8 Diverse + Mindful Children's Books to Read with Your Little Ones
/At Yo Re Mi, we love reading stories with children! Storytelling helps kids build social emotional learning, story book yoga promotes creativity and literacy, and story songs paired with movement makes learning and emotional development engaging and fun.
One thing we’d love to see is more diverse children’s books about mindfulness, individuality, emotional regulation, and affirmations. So we decided to suggest a few to get started building a collection of more inclusive storybooks.
Here are 8 mindful and diverse books for children
1. The Boy with Big, Big Feelings By Britney Winn Lee
We all feel big, BIG feelings at times. Sometimes they’re big and scary. Sometimes full and joyous. Sometimes hilariously ticklish or teary and sad.
This children’s book, illustrated by Jacob Souva, reminds us that expressing feelings isn’t exclusive to a specific gender, nor a specific emotion. Children are learning to recognize and navigate their feelings, and by supporting them, we can help children develop strong emotional regulation skills over time.
2. I Like Myself! By Karen Beaumont
“I Like Myself” by Karen Beaumont is a wonderfully quirky and creative kids book that also uses affirmations to promote self-confidence. Illustrated by David Catrow, you can use this book to spark mindful conversations with your child: what are some of their own characteristics that make them special and unique?
As children’s self-identity develops, affirmations are a great way to help build confidence. We love using affirmation yoga to help us feel powerful, strong, and help kids shine their inner light!
3. What Does it Mean to Be Present? By Rana DiOrio
This children’s book about mindfulness and being present is a great illustrated kids book that encourages us to observe each moment and spend more time listening, noticing, and showing gratitude. You can find the book (illustrated by Eliza Wheeler) at Barnes and Noble online and pair it with an end of year/end of semester gratitude practice.
4. Ruby Finds a Worry By Tom Percival
Have you ever dealt with a small worry that grew bigger and BIGGER? We all have. Working through worry and anxiety is a way we gain emotional intelligence, and “Ruby Finds a Worry” perfectly illustrates that journey!
5. Just Ask! By Sonia Sotomayor
We are all special; we are all unique! This award-winning book by Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor reminds us that our differences make us special — and that despite our differences, we can always work together to create something beautiful!
We love this book for its vibrant illustrations (by Rafael Lopez) and how it mindfully highlight kids who may battle various challenges, like Sonia’s experience growing up as a child with diabetes.
6. What If? By Samantha Berger
When we practice mindfulness, we open our minds to creativity and imagination. We quiet the noise and allow our ideas to flow freely.
At Yo Re Mi we believe in self expression as a mindful tool, and love that Samantha Berger’s kids book “What If?” showcases the beauty of creativity and imagination.
If you’re seeking more imagination activities, try our interactive song “If I Could Be Any Animal in the Jungle”, celebrating diversity and encouraging collaboration. Encourage your kids to suggest ideas of their own!
7. Wild Mindfulness By Laura Larson
Let’s go on another adventure! Mindfulness helps us experience the present moment by increasing awareness and calming our bodies (breathing exercises can help!)
In this outdoorsy kids storybook, Laura Larson brings diversity outdoors and to mindfulness as we couple the enchanting adventures of a young girl camping with guided mindful moments to experience the story.
8. The Name Jar By Yangsook Choi
The Name Jar reminds us that we all have special names. Names chosen by our parents or guardians (or even chosen by us!) that bring us identity. Names that create icebreakers when we meet someone for the first time or say hello.
Our names tell a story, and when we are mindful about learning each other’s name and pronouncing their names correctly, we show how much we value each other.
Celebrate each other with Yo Re Mi’s Hello Song, “Hello My Friends”, a song we created to ensure every child feels seen and recognized.
READ NEXT: Learn more about the benefits of storytelling and storybook yoga.
Save this article for later and don’t forget to download the Yo Re Mi app for children’s mindfulness and musical yoga videos.
