Please welcome author Maria Gianferrari with her newest picture book, Being a Dog: A Tale of Mindfulness, illustrated by Pete Oswald.
Being a Dog: A Tale of Mindfulness by Maria Gianferrari, illustrated by Pete Oswald
Join a young child and their dog as they experience every minute of the day to its fullest—from the second they wake up to the moment they fall asleep. Readers will love barking, wagging, and sniffing along with the gentle cues in the book. [picture book, ages 4 and up]
We are giving away Being a Dog and a signed bookplate and bookmark. To enter, please see the Rafflecopter at the bottom.
Let’s Fete: Dogs and Mindfulness Tails!
I’m delighted to be here on Pragmatic Mom once again, this time to celebrate Being a Dog: A Tail of Mindfulness, with my favorite dog and mindfulness books! I love dogs and dog books, and to combine them with being present, the way dogs live in the moment, is a pawfect thing to be posting about. Plus you’re going to love Pete Oswald’s touching and joyful illustrations.
So let’s get this pawsome party started!
All of Elise Gravel’s books are funny and punny and playful, and Puppy in My Head: A Book About Mindfulness is no exception. She explains how to tame Ollie, the curious, worrisome, pup in her head, with her magical leash, breath. Gravel’s signature art is humorous and full of feeling.
Susan Verde and Peter H. Reynolds “I Am” …
series of books from Abrams feature a lot of titles related to be-ing in the world, but I Am Peace is more specifically a book on mindfulness. It focuses of the art of breathing, noticing the here and now, and letting our worries go, and letting things flow. Instead of being an un-anchored boat in a sea of worry, Verde instructs us to be in the moment through breath, our senses, and by connecting with nature so we can choose how we respond rather than reacting. [picture book series, ages 4 and up]
My Thoughts are Clouds: Poems for Mindfulness by Georgia Heard and Isabel Roxas …
teaches us how we can alter our weather mood and first accept, and then quiet our worrisome “monkey minds.” Heard provides readers with the tools to find our inner calm and joy through a variety of breathing exercises and shows readers how to cultivate kindness and mindfulness. Calm inside = calm outside. [picture book, ages 8 and up]
Mii maanda ezhi-gkendmaanh: Niibing, dgwaagig, bboong, mnookmig dbaadjigaade maanpii mzin’igning/This is How I Know: A Book about the Seasons by Brittany Luby and Joshua Mangeshig Pawis-Steckley …
is a bilingual book written in Anishinaabemowin and English and a lovely and lyrical ode to nature and the seasons and a way of be-ing.
We observe a child and their grandmother’s wonder and joy as they immerse themselves in the glory of each season. This is one of my favorite passages in English: “When the insects billow black from the trees,/and the sun slips into an orange dream./This is how I know summer.” [picture book, ages 3 and up]
Breathe and Be: A Book of Mindfulness Poems by Kate Coombs and Anna Emilia Laitinen …
reveals how readers can “breathe and be,” with our breath as a river of peace as we watch our thoughts swimming by like little fish until we find the quiet place in our heads, snug and safe like an egg in a nest. When we are be-ing, we are calm and keenly aware of our connections to the natural world around us—as clouds, or mountains, stones, seeds or trees, still ourselves, but a joyful part of everything around us. [poetry picture book, ages 4 and up]
Stay: A Girl, a Dog and a Bucket List by sister duo Kate and M. Sarah Klise
I love this book, and though I have read it countless times, I always weep. Though it’s not directly about mindfulness, it’s a poignant book about the bond between a girl named Astrid and her aging canine companion, and a reminder that enjoying memorable moments and time with those we love is the best gift we can give and receive. [picture book, ages 3 and up]
Now it’s time to give you a gift!
Thanks to the generosity of HarperCollins, we’ll be giving away a signed copy of Being a Dog: A Tail of Mindfulness!
Leave a comment below and tell us about your favorite dog and how you like to spend time together. If you don’t have a dog, what are your favorite ways to be mindful in nature?
Thanks again, Mia!
Being a Dog GIVEAWAY with Signed Bookplate and Bookmark!
We are giving away a copy of Being a Dog along with a signed bookplate and bookmark. To enter, please see the Rafflecopter below. We can only mail to U.S. and A.F.O. addresses.
Maria Gianferrari and her rescue dog Maple play race and chase in Massachusetts rain or shine. She’s also the author of these pawsome dog “tails”: the Penny & Jelly books, Hello Goodbye Dog, and Operation Rescue Dog. Can you tell that Maria loves dogs? Writing Being a Dog helped Maria feel joy again after losing her rescue dog Becca. You can learn more about Maria at her website, www.mariagianferrari.com
p.s. Related posts:
Celebrate Tree Picture Books for Earth Day
Top 10 STEM Bird Books for Bird-Watching Kids
Top 10 STEM Expository Nonfiction Picture Books
Where Are the Wheelchairs in Children’s Books?
Top 10 Favorite Nature Picture Books
Animal Friendship Picture Books
Where Are the Wheelchairs in Children’s Books?
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My books:
BEST #OWNVOICES CHILDREN’S BOOKS: My Favorite Diversity Books for Kids Ages 1-12 is a book that I created to highlight books written by authors who share the same marginalized identity as the characters in their books.
I also love Stay. One of my favorite dog books is Hello Goodbye Dog by Maria.
Thanks, Danielle! You’re the best!!
My favorite dog books are Bark, George and Cosmo Zooms.
Great books, Lori!
An old favorite is Dog Heaven by Cynthia Rylant
That’s a lovely book, Sandra.
Clifford
A classic. Loved it as a kid!
“Being a Dog” looks great–look at the wonderful colors, and the happy dog character!
Pete’s art is contagiously joyful, John. I hope you enjoy it!
Clifford is our favorite dog book. We also loved the movie.
Another vote for Clifford 🙂
My favorite dog is Mr. Peanutbutter from Bojack Horseman. One of my kid’s favorite dog books is “Naughty Nana” by Saralyn Richard.
I will have to look those up, Ben. They’re not familiar to me. Thanks for the recs!
Thanks so much, Mia!!
My favorite book about a dog is a classic, The Poky Little Puppy.