SATA
ENTRY TYPE:
WORK TITLE: I Am We
WORK NOTES:
PSEUDONYM(S):
BIRTHDATE:
WEBSITE: http://susanverde.com/
CITY: East Hampton
STATE:
COUNTRY: United States
NATIONALITY: American
LAST VOLUME: SATA 400
RESEARCHER NOTES:
PERSONAL
Born in New York, NY; children: Josh, Gabe, Sophia.
EDUCATION:Long Island University, B.A., M.Ed.
ADDRESS
CAREER
Author, educator, yoga instructor, and mindfulness coach. Former longtime elementary-school teacher in Bridgehampton, NY; children’s instructor in yoga. Presenter at workshops.
AVOCATIONS:Yoga.
WRITINGS
Contributor to periodicals and websites, including MindBodyGreen and Yoga Digest.
SIDELIGHTS
Susan Verde draws from her past experiences as a native New Yorker and onetime elementary school teacher to create picture books with an open-hearted, positive spin. [open new]In a Writer’s Digest piece, Robert Lee Brewer conveyed the essence of Verde’s childhood: “As a kid she kept a piece of chalk in her pocket (for spontaneous hopscotch) and her skate key around her neck, ready for the next adventure. She found inspiration everywhere and loved to write all about it!”[suspend new] Discussing her early interest in writing with the Music Library, Verde stated: “I have always loved writing since I can remember. I liked to write stories and poems and observations even as a young child, even when I didn’t know how to spell at all. It was fun for me. I didn’t think about it as a career until I was much older. I had many jobs before that, one being a kindergarten teacher. But all the while I wrote just for myself.” A yoga instructor who specializes in youth classes and mindfulness training, Verde fused her vocations into I Am Yoga, a work featuring illustrations by Peter H. Reynolds and the first book in her “I Am” series.
Reynolds’s artwork was first paired with Verde’s text in The Museum, which follows a pixie-ish young girl as she romps through the galleries of one of the world’s leading art collections. An exuberant guide who speaks in verse, the child reveals how some of the well-known works she sees affect her feelings. “Verde makes an engaging case for understanding art as an experience rather than an object,” declared a writer in Publishers Weekly. In School Library Journal, Rachael Stein wrote that The Museum “communicates a fresh, playful, childlike perspective on art” and creativity. Turning to animals in You and Me, Verde uses rhyme to recount how two felines met and became fast friends, and her “rhythmic text floats by in a breathtaking manner,” according to School Library Journal reviewer Claire Moore.
I Am Yoga also uses verse to take children on a journey, and with the help of Reynolds’s drawings readers are introduced to a full sequence of yoga poses, or asanas. Speaking with Book Yoga Retreats, Verde explained some of the benefits that yoga gives to practitioners: “Yoga helps to cultivate empathy and gratitude in a non-competitive way, in addition to strengthening the body. The earlier we start introducing yoga and mindfulness through non-competitive games and activities, the more likely these habits and attitudes will continue into adulthood and the more comfortable our kids will be in their own skin. If you learn to love yourself, you can share that love with others.” A Kirkus Reviews writer commented that “the combination of Verde’s tranquil words and Reynolds’ playful interpretations will encourage young readers to mirror each pose before turning the page,” and School Library Journal contributor Jane Hebert deemed I Am Yoga “a delightful introduction to the subject as well as a wonderful read-aloud.”
Continuing her work with Reynolds, Verde wrote I Am Peace: A Book of Mindfulness and I Am Human: A Book of Empathy. In the former title, a child is feeling worried about the past and anxious about the future, but as he takes the time to breathe, opens his senses, connects to nature, and engages in acts of kindness, he is able to relax in the present moment. With a guided-meditation exercise included, a Kirkus Reviews writer called I Am Peace “a gentle, helpful tool for cultivating kid mindfulness.”
I Am Human follows a young boy from birth—as one of the billions of diverse people on the planet—and looks at everything that makes him human, including learning, dreaming, imagining, and experiencing curiosity, wonder, and friendship. The book also addresses how negative energies, like hurtfulness and sadness, arise and how to counter them with positivity. In School Library Journal, Catherine Callegari appreciated the “clear and concise text” in this “age-appropriate and hopeful look at what it means to be a connected human on this planet.” A Kirkus Reviews writer called the prose “affirming” and concluded of I Am Human, “Grown-ups will enjoy reading this regularly with the children in their lives: The reminders benefit us all.”
