BREATHE A RAINBOW: WITH 8 CALMING TEXTURES TO TRACE WITH YOUR FINGER, By Julie Koon, Abrams Appleseed, April 28, 2026, Board Book, $14.99 (ages 2-4)
Breathe a Rainbow, an interactive board book by Julie Koon, offers mindful breathing exercises and calming textures.
This oversize board book with die-cuts combines textured calming strips and deep-breathing exercises to encourage mindfulness.
With inspiring affirmations and a textured calming strip for kids to trace with their fingertips on each spread, this is a wonderful playroom or classroom tool to help lessen anxiety, anger, overstimulation, and many more big emotions little ones may not yet understand how to identify, describe, or regulate.
If you feel stuck in the mud, breathe in and out as you trace the outline of a bright flower’s petals. If you feel your worries whirl and swirl, breathe in and out as you trace textured ocean waves. Other shapes include a rainbow, a star, a butterfly’s wings, mountain tops, a swirling breeze, and a heart. —Synopsis provided by Abrams Appleseed.
Breathe a Rainbow is a beautiful little book of affirmations. It’s full of bright colors, cute illustrations, and tactile pages. Little ones will love the interactive elements, even if they don’t quite understand what’s going on. Realistically, a 2-year-old won’t understand the concepts here, but over time and with an increased vocabulary, this book will grow with them. Made of sturdy board and a strong binding, it’s made to stand up to plenty of use.
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