Breathe Deep

PreS-Gr 2–Grammy award-winning children’s songwriter/performer Leeds makes her picture book debut with a song that celebrates head-to-toe breathing for finding calm. “Quiet your toes, quiet your feet./ Quiet your legs and just breathe./ Breathe deep.” The instructions continue, slowly relaxing toes to head with pauses to count to ten. Reading this aloud may feel more repetitious than singing it with the frequent refrain and counting. Quintino expands the experience with charming digital collages that have the flat appearance of a child’s drawings, exuberantly colored in with crayon. A mix of races are depicted as a family of four and their spotted dog, a grandfather and grandchild, and a mother and daughter spend a tranquil day picnicking, biking, and boating in the countryside. All appear to be soaking in the serenity of their bucolic surroundings and mindful breathing. Three additional breathing techniques are clearly described in an endnote. Also provided in the back matter are the printed music for the song and a QR code to the publisher’s web site for the author’s recording.