The In-Between Book

May 15, 2021
An interactive book encouraging mindfulness by noticing the space in between. There is space between everything. The narrator speaks directly to readers, creating an interactive book about learning to mindfully notice that space in between things in order to "become more curious, calm, and creative." It begins by having readers close their eyes and notice the pause between breathing in and out or listen for the space between heartbeats. Then it directs readers to trace the space between the two daisies drawn on the page to find new shapes. Continuing, the narrator guides readers to look outside, to notice their footfalls while walking, and even to tell a joke to a friend, looking and listening for the spaces and pauses between what they see and what they hear. Inspired by the Japanese concept of ma, or empty space, the exercises are great ways to practice mindfulness. The actual concept of seeking and feeling empty space can be difficult to understand, and with a lot of text and hard-to-grasp concepts, this book will work best read aloud by a companion who can help coach listeners through the time and reflection necessary for understanding. The illustrations, done in different shades of purple, are simple, aligning with the calming, mindful tone; in many images, negative space is filled with scribbles or small shapes that emphasize it. Good mindfulness exercises carry a challenging concept and wordy text. (Picture book. 5-9)

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July 1, 2021
Grades K-3 This peacefully purple, gently interactive book joins a new tradition of calming and mindfulness texts for children. Deriving its inspiration from the Japanese concept of ma, the book asks children to focus on the empty spaces between things (from the images on the pages to objects in the world around them), helping them to concentrate and find peace. Textured illustrations employ only three colors (white, black, purple), while simple text appears as a series of suggested activities and questions designed to make children actively take part in the book's exercises. For instance, one page in deep purple shows a boy and girl gazing out the window at unofficial constellations (a dog, a flower, and an arrow traced in the sky). Above the scene are the words "If it is nighttime, what can you see in the space between the stars or the lights in your neighborhood?" This book guides the social-emotional learning of children through both play and quiet reflection, and it can be paired with texts on deep breathing, yoga, quiet, stillness, and meditation.

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