"Let nature be your teacher when your feelings are tangled up in knots." One way to feel better when we are hurting is to spend time outside. Being in nature is good for both our bodies and our minds. Each chapter of this practical guide explores a different element of nature and connects it with a mindfulness prompt designed to help kids manage their feelings. From dandelions to spider webs, children will uncover the lessons nature teaches about embracing a growth mindset, the benefits of living in community, and the transformative power of noticing the beauty around them. Breathing exercises, stretching, practicing mindfulness, and keeping a nature notebook are just some of the tools introduced to kids to equip them to navigate their feelings as they spend time outdoors. Author Jennifer Grant's affirming, kind voice will inspire readers to see the world with fresh eyes--and discover the calm, joy, and wonder waiting just outside their door.
Jennifer Grant is the award-winning author of picture books for children and books for adults. Her books include Maybe God Is Like That Too, Maybe I Can Love My Neighbor Too, and Dimming the Day. Grant's work has appeared in Woman's Day, Chicago Parent, Patheos, and Chicago Tribune, and she is a founding member of INK: A Creative Collective. Grant holds a master's degree in English literature with concentrations in creative writing and critical theory from Southern Methodist University in Dallas. A lifelong Episcopalian and mother of four, she lives in Chicago with her husband. Erin Brown is a Northern Irish illustrator who lives on the beautiful island of Jersey. She combines her love for hand-drawn lines with the flexibility of adding color digitally. When she's not working, she can be found exploring the forests and cliff paths of Jersey or down at the seashore.
Contents Introduction: I Can Start Fresh I Am Rooted 1. Dandelions: Making It through Tough Times 2. Redwood Trees: Living in Community 3.Mangrove Forests: Being Myself I Can Stretch 4. Wingspans: Feeling Low and Finding Lift 5. Spider Webs: Watching Anxiety from a Distance 6. Cats and Dogs: Talking Without Words I Am Perfectly Me 7. Spirals: Embracing a Growth Mindset 8. Shapes: Finding Beauty in Nature 9. Spots and Stripes: Standing Out and Blending In I Am In Flow 10. Lava: Investigating Strong Feelings 11. Water: Keeping Hydrated 12. Sap: Letting Go I Can Grow and Change 13. Seasons: Knowing Now Isn't Forever Conclusion: I Can Ask, "What Is?" Instead Of, "What If?" A Few Words...about Words