Verde went on to publish more books in the series, including I Am Love: A Book of Compassion, I Am One: A Book of Action, and I Am Courage: A Book of Resilience. In I Am Me: A Book of Authenticity, a child interacts with animals, toys, and another human. Along the way, there are statements about how to accept one’s uniqueness. A writer in Kirkus Reviews described the book as “upbeat and inviting.” [resume new] I Am We: A Book of Community goes beyond self-growth to show how good-hearted living allows interpersonal connections and collective achievements. With compassion as the guiding ideal, one can lend people support, talk about differences, protest for justice, be welcoming toward others, come together to celebrate—and through all these things, feel better oneself. A Kirkus Reviews observed that the “contemplative text sets a tone at once musing and affirming” and praised I Am We for offering “a genuine call to action paired with sincere reflection.”[suspend new]
In an interview with the Wichita Moms Network, Verde discussed the “I Am” series as a whole, stating: “The books are, at their core about loving oneself and from that, cultivating the ability to love others and care for the world. Each book has an author’s note, and a series of yoga poses or mindfulness meditation activity to support and extend the messages in the stories. Personally, I think the books are best for ALL ages. … They are picture books so often that audience is four to ten years but again I hear from high schoolers, college students and adults about how the books have affected them.”
Verde served as coauthor to Georgie Badiel, a woman whose childhood experiences inspired their picture book The Water Princess. Living in a Burkina Faso village, young Gie Gie joins her mother on a daily journey to fetch water. The girl enjoys the magnificent landscape but questions why their daily trek to get the family’s water must take up so much of the day. “Verde’s poetic language reflects … the positive spirit the girl brings to the task,” wrote a Publishers Weekly contributor, and a Kirkus Reviews writer contended that Verde and Badiel’s “timely and well-crafted story” highlights “the preciousness of potable water.”
Verde’s text for My Kicks: A Sneaker Story! finds a boy reluctant to give up his favorite but way-too-tight shoes, and “this cool kid’s adventures offer general appeal,” asserted School Library Journal writer Gave Hinchliff. Verde teamed up with illustrator Matthew Cordell for Rock ’n’ Roll Soul, which follows a young girl as she plans her act for an upcoming school talent show. While others will be playing musical instruments, the girl narrates in rhymed text that harken to hip-hop, jazz, soul, folk, and classical styles as she feels herself to be an instrument of music. The book’s message was praised by a Publishers Weekly writer as “affirming and egalitarian” and in Children’s Bookwatch by Sherry L. Hoffman as “being true to yourself and finding your inner voice.” A Kirkus Reviews writer called Rock ’n’ Roll Soul “a rappa-tappin’ good read that will invite readers young and old alike to move, groove, and turn on their favorite tunes.”
In Hey, Wall: A Story of Art and Community, illustrated by John Parra, a city boy walks by a bare and blank wall day in and day out, from season to season, and finally decides to bring it—and his community—to life. With a little help and some art supplies, the wall becomes a vibrant representation of the togetherness of the multiethnic community. A Kirkus Reviews writer deemed the book “a classroom-friendly call for social activism,” while in Publishers Weekly a reviewer hailed the message that “ordinary people can band together to transform big things.” School Library Journal contributor Meghan Oppelt was inspired by Hey, Wall to declare of the author’s growing oeuvre, “Verde’s unique style and simple yet increasingly important messages of peace, mindfulness, and community make her stories a must-share.”
Illustrated by Andrew Joyner, Unstoppable Me follows a highly energetic boy as he goes to preschool, makes art, and interacts with his family and classmates. In an interview with a contributor to the Mile High Reading website, Verde noted: “As a mom and former teacher I have had my own children and students who had lots of energy. People often call these kids ‘spirited’ and can view their inability to be still as challenging and often it’s seen as negative. This story is meant to express the positive things about the need to move and express and expel seemingly boundless energy.” Writing in School Library Journal, Jenna Boles suggested that the book may be more appeal to adults than children, stating: “Actual energetic children will appreciate books that allow them to be involved in the story.” However, a Kirkus Reviews critic described the book as “a delightful read-aloud that kids will enjoy and parents will get a chuckle out of.”
In 2020, Verde launched her “Feel Good Fairytales” series. The first book in the series was The Three Little Yogis and the Wolf Who Lost His Breath: A Fairy Tale to Help You Feel Better. Inspired by the classic fairytale, “Three Little Pigs,” this volume tells the story of three young yogi-practicing pigs who meet a frustrated wolf unable to blow a house down. Each of the yogis teach the wolf various breathing techniques, which have the side effect of neutralizing his anger. Critics offered mixed reviews of the book. A Kirkus Reviews writer suggested: “Even the most yoga-enthused readers may find this title pretentious and off-putting.” However, Maryann Owen, reviewer in Booklist, predicted: “Children will enjoy trying out the various positions and modes of breathing.” “Verde’s narrative text is so inviting that readers will want to practice the wolf’s yoga and breathing patterns,” remarked Rita Christensen in School Library Journal.
