Book Review

The book I chose for this assignment is called Good Night Yoga: A Pose-by-Pose

Bedtime Story, by Mariam Gates, illustrated by Sarah Jane Hinder. The target age level

for this book ranges from 4 to 8. The health issued demonstrated actually takes on two

areas: body and mind. A yoga practice combines learned physical strength with mental

clarity and mindful thinking in the present moment. Gates and Hinders book shows

children that yoga can be fun and calming at the same time. This reinforces the idea

that taking care of our bodies is important and, actually, very easy.

Good Night Yoga teaches several health concepts throughout the book. Like I

said, it takes on both body and mind. In terms of body, the Desired Results Develop-

mental Profiles (DRDP) for school age children says that, with Measure 30: Gross Motor

Development, the child will be able to move different parts of body or whole body with

increasing coordination and integration. Based on the age range of this particular book,

children should be able to attempt and master the Integrating stage, which is defined as:

Participates in extended or integrated physical activities but may perform slowly and/or

thoughtfully. Furthermore, children should show increasing independence in making

healthy life choices (DRDP Measure 11) and increasing interest in literacy activities

(DRDP Measure 16). In terms of mind, children should be able to follow rules, per Mea-

sure 5 in the Self and Social Development domain of the DRDP.

Although this book is partially instructional, it is written in such a way that reads

like a story regarding each yoga pose. Gates changed most of the names of the poses

so that they are more relatable to children. For instance, Mountain is changed to

Sun, which is the first pose of the book. With the illustration of a little girl standing up-
right with her arms stretched high toward the sun, with a serene look on her face, the

following text accompanies: As I breathe in, as I breathe out, my arms lift up to the sky

and then back down like sunrays (Gates 2). Each page is illustrated and written in a

similar manner. The story continues with poses like Star, Ladybug and Cat, among

others, ending with Child. It says, As I breathe in, as I breathe out, I sit back on my

heels, still and round like the earth. Whispers, Good night world. Youll be dreaming

soon (Gates 21-22). The end of the book concludes with The Good Night Yoga Flow,

which combines all of the poses and instructions, minus the storyline. It is intellectually

stimulating and informative and visually beautiful and capturing.

According to the California Early Childhood Educator Competencies, this book

addresses Health, Safety and Nutrition, Performance Area 4: Response to Health Re-

quirements. The techniques and strategies in this book encourage child and family en-

gagement in health activities. Children should engage in healthy activities (i.e. yoga) in

developmentally appropriate and individually meaningful ways with complete resources

and support of their families. This book does a wonderful job of connecting families in a

thoughtful way. Children respond well to activities when they feel support from their par-

ents and/or family members. Not only does it form another meaningful bond between

child and family, but it also creates as safe place for healthy activities and positive rein-

forcement.

Overall, Good Night Yoga: A Pose-by-Pose Bedtime Story is a wonderful addi-

tion, not only to each childs bookshelf, but to their day-to-day self-care and health rou-

tine. With assistance from author, Mariam Gates, illustrator, Sarah Jane Hinder, parents
and educators, children can learn that taking care of themselves is not just healthy, but

fun too!
 Works Cited

Desired Results Developmental Profile School Age. Tacoma, WA: Kompan, 1996. De-

sired Results. California Department of Education Child Development Division,

2011. Web. 18 Feb. 2017.

Gates, Mariam, and Sarah Jane Hinder. Good Night Yoga: A Pose-by-Pose Bedtime

Story. Boulder, CO: Sounds True, 2015. Print.

Key Competencies and Contemporary Skill Development in Education. (2017): n. pag.

California Early Childhood Educator Competencies. California Department of Ed-

ucation and First 5 California, 2011. Web. 18 Feb. 2017.