• Age: 3 to 8
• Grade: p to 3

For kids ages 2-6, a gentle and fun introduction to mindfulness and breath awareness.

When we are overcome with emotions, our breath—and a bit of imagination—can bring us back to a peaceful place. In I Am a Peaceful Goldfish, two children learn how to settle their difficult feelings with imaginative breathing techniques, pretending they are elephants, flowers, and even dragons!

I Am a Peaceful Goldfish teaches kids essential and easy-to-learn life skills:

• It’s okay to feel overwhelmed or anxious!
• Feeling calm and in control are just a couple of easy breaths away
• How to self-regulate and relieve anxiety

A perfect book for readers of I Am Peace and I Am Yoga by Susan Verde.

Book #1 in the I Am Mindful series! This series on mindfulness for young children introduces playful and imaginative techniques designed for the entire family to navigate overwhelming emotions with ease and confidence. The simplicity of the stories and relatable characters allow children of all ages to connect with the everyday challenges they face. By consistently practicing the mindfulness methods depicted in these books, children can cultivate skills that are readily applicable in various real-life situations. These abilities serve as a sturdy foundation for resilience throughout their lives.

Shoshana Chaim's profile page

As a young girl Lori Joy Smith’s weekly trips to the children’s library with her father sparked her love of reading and children’s books. As a teenager she lived in Italy and visited some of the most beautiful museums in Europe, which left her wanting nothing more than to make art. Now she gets to put these two loves together everyday working as an artist and illustrator. She lives in Belfast, PEI with her husband, 2 girls, 3 cats, 2 bunnies, 1 dog, 2 sheep and 3 chickens. She loves making art, walking in the forest, watching the stars, drinking coffee, growing flowers and most of all reading to her own girls every night before they go to sleep. Visit her website at lorijoysmith.com

Lori Joy Smith's profile page

“A playful way to introduce meditation to young readers who find themselves in stressful situations.”
—Globe and Mail

“Toddlers, children, even adults can take a cue from the relaxed cat and other critters and objects that appear in this sweet book when strong emotions overwhelm us ... A great resource for parents and educators for teaching calming practices.”
—School Library Journal

“A soothing, logical, and playful introduction to mindfulness for young listeners.”
—Kirkus Reviews

“Engaging, brightly colored illustrations ... [two kids] attempt to imitate [goldfish] by inhaling slow, deep breaths and then letting them out ... eventually, end[ing] up with their hands clasped in front of their hearts, marveling at how serene they feel.”
—Booklist

“I Am a Peaceful Goldfish is a helpful aid for teaching the calm down strategy and in a way that is engaging.”
—Canadian Review of Materials