The Tossy-Turny Princess and the Pesky Pea: A Fairy Tale to Help You Fall Asleep is Verde’s take on “The Princess and the Pea.” It finds the titular princess learning yogi poses and breathing techniques to help her relax and have a good night’s sleep. A Kirkus Reviews critic commented: “Unfortunately, as a story, its purpose overwhelms its narrative impact, though kids will enjoy the illustrations.” In Tortoise and Hare: A Fairy Tale to Help You Find Balance, the two rival animals take part in the race at the center of the classic fairy tale. In Verde’s version, Tortoise and Hare learn from one another and work together to complete the race. The book features yoga poses that allow practitioners to recognize pace and balance. Tiffany Flowers, reviewer in Booklist, commented: “Children will love this adorable and timely spin on a classic tale.”
Verde is the author, with Courtney Sheinmel, of the 2023 book, Sallie Bee Writes a Thank-You Note. The book’s titular protagonist writes a note to her grandma, thanking her for sending her a scarf. Sallie enjoys writing the note so much that she decides to write thank-you notes to other people in her life. Margaret Kennelly, contributor to School Library Journal, asserted: “Finally! A good book to teach students that writing a thank you note can be fun.” Booklist writer, Shelle Rosenfeld, praised the book’s “entertaining, lively approach.” A critic in Kirkus Reviews predicted that the book “will inspire and prepare readers to share their thanks.”
Can You See It? is the first book in Verde’s “Sensing Your World” series, which focuses on the five senses. This volume finds a child narrator recognizing the difference between looking at an object and deeply observing it. A Publishers Weekly writer noted that the volume includes “accessible examples that also introduce mindfulness techniques.” “The book is engaging” with “much good to see here,” commented a contributor to Kirkus Reviews. [re-resume new]Are You Listening?, the next book in the series, unfurls in a busy park, where sounds galore—a conversation, an airplane, a violin, a bee, the breeze—help bring about immersion in the act of listening. Careful listening, in turn, can bring about greater empathy and self-awareness. Appreciating how questions addressed to the reader “provide opportunity for conversation and reinforce understanding,” a Kirkus Reviews contributor found in this volume “a lovely reminder that listening is more than hearing.”
Verde gives the “I Am” series a fresh twist with the companion book Who I Am: Words I Tell Myself. Laid out as mantras, Verde’s thoughtful text helps children recognize their true selves as the one they know and love, regardless of the words other people might use. Negative feelings will sometimes surface, such as in response to mistakes and shortcomings, but talking about them and letting them pass will bring one back to self-acceptance and positivity. Recognizing that the modern world’s widespread negativity needs counteracting, a Kirkus Reviews writer proclaimed that Who I Am “gently teaches kids to use positive affirmations to remember they’re actually terrific” and thus proves a “must-read” promising to “remind all kids of just how great they are.”[close new]
Verde told SATA: “I was always interested in writing but not necessarily as a career. I wrote for me. It helped me process things in my life and was something I loved to do especially writing poetry. When I write I think a lot about how I felt as a child and the things I wish I had heard or experienced and also the things that had an impact on me. For example, the book Hey, Wall was my homage to the street art that surrounded me and affected me as a kid growing up in NYC. I also think about the kids I have known, my own and those I have taught and what might give them support and what might be engaging. It is thrilling to me that teachers use my books in their SEL curricula. I feel very connected to educators and inspired by the work they do so being able to give them books that support their work is an honor. I don’t really have a favorite book I have written because each one has my heart and soul but I will always have a special place for my very first, The Museum.
“I hope my books will entertain and also show the readers that they are important. I want readers to know they have all of the tools within themselves and are creative and powerful and worthy of love and compassion and are able to share that with the world.”
BIOCRIT
PERIODICALS
Booklist, March 15, 2013, Ilene Cooper, review of The Museum, p. 91; September 1, 2016, Amina Chaudhri, review of The Water Princess, p. 117; March 1, 2020, Maryann Owen, review of The Three Little Yogis and the Wolf Who Lost His Breath: A Fairy Tale to Help You Feel Better, p. 66; April 15, 2022, Tiffany Flowers, review of Tortoise and Hare: A Fairy Tale to Help You Find Balance, p. 47; November 1, 2022, Shelle Rosenfeld, review of Sallie Bee Writes a Thank-You Note, p. 78.
Children’s Bookwatch, July, 2018, Sherry L. Hoffman, review of Rock ’n’ Roll Soul.
