the poses, illustrating how they should look. Many poses are from yoga, such as the cat, which looks like cat and cow poses plus child's pose (stretching cat). This simplifies the experience for young children with the added bonus of pretending to be animals.
What I loved: The ideas here are really great. If you have an older toddler or preschooler, they should be able to do the poses with you, and this can really help them to focus and center themselves. The illustrations really help to imagine how children can do the poses, and the diversity among the children pictured is also great! The bright colors will have appeal for little ones who will enjoy the illustrations and animals.
This is really a book for parents to share with children while performing an activity. The book is a bit wordy and so it really only works when it is also being performed (as instructions for the actions/poses). Thus, this is not a book just to sit down and read, but more to interact with children and for use as a tool to go through these mindful exercises.
Final verdict: This book is great as a way to introduce yoga and mindfulness to older toddlers and preschoolers. The use of animals is clever and will definitely add charm for young readers.
Please note that I received a review copy. All opinions are my own.
May 1, 2020
This book reads like a creative, calming transition activity from one activity to another. Part yoga, part imaginative play, completely delightful. The thick cardboard book and bright illustrations that depict the movements are all perfect for toddlers. Sweet and simple, this book will help your toddler be mindful and focus before you move on to whatever is next - even if that's just re-reading this book again.
April 19, 2020
A terrific series to begin showing youngsters mindfulness through yoga. Reading through two titles in the series, I will write one review for both.
In Animal Antics, Stewart talks the listener through some simple exercises that young children can do, coaching them to focus on each movement to ensure they are being mindful. The exercises include swinging arms like an elephant, hopping like a frog, stretching like a cat, and ending with a suggestion to refocus our attention. Illustrations of what appears to be gouache applied with stamps are lively and will get children off the sofa and working out.
Recommended for toddler - PrK.
In Animal Antics, Stewart talks the listener through some simple exercises that young children can do, coaching them to focus on each movement to ensure they are being mindful. The exercises include swinging arms like an elephant, hopping like a frog, stretching like a cat, and ending with a suggestion to refocus our attention. Illustrations of what appears to be gouache applied with stamps are lively and will get children off the sofa and working out.
Recommended for toddler - PrK.
May 31, 2020
This bright, boldly illustrated board book is a winner in bringing accessible mindfulness to the very young. The dialogue is simple to follow and encourages imaginative play to create a sense of happiness and focus. I found it to be an excellent warm up for tots yoga which led into some wild animal antics of our own. In this day, it transferred very easily as an online activity that I was able to share with my granddaughter,too. I love the straight forward approach using movement and imagination to bring mindfulness and fun to little ones.
May 19, 2020
Cute ways to get your toddler active with yoga poses
April 11, 2020
This bilingual board book (English and Spanish) might be perfect for caregivers who want to entertain little ones while teaching them to be more conscious of the world around them. In a series of gentle moves, readers can follow the lead of the youngsters in this book as they move various body parts like elephants, frogs, and cats until finally stopping to sit peacefully for a moment to rest and focus on inner peace and calmness. The gentle text and bright colors in the illustrations make the movements enticing and are sure to inspire youngsters to try them out. Adults might want to practice similar moves alongside their little ones. After all, we all can use a little bit of peace in these turbulent times.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews