Deep Breaths by Carol Thompson
Published by Rodale Kids on October 1, 2019
ISBN: 1984893971
Pages: 32
Genres: Animals
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads

While originally published under a different title a decade ago (2010 in Australia; 2011 in the US), Deep Breaths has stood the test of time as a sweet story of friendship and reconciliation. Thompson’s loose and whimsical illustrations are a joy, and effectively illustrate the range of emotions that best friends Dolly the Pig and Jack the Rabbit experience throughout their interactions in the book: happiness, love, anger, sadness, and contentedness. Deep Breaths presents young children with relatable friendship scenarios and emotions, and illustrates tangible self-care and self-regulation strategies for when their emotions overwhelm them. It shows the value in acknowledging big feelings, taking time alone to self-regulate those feelings, and then reconciling negative emotions with your friend in a gentle and mutually agreed upon manner. Intended for children aged 3-7 years, Deep Breaths is not only a delightful story, but also a valuable teaching tool for parents, caregivers, teachers, and guidance counselors.

Reviewed by Jennifer Benham, Prince Memorial Library