Review by Booklist Review
This concept book, derived from the NYT best-selling Invisible Things (2023), takes one of those abstract ideas and teaches it to prereaders through an interactive experience. It begins with Chaos, a "busy, messy" ball of swirling lines, and a request to help it unwind. The ensuing series of spreads asks the reader to trace a thick black line through all its dips, twists, and turns. The black line is always part of a greater composition (the track of a roller coaster, a mountain path, some bootlaces). At first, the tracing is hectic ("loop the loop the loop the loop!"), but with each spread, the route becomes less fraught, until the finger movements are genuinely soothing ("slowly float down the river"), and the finale declares, "Aah. Feeling calm." A clever, engaging lesson.
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by School Library Journal Review
PreS-K--Children will enjoy this gentle meditation disguised as an interactive book. Readers are introduced to Chaos, "a busy, mess, loud Thing," and are encouraged to help him unwind. Each spread includes instructions for tracing a finger through ups, downs, and loops. By the end of the book, children and caregivers alike will feel calm and relaxed. VERDICT For the younger end of the SEL shelves, this is a great choice for libraries looking to add to their mindfulness collection.
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