Book Works: Puppy Mind

Book Works are book recommendations by Communication Works (CW) that support speech, language, social and emotional growth for children.

Taming a Puppy Mind

picture of puppy mind's book cover

Children’s books offer a terrific way to launch the discussion of what it means to be mindful. Books can give students a way to make connections to their own lives and become a point of reference, reflection, and way to introduce activities and practice new skills.The book Puppy Mind, by Andrew Nance is one of my favorite ways to talk about what it feels like to be “mind-full” vs. “mindful.” It’s an adorable story of a young boy who observes that his mind is like a puppy, eager to explore and run off in all directions. This is a fun way for children to relate to having a mind that might feel frantic and pulled in many ways at once. In the book, the boy decides to train his mind through focused breathing and he learns to stay in the present, at least for a moment. The illustrations are by Jim Durk, known for his drawings of Clifford the Big Red Dog and Thomas the Steam Engine.This book captures children’s interest through a character they can relate to and understand. Like the boy in the story, with practice, kids and adults alike can make progress toward staying in the present and creating mindful moments in everyday life.You can buy Taming a Puppy Mind here: http://amzn.to/2CA2BIk