Meditation
mindful monkey, happy panda
by Lauren Alderfer
This wonderful picture book for children and adults alike introduces the powerful practice of mindfulness in a fun and exciting way. With the delightful characters Monkey and his serene friend Happy Panda guiding readers to a calmer and more attentive mind, this whimsical yet universal and warm presentation will delight all readers.
As our story begins, Monkey is not so mindful-his Monkey Mind constantly jumping from one thing to another-but he encounters a mysterious and playful friend in Happy Panda. Panda helps Monkey recognize the simple joy of doing what you're doing while you're doing it.
Age level: 4 and up
32 pages
- Features
Praise for Mindful Monkey, Happy Panda:
"This beautiful story shows us all how to dwell peacefully and happily in the present moment."
- Thich Nhat Hanh, author of Planting Seeds: Sharing Mindfulness with Children
"The category of mindfulness fiction has been wide open, and now with Mindful Monkey, Happy Panda, writer Lauren Alderfer and illustrator Kerry Lee MacLean (author of Peaceful Piggy Meditation) have made a serious entry into the field. It's not all that serious, though, since it is intended for children. While I'm certain children will love it, adults are going to enjoy it nearly as much. It's a page turner. I've read it five times myself, and intend to read it again. Suffice it to say that Monkey has issues. When he's walking, he's thinking about chores. When he's doing chores, he's thinking about reading. When he's reading, he's thinking about eating. We all can identify with Monkey. Fortunately, so can Panda, and he's got some great advice. It's also fortunate that his advice is straightforward, non-judgmental, and non-preachy. We all could use a little Panda."
-Shambhala Sun
