Hello, friends! Our book today is Yawning Yoga, written by Laurie Jordan and illustrated by Diana Mayo, a fantastic instructional yoga picture book for children.

Yawning Yoga is a wonderful way for busy little bodies to wind down their days; it can help you quiet your mind, relax your body, and prepare yourself for restful sleep. On each page of Yawning Yoga, a different pose or technique is explained, introduced with a sweet poem, then detailed in simple, fun instructions and lovingly detailed and lively art. Children can learn the Mountain, the Bedtime Bug, and the Dog-Tired Down Dog, among other poses and breathing exercises to help them focus their energy and calm their bodies.

Wonderful! We’ve read a few yoga books for this blog (despite not being a yoga-practicing family!), but this one is by far my favorite. Every detail, from giving the poses fun and sometimes unique names, to the poems that give them personality and allow children to contextualize them, to the clear and kid-friendly language of the instructions, to the playfully colorful illustrations, all is conducive to helping beginners (both young and older) learn yoga. The art is especially lovely, featuring a multicultural cast of children making each pose their own while helping to show them to the reader, and surrounded by fantasy elements that bring heaps of whimsy to each spread. If you’re just reading through (as we did), it’s a fine length for any bookworm, and JJ adored the art. This is a great one, especially if you’re looking to integrate yoga into a family bedtime routine. Baby Bookworm approved!

(Note: A copy of this book was provided to The Baby Bookworm by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.)