I am a big fan of Kids Yoga Stories, and Giselle Shardlow's last two books are the best! You can enter a giveaway to win them both along with a copy of Imaginations below:
Here's what I love about Hello, Bali:
1. A tropical, happy place
This sweet book says "Hello" to Bali and all its treasures- flowers, trees, statues, dolphins, waterfalls, monkeys, and more. Kids follow along with the pictures of the yoga poses that correspond with each page. The illustrations are beautiful, colorful, and help you feel the sand in between your toes and the sun on your skin. I am a sucker for blue water, ocean waves, and tropical breezes. They take me right to my happy place. :)
2. Sequencing of yoga poses
The sequencing of poses flow very naturally. Sometimes when you use a book in a yoga class, it feels forced because you are doing poses along with the story, and you might be standing one minute, sitting the next, and then back on your feet again. Hello, Bali feels like the words were written around the yoga flow, so it is very easy to integrate it into your yoga class. You can even use it to transition from active poses to relaxation, since the last pose in the story is savasana.
3. Educational
Colorful, educational information is included at the end about the Indonesian language. You can teach your kids or students to count in Indonesian, or say simple conversational phrases. This is a great tool for getting kids intrigued by other cultures, and teaching the idea of connection (i.e. "Namaste").
Here's what I love about Good Night, Animal World:
1. Says "Good Night" to the animals
Good Night, Animal World says "Good Night" to 12 animals from different parts of the world through . Each animal has a corresponding yoga pose. I love this concept because it reminds me of my favorite storybook from when I was a little girl, Good Night Moon!
2. Teaches geography
The book has a fun map showing where in the world these animals are from. The yoga pose list at the end of the book also includes corresponding flags from the different countries. Such a cute, educational touch!
3. Gentle sequencing
A gentle sequence of yoga poses that can either get a child ready for bedtime or for relaxation time at the end of a yoga class. The last pose is Savasana, so again, you could use this book to transition from a more energetic time in yoga class to a final relaxation.
Both of these books are essentials for any kids yoga teacher, and parents will love them too, of course!
Don't forget to enter the giveaway in the above Rafflecopter box. They are available for purchase on KidsYogaStories.com and Amazon.com.
Namaste,
Carolyn