I AM WELL

Despite the cover illustration of two children doing the Tree yoga pose, this is not a book about yoga.

Rather, it is a child-friendly explanation of the ancient Indian medical system known as Ayurveda. “It is important to be healthy in our bodies and minds,” the text begins. It then goes on to share the seven Ayurvedic principles: exercise, meditation, diet, hobbies, self-care, community, and rest. Each principle is given a child-friendly definition—exercise means “move our bodies,” meditation means “breathe deeply,” and so on—and accompanied by illustrations showing children putting the principle into action. On the spread about hobbies, kids are shown reading, painting, and playing with a pet. On the spread about exercise, yoga is specifically mentioned but also “running, biking, and playing games.” An illustration of a boy wearing glasses and an apron seated before a platter filled with fruits and vegetables makes it clear what a healthy diet looks like. Short sentences explain how an “Om child” feels when they practice each wellness habit. Throughout the book, children are referred to using the pronoun they instead of he or she. The colorful, cartoony artwork features smiling, able-bodied, racially diverse children and some inclusion of pets and caregivers.

An age-appropriate and clear discussion of what mindfulness looks like in practice.