The Three Little Yogis and the Wolf Who Lost His Breath

March 1, 2020

PreS-Gr 3-Verde (I Am Yoga) writes again about mindfulness in a new picture book that incorporates yoga into a nimble fractured fairy tale about a big bad wolf who inexplicably loses his huff and his puff. The wolf knows his long-standing outbursts of anger are futile but still has a compulsion to demolish everything in his sight. He meets three piglet yogis in succession and is miffed that he can't blow down their homes. When the yogis notice the wolf's frustration, they serenely respond, "Let's meditate on that." They teach him belly breathing, cooling breath, and other methods that help him, even if temporarily, to calm down and relax. After practicing his exercises with all three yogis, the wolf decisively finds his breath through yoga and learns how to control his anger. Verde's narrative text is so inviting that readers will want to practice the wolf's yoga and breathing patterns. She includes additional breathing exercises and poses at the back of the book. Fleck (Tiny T. Rex) illustrates this new-age tale with expressive characters in his charming graphic style of simple shapes and lines. The sophisticated complementary palettes on the double-page spreads have a calming effect, with pleasurable shades of gold, earthy greens, and more bold orange reds. VERDICT Perfect to read one on one or in a group to help children (and adults) find their inner peace and power of breath.-Rita Christensen, Orem Public Library, UT

Copyright 2020 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

March 15, 2020
This wolf huffs and puffs whenever he is angry, simply because he doesn't know what else to do with his anger. But now he has a problem: He has lost his huff and puff. One day when in a cranky mood he encounters a peaceful-looking pig practicing yoga. Much as he wants "to huff and puff and blow down" the pig's straw house, he cannot. The pig yogi--a caricatured stereotype of all things yoga--oozes compassion for her natural competitor; suggests they "meditate on that" when he explains his dilemma (which is, of course, that he can't blow down her house); and teaches him belly breathing. When this isn't enough to fully squelch the wolf's urge to huff and puff, they go off to another yoga-practicing pig's home for more meditation and breathing until they finally wind up at a brick yoga studio. It's surprising to see such a flawed treatment from the author of I Am Yoga and I Am Peace (2015 and 2017; both illustrated by Peter H. Reynolds). The tone is surprisingly elitist, suggesting that those who don't know how to breathe away their anger just need to be enlightened by yoga. The illustrations further propagate this trope with their stark contrast between the villainous wolf and the serene pigs. The only bright spot is the inclusion of a nonbinary pig, who's referenced using the singular "they." Even the most yoga-enthused readers may find this title pretentious and off-putting. (Picture book. 4-8)

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March 1, 2020
Preschool-G In this topsy-turvy "Three Little Pigs"-inspired tale, a trio of pink porkers help a wolf who has lost his ability to huff and puff. Blowing things out and around and down is the only way the wolf knows to ease his anger. One day, he comes across a little yogi performing sun salutations. Though he wants to blow her hut down, he finds he's unable. She patiently attempts to teach him meditation using belly breathing. When that doesn't help, she takes him to a second and then a third pig, who also teach him techniques for relaxing. Despite self-sabotaging his lessons with anger, after some practice, he learns how to relax his body and mind. Colorful pictures range in size from vignettes to single and double spreads. Adults may find this story useful in teaching children how to deal with strong emotions, and children will enjoy trying out the various positions and modes of breathing. The book concludes with an author's note that describes several yoga exercises and methods for relaxation.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2020, American Library Association.)