Jan Stradling (text) and Jedda Robaard (illustrator), Breathe in and out (A Play School Mindfully Me story), 24 pp., RRP $24.99 (hbk), Harper Collins Publishers, January 2023, ISBN 9780733342387
The iconic Australian Play School TV programme has jumped on board the mindfulness stress management movement with a picture book for teaching pre-schoolers about mindfulness. It features the Play School toys suggesting various sensory, mindfulness activities to help Big Ted sooth his stormy, big feelings.
Explaining the abstract idea of mindfulness to pre-schoolers is no small feat and Play School, together with author Stradling, have achieved this with explanations and examples of sensory mindfulness activities that are described in age-appropriate language and supported by Robaard’s illustrations of the materials used. These ideas are presented through dialogue between the toys, so that a heartening story about the friends’ emotional support for Big Ted, is developed.
Looking at Robaard’s wistful water colour images of the lovable Play School toys, I felt nostalgia for my children’s (now adults) Play School watching days. Her illustrations are true to the actual toys and she animates them with subtle changes in facial expression and body movement. Her use of soft background colours suggests a calming and soothing tone to match the book’s theme.
Breathe in and out is a useful resource for early learning educators and families to introduce, or re-enforce, mindfulness techniques to help little ones learn to sooth themselves and manage overwhelming feelings. Useful notes for educators and families are available on the ABC website and a corresponding “Mindfully me” episode of Play School can be viewed on ABC iView.
Reviewed by Barbara Swartz