Sometimes life seems like it's all about hurrying--so many places to go! And sometimes it's hard when things don't go your way--it can make a piggy angry and sad. So how do young piggies find a peaceful place in a frustrating world? They meditate!
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Editorial Reviews
From School Library Journal
PreSchool-Grade 3–The young pigs in this story balance a stressful, hectic life with regular meditation. Using straightforward–though somewhat saccharine–language and images, MacLean, a certified children's meditation instructor, describes this practice and explores its benefits, which include increased self-confidence and feelings of peace and well-being. The vibrant illustrations featuring the blissed-out pigs are childlike in their simplicity. At the end of the book, the author offers instructions on how to meditate and describes her experiences with using family meditation in her own life and in her practice. There are few titles for young children that explain and teach meditation techniques. As such, this offering will find a place in many libraries.–Marge Loch-Wouters, Menasha's Public Library, WI
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
From Booklist
PreS-Gr. 2. Maclean, a meditation therapist, presents her case for deep relaxation in terms pitched straight at kids: "Sometimes the world can be such a busy, noisy place"; that's why "it's good to meditate." There's nary a lotus-blossom or a Bodhisattva to be found in the bright paintings of disarming piggies who tease their siblings, get mad, play video games ("You feel like you can't slow down. Even when you're sitting down!"), but also "know when to take a break, find a quiet spot and just breathe, breathe, breathe." For all that, Maclean advocates an essentially abstract spiritual practice: the instruction is as nondogmatic as it is concrete. She suggests that kids "have Mom or Dad help them set up a special place" for meditating, and concludes with an activity that invites kids to visualize the quieting of their minds as the settling of particles in a muddied jar of water. Even families that normally regard meditation as so much New Age folderol may find this chipper offering both endearing and persuasive. Jennifer Mattson
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
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More About the Author
Kerry Lee MacLean is author and illustrator of three best-selling and award-winning series of picture books: The Peaceful Piggy Meditation series, the Moody Cow Meditates series and the Pigs Over Colorado series. She has been leading family meditative arts workshops of all kinds at Shambhala Meditation centers in Europe, Australia and North America for 15 years. Kerry just collaborated with 4,000 Boulder elementary school children on the writing and sketches for Pigs Over Boulder 2, to be released November, 2012, and Moody Cow Learns Compassion was just released, too! Her next book will be for parents and kids together: The Family Meditation Workbook.
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
64 of 66 people found the following review helpful
By Maizuru
Format:Hardcover
This is an excellent introductory book on meditation that we recently used with great success to teach children to meditate at a Buddhist summer camp. The theme of the book was just about right for kids aged 4-9. I did not find the material "dumbed down" for this age group as a previous reviewer suggested, but perhaps older children might find it to be so. The piggies are cute and kind of cool (I liked them!).
The book guides children through the reasons why meditation is necessary, and believe me when I say it is the best book on the market for doing so (I looked around extensively). Especially good is the "mind-in-a-jar" experiment at the end of the book which gives a concrete, hands-on demonstration of why meditation is necessary. We placed dirt into a jar, spun it around, and the kids noticed how the sediment settled to the bottom after they meditated. A note, however: a little dirt goes a long way - don't put too much in or the experiment won't be as successful.
Some practical notes: it is best if this book is taught by someone who is experienced in meditation, as is the case with all meditative traditions. Furthermore, most children can't really meditate effectively for more than five or ten minutes due to modern attention spans. Just like adults, some children can meditate in full-lotus, some in half-lotus, and some can't do either. Especially if teaching in a group, care needs to be given to all three groups and children should be allowed to do what is comfortable. Finally, instruction is needed on the importance of giving ourselves some time to "switch modes" from meditation-mode to running-around-and-playing-mode in order to adjust.... Read more ›
The book guides children through the reasons why meditation is necessary, and believe me when I say it is the best book on the market for doing so (I looked around extensively). Especially good is the "mind-in-a-jar" experiment at the end of the book which gives a concrete, hands-on demonstration of why meditation is necessary. We placed dirt into a jar, spun it around, and the kids noticed how the sediment settled to the bottom after they meditated. A note, however: a little dirt goes a long way - don't put too much in or the experiment won't be as successful.
Some practical notes: it is best if this book is taught by someone who is experienced in meditation, as is the case with all meditative traditions. Furthermore, most children can't really meditate effectively for more than five or ten minutes due to modern attention spans. Just like adults, some children can meditate in full-lotus, some in half-lotus, and some can't do either. Especially if teaching in a group, care needs to be given to all three groups and children should be allowed to do what is comfortable. Finally, instruction is needed on the importance of giving ourselves some time to "switch modes" from meditation-mode to running-around-and-playing-mode in order to adjust.... Read more ›
29 of 30 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
This book was a useful step in introducing my two year old to pairing meditation with awareness of breath. She and I have been cultivating the ability to sit still and be aware of our breathing for a while. This book helped her to see that she can use breath awareness to calm herself in a stressful situation (hearing the vacuum cleaner, having to do something she doesn't want to do, etc.).
