Practicing mindfulness in Shoshana Chaim and Lori Joy Smith’s new picture book I Am A Courageous Cub.

Readers join two children as they make their way through some yoga poses to help them feel brave and courageous just like their favourite animals.

Shoshana Chaim creates an incredibly interactive storybook perfect for Early Years readers. This book is the perfect choice for educators and parents who need to take the hype down a notch and reset the day. Readers are encouraged to do like the children in the story and move their bodies like a dragonfly or a mountain or even a bouncy ball. 

You know I love a story that can do double duty and interactive stories are some of my favourites because they appeal to the youngest readers. Not only are they a story but an activity. I love how this story in particular encourages readers and their adults to think of other animals or objects that they can emulate depending on how they are feeling or how they want to feel. There is a lovely author’s note encouraging just that at the end of the book.

Lori Joy Smith’s illustrations are simply adorable! I love how they feel like crayon drawings, appealing to young readers. They are safe and colourful with some fun little pop outs for readers to play a bit of hide and seek with the illustrations.