Moody Cow Meditates by Kerry Lee MacLean can help little kids cope with big feelings.
Kids are still learning to manage their emotions, and they need to know that this is normal and how to adopt coping strategies they can use in real life. Often, popular fiction depicts unhealthy or not constructive ways of dealing with anger and conflict. (Island of Sodor, I am looking at YOU.) Kerry Lee MacLean’s character in Moody Cow Mediates is bucking that tide. Peter is having a bad day. He started off with a nightmare and things only got worse from there, until his mom called in his Grandfather to come and talk to him about how to calm his big feelings.
My son particularly likes the fact that the character in this book has a bad dream. Like his mom before him, he remembers a lot of his dreams, and they aren’t all good. So he completely identified with this character from the start of the story. The text and photos show explicit calming strategies grounded in meditation, including how to use a calming jar. (My son has two- and sometimes he does think to go and use one, all on his own! So it must help him.)
Whether your child struggles with how to calm down when something upsets her, or you just want to introduce these concepts proactively, Moody Cow Mediates is a good option. The illustrations are colorful and engaging, the story line is relatable, and the skills offered are constructive and effective.
Look for Moody Cow Meditates at your school or public library (and if you can’t find it, ask your librarian to order it!) or purchase it on Amazon.
Want more book recommendations for every member of your family? Check out my other book reviews.
From Amazon: Kerry Lee MacLean is the author and illustrator of several award-winning and best-selling picture books, including Moody Cow Meditates and Peaceful Piggy Meditation. Her latest book is Moody Cow Learns Compassion, and her next will be an activity book for parents and children of all ages, The Family Meditation Workbook. Kerry has been leading family meditative arts workshops in North America, Australia and Europe for 15 years. She is the mother of five young adults who still employ meditation as an important tool in their busy lives.
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