The In-Between Book

by Christopher Willard PsyD, Olivia Weisser, Alison Oliver (Illustrator)

Overview

An interactive book for children to discover mindfulness and feel more connected to the world around us.

In The In-Between Book, authors Christopher Willard and Olivia Weisser invite children to mindfully interact with the book and with the world around them. Kids will trace the shapes between images on the page, feel the stillness between heartbeats, and focus on the space between breathing in and breathing out. As they slow down to connect with the spaces between things, they will learn powerful lessons about mindfulness, curiosity, and experiencing the world around them more fully.

With its conversational style and playful prompts, The In-Between Book is a creative and thoughtful approach to teaching mindfulness to children, parents, and caregivers. It’s a great read one-on-one or perfect for a classroom or storytime.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781683647331
Publisher:	Sounds True, Incorporated
Publication date:	06/08/2021
Pages:	34
Product dimensions:	8.85(w) x 8.80(h) x 0.43(d)
Age Range:	4 - 8 Years

About the Author

Christopher Willard and Olivia Weisser are a husband-and-wife creative team who live in the Boston area. Christopher is a clinical psychologist and consultant. He is on the faculty at Harvard Medical School and is considered a leading voice on youth mental health. Olivia is an associate professor of history at the University of Massachusetts Boston, where one of her areas of expertise is the history of health and healing. For more, visit drchristopherwillard.com.

Alison Oliver runs the design studio Sugar in New York City. She is the illustrator of the bestselling BabyLit board books, which introduce small children to classic literature. She is also the illustrator of Yoga for Littles, an interactive yoga deck, and the illustrator of The Breathing Book by Christopher Willard and Olivia Weisser. For more, visit pure-sugar.com.

Editorial Reviews

"An interactive book encouraging mindfulness by noticing the space in between." —Kirkus Reviews

From the Publisher

2021-05-05
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)

Kirkus Reviews