Unicorn Yoga

by Gina Cascone, Bryony Williams Sheppard, Jennifer Sattler (Illustrator)

The healing, restorative power of yoga has been known for centuries, and more people than ever are active practitioners. Now even the youngest of readers can learn this mind and body exercise, helping them set up a lifetime of healthy habits. Through clear, easy-to-follow instructions, a unicorn yogi, along with two energetic students, leads children through a ten-pose class. Kid-friendly back matter provides additional information on yoga, as well as tips on mindfulness, encouraging readers to develop their own daily practice.

Genres: Picture Books, Unicorns, Childrens, Nonfiction, Storytime, Animals

32 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 5, 2020

About the author

Also writes as A.G. Cascone.

Reviews

[Carol Baldwin · Rating 5 out of 5]

In this unique first book on yoga, little ones will learn eleven poses as modeled by three unicorns--an instructor and two "assistants" who can more or less accomplish the poses.

Yoga is for everybody...and for every body. Big, small, young, old. The practice makes us strong and graceful.

Cow Pose instructions are to the point: Roll up onto your hands and knees and take a deep breath in through your nose. Drop your belly, lift your tail, and look up. What child won't love lifting his tail??

Forward-Fold Pose provides interesting challenges for unicorns and kids.

And then of course, afterward, everyone gets to rest in Relaxation Pose.

The back matter includes information and definitions. Unicorn Yoga is written by the mother and daughter team, Gina Cascone and Bryony Williams Sheppard. I wondered about their choice of subject material, and found the answer on their website:

"Because yoga provides so many benefits, it seems only logical to introduce the practice to children as early as possible. So, we approached our editor with a picture book to do just that. She shared it with the wonderfully creative team at Sleeping Bear Press and came back to us with the idea that unicorns might encourage children to become engaged.

The concept was not as far-fetched as our editor feared we might find it. After all, both yogis and unicorns are joyful, playful, and magical. There is an even more concrete correlation. In the Indus River Valley, in India, five-thousand-year-old bronze seals have been found; some depicting yogis and some depicting unicorns."

The fun illustrations are by Jennifer Sattler, another fine illustrator.

[Barbara · Rating 3 out of 5]

With softly-colored illustrations, this picture book introduces youngsters to yoga as an experienced unicorn yogi demonstrates ten different poses, including the cat pose, and the cobra pose. My favorite one, of course, is the relaxation pose. Not only do the images allow young readers to see what the poses look like, but the text includes simple, easy-to-follow directions. Two of the young unicorns who are learning the poses will amuse readers as they aren't particularly proficient with the exercises, and one even farts during the downward-facing dog pose. The back matter provides information about yoga, breathing, mindfulness, and the necessity to practice the poses. While the book encourages everyone to give yoga a try, I wish it had addressed some ways that accommodations can be made for those individuals with disabilities. Otherwise, I found this picture book accessible and encouraging, and the suggested poses and breathing exercises good ways to alleviate stress.

[Lauren · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book would gets 5 stars for its adorable illustrations EXCEPT unicorn horns don’t bend! Couldn’t the artist find a REAL unicorn who does yoga to pose for this? Unbelievable. I bet they used a horse and just taped a rubber horn to it, that’s why it bent when it was doing cat pose and the forward fold, etc. I bet all the REAL unicorns were like, “I am only doing this if it’s an animated video, a book is too hard to learn yoga from!” And I agree. Like, it’s not something you sit and listen to. So you flip a page, do the pose, and then try to get a little kid to look at the next page? Hmm... Doesn’t work very easily. But this is totally worth checking out from the library just for the image of a unicorn in a sweatband, though. I hope they make a sequel about unicorns doing aerobics and just make it a story and not something I have to get out of my chair for, because a unicorn in leg warmers and high top sneakers would be delightful when drawn by this artist.

[Golden Ginkgo · Rating 4 out of 5]

There is a lot to love about Unicorn Yoga—the focus on breath, the clear and specific instructions, the positive message, and of course the unicorns. There is information about how certain poses benefit you and which muscles should be engaged. There is a touch of humor. There is kid-friendly information about yoga and mindful breathing in the back of the book. And did I mention unicorns? The one downside is that the illustrations only have unicorns and not kids doing the poses, which can be tricky for people not familiar with the poses.


For more yoga books for kids, check out my post: My Favorite Yoga Books for Kids

For more book recommendations, check out my blog: Golden Ginkgo Books

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's never too early to get the little ones in motion, and this winsome introduction to yoga for young children is just the ticket--I mean, unicorns. . .exactly! On the recto of each double page, cute little horned critters in purposeful poses demonstrate the steps concisely laid out in the corresponding verso page, which always includes a simple statement about which body part or mental state is helped along by that particular pose, as well as the mantra, "Breathe in. Breathe out." A fun parent-and-child activity, and a healthful one, too, for sure. A new crop of yoga fans awaits!

[Loni · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great for lovers of unicorns and yoga. This would be great to use in a yoga storytime. I liked that it did a good job of describing the poses, and that each page had 3 different unicorns doing the poses with different abilities.

[Clara Ventura · Rating 5 out of 5]

It´s very good because gives you inspiration for doing yoga

[Susan Krafcheck · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sooooo cute> I love the fact there are 3 different unicorns, per page for each pose. Almost a beginner, intermediate, and a yogi!

[Mel · Rating 4 out of 5]

super cute for kiddos who are curious about yoga and also love unicorns

[Sarah Sexton · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute book that walks kids thru various yoga poses. The illustrations are truly adorable and will suck kids in. There's no narrative outside of the pictures, just a how-to on yoga poses.

[Justine · Rating 5 out of 5]

My daughter is in her unicorn phase so needed to grab her this one. She lately loved it ahhaha she followed along and did the yoga poses and wanted to red the book more than once. Or was so cute. Her favourite part was when the baby unicorn did I think downward dog and farted a rainbow ahha. I liked that all three characters did their poses and struggled in different areas haha I’m still laughing thinking about it.
We would recommended this one too!

[Kara · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful book of yoga for kids, explaining each pose, and illustrating them, using the rounded bodies of the cartoony unicorns to showcase both how the pose should look - and that you won't necessarily look elegant while doing it - and that's OK! Fun book that is a perfect introduction to yoga.

[Angela De Groot · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun way to introduce yoga to little ones at home or in the classroom.

[Michelle Barkley · Rating 5 out of 5]

My seven year-old and I really enjoyed this! She can read us all the instructions and we each identified with a particular color of unicorn. Namaste.

[Samantha · Rating 4 out of 5]

Who doesn't want to do yoga with a unicorn?

[Diana · Rating 4 out of 5]

goes through different beginner yoga poses with slow deep breathing instructions. illustrations show colorful pastel unicorns

[Little Seesaw · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well I love all things yoga and this is a perfect introductory book for children.

[Elisabeth · Rating 3 out of 5]

A very basic introduction to yoga for kids, using unicorns showing off the moves.

[Elizabeth S · Rating 4 out of 5]

Teaches basic yoga poses. With unicorns.

[Danielle Robertson Robertson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Super cute pictures and an easy yoga flow for me and kids to follow along.

[Addie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Edit: At 2, my daughter is much more into this book and enjoys trying the poses. It's pretty cute

Baby picked this one out, but she's too young for it still at 12 months! Cute, not what I expected but I didn't read the back or anything I just let baby grab it and thought it looked cute ...so yea, not a story but a yoga routine... probably great for older kids who like yoga and unicorns.