Each Breath a Smile [Paperback]

Sister Susan (Author), Sister Thuc Nghiem (Author), Thi Hop Nguyen (Author), Dong Nguyen (Author), Nguyen Thi Hop (Illustrator), Nguyen Dong (Illustrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 1, 2002 | Age Range: 3 - 6 years

Each Breath a Smile introduces preschool-aged children to mindful breathing. Through beautiful color illustrations, children learn to connect with their breathing to help them experience calmness and enjoy a deeper relationship with their friends and family. Illustrations of trees, frogs, crickets, and birds remind them of the many simple joys available in the world around them.

With twenty-eight full-page color illustrations by artists Nguyen Thi Hop and Nguyen Dong, this book will delight children while serving as a valuable resource for parents and teachers.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Sister Thuc Nghiem (Susan Swan), a grandmother and former teacher, is a nun in the tradition of Thich Nhat Hanh. She lives and works at Green Mountain Dharma Center in Vermont; this is her first book.

Thich Nhat Hanh is a Vietnamese Buddhist monk, poet, scholar, and human rights activist. He has been a professor at Columbia and the Sorbonne; founder of Saigon's Van Hanh Buddhist University; nominated by Martin Luther King, Jr. for 1967 Nobel Peace Prize; author of 100+ books, 40 in English, including Present, Moment Wonderful Moment and Being Peace. He lives at Plum Village in France.

Product Details

• Age Range: 3 - 6 years
  
• Paperback: 32 pages
• Publisher: Plum Blossom Books (February 1, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1888375221
• ISBN-13: 978-1888375220
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 0.1 x 11 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #100,474 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #5 in Books > Children's Books > Religions > Eastern

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

32 of 32 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A thoughtful, reverently spiritual book April 13, 2002

By Midwest Book Review

Format:Paperback

Each Breath A Smile by Sister Thuc Nghiem (Susan Swan) is a delightful picturebook based on the teachings of Thich Nhat Hanh, a Vietnamese Zen master who has been nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. This gentle and charming book, illustrated in cheerful pastel colors, shows children how to relax and enjoy happiness through mindful breathing. "Breathing in, I see myself as a mountain. Breathing out, I feel solid. Mountain, sold. / Breathing in, I see myself as space. Breathing out, I feel free. Space, free." A thoughtful, reverently spiritual book, highly recommended picturebook for young readers.

32 of 33 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A Peaceful, Affirming Read-Aloud July 8, 2005

By ArtCat

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

This beautifully simple book is deeply spiritual without being "religious." I have read it aloud in Grades K-3 including Special Education classes, and it always has a calming, reassuring effect on the children (and on me too!). It can be an introduction to quiet imagination/visualization activities or a concluding activity to help relax and focus a group. The book itself can be a kind of meditation exercise, since part of the text suggests breathing and calming the body in gentle, repetitive language. This is an excellent book to have on hand; it may be used regularly with the same group or in one particular lesson. Unique and highly recommended.

23 of 23 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Breath Awareness for Kids April 15, 2006

By Karen Annel

Format:Paperback

Beautiful book for children to read. There is a real peaceful feeling throughout this book. Love the illustrations. Great introduction to the idea of mindful breathing for children.Every time I read this story...the kids seem to calm down. I also use A Boy and A Bear and Indigo Dreams to take the breathing concept a step further and actually teach the children the mechanics of breathing, I recommend Each Breath a Smile and I recommend teaching kids to breathe correctly. Also try Baby Buddhas for more ideas on how to teach

31 of 40 people found the following review helpful

2.0 out of 5 stars Not good for use with all families May 7, 2007

By Maureen

Format:Paperback

This book has beautiful pictures, and is good at teaching deep breathing. What I did not like, was that it sent the message that being mindful makes everything better. This is not the case, especially when the book is used in therapeutic situations. It also specifices how "beautiful" mother is, and how "wonderful" father is. This book is not appropriate for all family constilations.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Introduction to Meditation May 12, 2007

By T. Tucker

Format:Paperback

Love this book.

I bought this book for my 3 year old and the whole family loves it. It is a basic "story" that introduces skills for young ones to manage stressful situations and introduces them to the basic concept of meditation.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Introduction to Contemplation for Young Children December 4, 2008

By L. Erickson TOP 1000 REVIEWER

Format:Paperback

This book introduces children to mindful breathing and awareness, but steers clear of any explicit religious teachings. The text uses simple, repetitive phrases to create a sense of calm, and the pictures are in soothing but cheerful pastel colors. As other reviewers have noted,reading it was a meditation in itself, and both my daughter and I were noticeably more relaxed at the end. I think it can serve as a springboard for introducing children to spiritual contemplation of any type.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Lovely for Little Kids September 6, 2008

By emberAZ

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

I have a little grandson who is 21mos old. I'm going to visit him in a few weeks and I'm taking this book. I think it will help the little guy learn to meditate.

I originally bought it for an older child and when I saw it I knew it wouldn't work for him.

If small children can learn to meditate they will have a powerful tool to have a clearer mind and a way to focus. This is very helpful in all areas of one's life. How nice to find it earlier than later.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A new favorite September 6, 2009

By Willow S.

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

I was looking for a book to help me introduce concepts of mindfulness and meditation to my 22 month old toddler. This book does so in a simple, lovely way that is perfect for very little ones.

I wasn't sure whether my son would respond to the book, but I was pleasantly surprised (he's a big fan of Elmo, Grover and Ernie). The illustrations are both calming and engaging (lots of little kids for my son to ogle). I read the book slowly so we sometimes don't make it to the end before he jumps up to find another book, but most of the time, he asks me to read it again. I highly recommend it!