I did not give the book 5 stars because it lacks the substance to interest older readers, yet some of the concepts are a bit advanced for younger readers. By the time my daughter is old enough to be concerned about enemies, standing up to others, and accepting things as they are, she will probably be too old to relate to personified pigs.
I did not give the book 5 stars because it lacks the substance to interest older readers, yet some of the concepts are a bit advanced for younger readers. By the time my daughter is old enough to be concerned about enemies, standing up to others, and accepting things as they are, she will probably be too old to relate to personified pigs.
16 of 16 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
While the story is not actually a meditation it is a great introduction for children to understand why....they should meditate. Simple text and adorable illustrations explain and show that "When you're peaceful, you can be truly fearless!" This book can definitely motivate young children to want to try and meditate. I also recommend the "Indigo Dreams Series" to move your children into meditation after being motivated by the peaceful piggies to try it. Great way to introduce a complicated concept.
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
By Ingela
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
Don't be put off by the "piggies" (I was, initially). This is actually a really good book on meditation. If you want to teach your young (under 8) child/ren to meditate (or understand the idea behind meditation) this is absolutely perfect. It is also a good book on meditation generally; it keeps it simple. I think even adults can learn something from this book.
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
By Scooter100
Format:Paperback
My eight year old learned to meditate using this book. And whenever he feels the stress rising within him he now knows to go take a break and find his "peaceful piggie". We also use the phrase "peaceful piggie" as a reminder phrase to relax.
I recommend this book for kids as young as 3 all the way up to pre-teens that like to have things explained using cute characters. It is a great starting meditation book for children, and will give adults a great way to introduce the concept of meditation and calmness in a hurried world to their children.
I recommend this book for kids as young as 3 all the way up to pre-teens that like to have things explained using cute characters. It is a great starting meditation book for children, and will give adults a great way to introduce the concept of meditation and calmness in a hurried world to their children.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
This book talks about the use for and benefits of meditation. It's a good basic/starter book, but because of the less popular nature of meditation (vs standard relaxation strategies like muscle relaxation, imagery), this has narrower use. My students (I work as a school psychologist) and my children have heard of (and maybe learned/practiced) relaxation exercizes but not meditation.
This book is also not so much of a how-to book, although the last few pages do have some how-to exercizes. It is interesting enough, but will not be a major part of my work or home resources.
This book is also not so much of a how-to book, although the last few pages do have some how-to exercizes. It is interesting enough, but will not be a major part of my work or home resources.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
I bought this book for a small friend with anger issues. His mother tells me he loves the book and uses the meditation techniques readily, so we have found it to be very useful and fun.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
A joy to read. Introduces the idea of taking a bit of time out of our day to mediatate in a sweet and loving way for kids.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
4.0 out of 5 stars
PEACEFUL PIGGY MEDITATION ---
We have read this book and have added this book to our libraries, because it is really cute and also does support nicely the topic of meditation, even though it is intended for the... Read more
Published 4 days ago by Amazonia
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great book for learning to be settled and calm
The book really goes over a lot of the simple aspects of meditation and gives the children ideas how to become and reasons to become happy being calm. Read more
Published 25 days ago by pete c
5.0 out of 5 stars
LOVE this book
I love this book!! My 4 year old daughter really likes it too. It has such a good message and the illustrations are great. Read more
Published 29 days ago by Monica
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great for toddlers +
This is going to be a great book for my kids when they're a little older (read: past infancy). I don't want to let them too near it in their crazy baby stages though! Read more
Published 2 months ago by Simone C
4.0 out of 5 stars
Pretty Good
I liked this book for my kids and it really helps them focus on calming down when they've had a bad day. I also recommend MOODY COW MEDITATES.
Published 3 months ago by sofsof
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great idea for crazy days
My 10 year old twins were very interested in every word as I read this book to them. The mind jar idea really helped them to understand the concept. Read more
Published 3 months ago by Diane M. Peake
5.0 out of 5 stars
My boys love this book
I wanted something that would help raise awareness in my boys (6 and 3) that sometimes being calm and peaceful is the way to solve what seems like a tough problem. Read more
Published 3 months ago by Elizabeth Cardente
5.0 out of 5 stars
Good Teaching Tool
I purchased this book to use as an addendum to a meditation and mindfulness group I facilitate for elementary school aged children at a residential treatment facility. Read more
Published 3 months ago by Orchid Woman
5.0 out of 5 stars
Very cute
I love this book. I had not thought to look for books on meditation for children. I just came across this book and Moody Cow Meditates one day online. Read more
Published 3 months ago by serena andrews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great Book!
This is a great book for teaching and understanding Yoga. I teach a Yoga class for children and they loved this book. It is fun and the illustrations are great.
Published 3 months ago by Poohbr
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