Monday 21 December 2015

Making mindful - magic

Mindfulness is a notion that has been becoming more and more prominent in recent times. A consequence of our time - but one most worthy of exploration.

People's lives are busy. We forget to stop and smell the roses. This book reminds us to do just that.

Simple activities guide us through a peaceful re-connect to our surroundings, to nature, to life.




Beautifully crafted, this text has great application in the home and in the classroom. The illustrations lend themselves to conversation starters - framing the discussions around nature, reflection and pace. 

Each frame brings with it a simple narrative of how to be mindful - exploring things such as meditation, yoga, nature, creativity and true insight. Further details can be found at the end of the book - a helpful resource for parents and teachers alike.


Lea McKnoulty has cleverly created an illustrated journey to capture a sense of inner peace and calm. The fact that these experiences are 'mostly free, spent in nature and devoid of technology' is a winner any day!



Highly recommended for all ages.
Author/illustrator: Lea McKnoulty
Self-published
For further information: www.makingmindfulchildren.com

With thanks to the author for the provision of a review copy.

Friday 18 December 2015

Caleb's awesome adventure

The twenty-first century has brought with it increased demands of our time and personal resources. Everyone is busy; everyone is time-poor; everyone is over-committed.

The children of this century are no less busy. Between school, after-school sport, extra-curricular activities, homework, parental commitments - it seems life is simply rushing us by.

Sometimes a call to a simpler time is hard to resist.

Caleb's awesome adventure is just that. It captures a time and place  where children can be mindful and present in the here and now.

Caleb and his sister Zali are about to embark on an adventure of a lifetime. They are going to visit their grandparents and great grandparents  - all on their own! Living on a farm in country Australia, a bus-ride away, the children delight in experiencing a life of self-sufficiency. Learning all about farming animals and growing food, all whilst learning new skills of times gone by - restoring old coaches, making patchwork, doing needlework and cooking up a storm!

Woven throughout the text is the engendering of family values and mindfulness exercises. Love, belonging, fun, purpose and freedom are embraced throughout the narrative - values that have clearly endured across the generations.

Caleb's awesome adventure is a deeply personal book for the author, semi-autobiographical in a sense - a potpourri of treasures and nostalgia, highlighting the importance of belonging and family. A book that will inevitably spark family conversations.

Recommended for independent readers from 7 years of age.
Author: Bonnie Mae, 2014
Hilltop Publishing (Aust)

With thanks to the author who provided a review copy.