The Gift of the Broken Teacup: ­Poems of Mindfulness, Meditation, and Me

Gr 2-5–This volume of poetry offers 30 opportunities for readers to be present with the words and imagery of creative duo Wolf and Orlando. The book is loosely organized into thirds, beginning with a section titled “­Mindfulness,” followed by “Meditation,” which ­includes poetry about yoga and walking meditation. A final third section is labeled “Me.” Narrators of the poems sometimes ­appear as a didactic adult persona in poems like “You Be You,” “How To Turn Worry Into Wonder,” and “Angry? Act it Out!” Other times the voice is that of a child, as in “I Write ­Myself Down!” and “Betsy Best, My Best Worst Friend.” Individually, the poems have the capacity to teach and charm, but may ­appeal more to educators. While there’s no denying the talent of the author and illustrator, the pairings attempt to strike a balance of the anodyne poetry of an American generalist seeking to impart lessons of Buddhism with a visual artist known for her ability to create harmonious imagery depicting community and belonging.