Bee Heartful: Spread Loving-Kindness

by Frank J. Sileo PhD, Claire Keay (Illustrator)

Overview

Mom's Choice Award Winner! Collect all of the books featuring beloved Bentley the Bee, Bee Calm: The Buzz on Yoga, Bee Still: An Invitation to Meditation, and Bee Heartful: Spread Loving Kindness. All are great reads alongside books such as Breathe Like a Bear: 30 Mindful Moments for Kids to Feel Calm and Focused Anytime, Anywhere, I Am Yoga, Calm Ninja, and other mindfulness books. 

When compassionate Bentley sends loving-kindness thoughts to himself and others, he can feel his heart growing: May you be happy.May you be healthy.May you be safe.May you be peaceful.  When Willie Wasp steals Bentley’s favorite red scarf, it really stings! Bentley has the whole garden buzzing as he works through the situation. This sweet story shows the power of strong, positive, and loving thoughts.

Includes a note from the author with more information about loving-kindness and related meditation, and guidelines for how readers can practice being heartful just like Bentley!

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781433831577
Publisher:	American Psychological Association
Publication date:	01/07/2020
Pages:	32
Product dimensions:	8.10(w) x 10.00(h) x 0.30(d)
Age Range:	4 - 8 Years

About the Author

Frank J. Sileo, PhD, is a New Jersey licensed psychologist and the founder and executive director of The Center for Psychological Enhancement in Ridgewood, New Jersey. He received his doctorate from Fordham University in New York City and is consistently recognized as one of New Jersey's top kids' doctors. Dr. Sileo is the author of ten other award-winning children's books, including Sally Sore Loser: A Story about Winning and Losing, Don't Put Yourself Down in Circus Town: A Story About Self-Confidence, A World of Pausabilities: An Exercise in Mindfulness, Did You Hear?: A Story about Gossip, Bee Still: An Invitation to Meditation, Bee Calm: The Buzz on Yoga, and Snitchy Witch. Dr. Sileo teaches mindfulness to his patients and to schools and organizations. Visit drfranksileo.com and @DrFrankSileo.

Claire Keay also illustrated Bee Still: An Invitation to Meditation and Bee Calm: The Buzz on Yoga. She works from her small studio at home illustrating children's books and stationery. Claire lives in the South of England. Visit clairekeay.co.uk, @claire_keay on Twitter, and on Instagram @sherbet_lane.

Editorial Reviews

Gold Medal winner in the Mom’s Choice Awards

“This light tale is a good introduction to the practice of meditation for youngsters.” —School Library Journal

“Bee Heartful: Spread Loving Kindness is a delightful addition to Frank Sileo's earlier books Bee Still and Bee Calm.  In the enchanted garden where they live, children will again meet Bentley Bee and his friends. These garden charmers teach how to send love, good wishes, kindness, and compassion to others. It is beautifully illustrated, and a powerful lesson in how to be truly happy ourselves.” —Sharon Salzberg, author of Lovingkindness and Real Happiness

“A bee-utiful introduction to the practice and power of loving-kindness.  Bentley shows all of us how to grow the seeds of loving-kindness in our own heart and beyond.  More important now than ever!”
—Christopher Willard, PsyD, Psychologist, Faculty Harvard Medical School, author of many books including Alphabreaths and Breathing Makes It Better

“Bee Heartful: Spread Loving-Kindness will bring warmth and kindness into the hearts of children. Author and psychologist Frank J. Sileo strikes the perfect balance between artful storytelling and heartful guidance for social-emotional learning. Illustrator Claire Keay’s endearing illustrations portray characters that will invite readers to practice loving-kindness with their sweet protagonist, a bee named Bentley, and his animal friends. Masterfully done!" —Whitney Stewart, author of Mindful Kids: 50 Mindfulness Exercises for Kindness, Focus, and Calm

“I read it to my son and he said, 'It's my favorite.' What a great book to bring more love and kindness into the hearts and minds of our children—the future of humanity.” —Elisha Goldstein, Founder of The Mindful Living Collective

“Bentley the Bee is a delightful character in the wonderful Bee Heartful. He represents and teaches the practice of loving kindness, an evidence based meditation that can lead to more joy, connection and well-being in children and adults alike. I loved the book!” —Diana Winston, Director of Mindfulness Education at UCLA's Mindful Awareness Research Center and author of The Little Book of Being

“This book would be an excellent Valentine's Day gift for any child.” —Westman Reviews

“This story of Bentley the Bee would be a great introduction to using the calming breathing with kids. And placing it where children could look at it again and again would let them practice it on their own.” —Andi’s Kids Books

From the Publisher

02/01/2020

K-Gr 2—Psychologist Sileo demonstrates the power of meditation in his follow-up to Bee Still and Bee Calm. Bentley the bee is so honey-sweet, his mantra is to "be happy, be healthy, be safe, be peaceful." He offers it to strangers like Sammy Squirrel and Sabrina Skunk, as well as the mean-spirited Willie Wasp, who steals Bentley's heart-warming scarf. It "bugs" Willie when the bee remains calm, so he returns the property. Admiring animal observers then take meditation lessons from Bentley so they can "all be heartful." The author includes a two-page note of advice to "Adult Beekeepers" as well as a page of meditation scripts. Keay's bright and bouncy illustrations will draw readers in. VERDICT This light tale is a good introduction to the practice of meditation for youngsters.—Gay Lynn Van Vleck, Henrico County Library, Glen Allen, VA

School Library Journal