A FEW OF OUR FAVORITE BOOKS

Books are a great way to calm the mind!  Here are the staff picks for favorite books.  Check out Schlow Library, Centre County Library, or your local library to see if you can check out a copy or listen to the audio version!

Children’s Books

and for those young at heart…

Listen like an Elephant

by Kira Willey

This mindful exercise featuring a colorful elephant helps kids feel focused, wherever they are. With Listen Like an Elephant, kids learn to slow down, listen to the world around them, and focus their attention—no matter how messy life becomes.

Breathe like a Bear

by Kira Willey

Breathe Like a Bear is a beautifully illustrated collection of movements and breathing exercises designed to teach kids techniques for managing their bodies, breath, and emotions.

I Am Peace

by Susan Verde

I Am Peace by Susan Verde teaches children how to practice mindfulness. Children will learn how to stay in the present moment by finding their peace.

Listen with my Heart

by Gabi Garcia

Kindness matters – especially to ourselves. This book takes a deeper look into how children can become friends with themselves helping to grow self-acceptance and positive self-talk.

I Am Yoga

by Susan Verde

I Am Yoga encourages children to explore the world of yoga and make room in their hearts for the world beyond it. A kid-friendly guide to yoga poses is included.

The Color Monster

by Anna Llenas

Unpack feelings with color in this international bestseller that helps young readers identify emotions and feel more in control.  Everyone will enjoy sharing this concept book that taps into both socio-emotional growth and color concepts in a simple, friendly way.

The Breathing Book

by Christopher Willard and Olivia Weisser

 With The Breathing Book, young readers discover the power of mindful awareness through a series of breathing practices and engaging activities designed to calm the mind and body, set positive intentions, and spark creativity and imagination.

The Little Calm Spot

by Diane Alber

Sometimes when your emotions get TOO Big it’s hard to stay CALM and FOCUSED. A little Calm SPOT is a story about how using breathing, movement and mindset can help overcome some the biggest emotions. This book is full of fun illustrations that will inspire children to try belly breathing and yoga!

Hooray, I can do it!

by Aleks Harrison

This children’s book about swimming will help you find the right words (and pictures) to underline the importance of never giving up on your dreams! This book is geared toward the toddler ages.

Young Adult Books

The Mindful Teen

by Dzung X. Vo FAAP

In this powerful book, a pediatrician specializing in teen and adolescent medicine offers a breakthrough mindfulness program to help you deal with stress in healthy ways, improve communication, and reduce conflicts with family and friends.

Mindfulness for Teens in 10 Minutes a Day

by Jennie Marie Battistin MA LMFT

Learn how to use mindfulness, or the ability to be fully aware in the present moment, to reduce everyday stress. Mindfulness for Teens in 10 Minutes a Day shows you how to take control of your feelings and focus your attention with short, simple mindfulness activities.

Be Mindful & Stress Less

by Gina Biegel

The demands and pressures of everyday life can really stress you out! School, work, relationships, social media, and the like can leave you pulled in so many directions it can make your head spin. When you need help fast, these simple accessible mindfulness-based practices will help bring you relief and ease right away.

Get out of your mind & into your life for teens

by Joseph V. Ciarrochi, PhD.; Louise Hayes, PhD.; Ann Bailey, MA

In this powerful book, a pediatrician specializing in teen and adolescent medicine offers a breakthrough mindfulness program to help you deal with stress in healthy ways, improve communication, and reduce conflicts with family and friends.

Just as you Are

by Michelle Skeen, PsyD.; Kelly Skeen

Stop comparing yourself to others—you’re special just as you are! In this fun, practical guide, you’ll learn how to silence your nit-picky inner critic, cultivate self-compassion, and discover what really matters to you.

You Don’t Have to Learn Everything the Hard Way

by Laya Saul

You Don’t Have to Learn Everything the Hard Way covers a lot of topics that teens need and want to read about: from sensitive areas like sexual abuse, pain, and hard times, to issues like understanding how to deal with peer pressure and making the right choice about drugs

Adult Books

The Art of Not Falling Apart

by Christina Patterson

The Art of Not Falling Apart is a shockingly honest celebration of life as an adventure. 

Radical Acceptance

by Tara Brach, PhD.

A psychotherapist and Buddhist meditation teacher in the tradition of Jack Kornfield (who contributes a foreword), first-time author Brach offers readers a rich compendium of stories and techniques designed to help people awaken from what she calls “the trance of unworthiness,” says Publisher Weekly

Be Mindful & Stress Less

by Gina Biegel

The demands and pressures of everyday life can really stress you out! School, work, relationships, social media, and the like can leave you pulled in so many directions it can make your head spin. When you need help fast, these simple accessible mindfulness-based practices will help bring you relief and ease right away.

The Miracle of Mindfulness

by Tinch Nhat Hanh

In this beautiful guide, Zen master Thich Nhat Hanh offers gentle anecdotes and practical exercise as a means of learning the skills of mindfulness–being awake and fully aware. 

Practicing Mindfulness

by Matthew Sockolov

Mindfulness meditations are a great way to cultivate awareness and acceptance of the here and now―Practicing Mindfulness makes it easy and accessible with 75 evidence-based exercises designed to bring calmness and compassion into your day-to-day.

Mindful Games

by Susan Kaiser Greenland

Playing games is a great way for kids to improve their focus and become more mindful. This book shares how parents, caregivers, and teachers can bring mindfulness into the classroom or home. .

If you or someone you know is experiencing a mental health concern or crisis, please call the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline by dialing 988 or text PA to 741741 to reach the Crisis Text Line.

Visit another section in Jana Marie Foundation’s Virtual Calming Room