Horn Book Guide, fall, 2013, Katrina Hedeen, review of The Museum, p. 48; fall, 2015, Kari Allen, review of You and Me, p. 54; spring, 2016, Bridget McCaffrey, review of I Am Yoga, p. 51.
Kirkus Reviews, February 15, 2013, review of The Museum; November 1, 2014, review of You and Me; July 15, 2015, review of I Am Yoga; June 1, 2016, review of The Water Princess; February 15, 2017, review of My Kicks: A Sneaker Story!; July 15, 2017, review of I Am Peace: A Book of Mindfulness; March 1, 2018, review of Rock ’n’ Roll Soul; August 1, 2018, reviews of Hey, Wall: A Story of Art and Community and I Am Human: A Book of Empathy; June 1, 2019, review of Unstoppable Me; March 15, 2020, review of The Three Little Yogis and the Wolf Who Lost His Breath; March 1, 2021, review of The Tossy-Turny Princess and the Pesky Pea; June 15, 2022, review of I Am Me: A Book of Authenticity; September 15, 2022, review of Sallie Bee Writes a Thank-You Note; February 1, 2023, review of Can You See It?; September 1, 2023, review of Who I Am: Words I Tell Myself; February 15, 2024, review of Are You Listening?; August 15, 2024, review of I Am We: A Book of Community.
Publishers Weekly, January 28, 2013, review of The Museum, p. 176; July 11, 2016, review of The Water Princess, p. 65; March 12, 2018, review of Rock ’n’ Roll Soul, p. 56; July 9, 2018, review of Hey, Wall, p. 90; March 6, 2023, review of Can You See It?, p. 52.
School Library Journal, April, 2013, Rachael Stein, review of The Museum, p. 145; December, 2014, Claire Moore, review of You and Me, p. 114; September, 2015, Jane Hebert, review of I Am Yoga, p. 131; August, 2016, Megan Egbert, review of The Water Princess, p. 82; March, 2017, Gave Hinchliff, review of My Kicks!, p. 114; August, 2018, Meghan Oppelt, review of Hey, Wall, p. 62; September, 2018, Catherine Callegari, review of I Am Human, p. 97; 2019, Jenna Boles, review of Unstoppable Me, p. 40; 2020, Rita Christensen, review of The Three Little Yogis and the Wolf Who Lost His Breath, p. 96; October, 2021, Myiesha Speight, review of I Am Courage, p. 77; November, 2022, Margaret Kennelly, review of Sallie Bee Writes a Thank-You Note, p. 53.
Yoga Journal, 2018, review of I Am Yoga, p. 18.
ONLINE
Behind the Book, http://www.behindthebook.org/ (February 14, 2018), Nina Dunhill, “Meet the Author: Susan Verde.”
Book Yoga Retreats, https://www.bookyogaretreats.com/ (January 10, 2017), “Living with the Sense of Wonder of a Child: An Interview with Susan Verde.”
Brazos Bookstore website, https://www.brazosbookstore.com/ (June 30, 2021), Joy Preble, author interview.
James Preller website, http://www.jamespreller.com/ (March 9, 2017), “5 Questions with Susan Verde, Author of ‘The Water Princess.’”
Mile High Reading, https://readingwithmrteut.wordpress.com/ (July 23, 2019), author interview.
Music Library, https://musiclibrarybox.com/ (August 7, 2020), author interview.
Susan Verde website, https://www.susanverde.com (April 23, 2025).
Wichita Moms Network, https://thewichitamomsnetwork.com/ (April 9, 2021), author interview.
Writer’s Digest, https://www.writersdigest.com/ (March 15, 2023), Robert Lee Brewer, “Susan Verde: On Transitioning from Children’s Books to Books for Adults.”
New York Times bestselling author, Susan Verde grew up in the heart of Greenwich Village in New York City. Ultimately, she moved to the Hamptons where she earned a Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education and a Master’s in reading remediation and become an elementary school teacher for many years.
Now, Susan is an author capturing and celebrating the unique experience of children. Her titles include, The Museum, The Water Princess, Rock ‘N’ Roll Soul and Hey, Wall a Story of Art and Community and Unstoppable Me. Her instant #1 New York Times bestseller I Am Human: A Book of Empathy is part of a bestselling series including I Am Yoga and I Am Peace and the New York Times bestseller I Am Love: A Book of Compassion. Her recent books are Tortoise and Hare and The Tossy-Turny Princess, the latest in the Feel-Good Fairytale series, as well as another in the I Am series, Who I Am: Words I Tell Myself and there are many more to come. Susan’s books continue to inspire children, educators, yoga practitioners and mindful humans alike helping to cultivate empathy and kindness in all of us.
In addition to writing Susan teaches yoga and mindfulness to kids of all ages.
Susan is currently living by the ocean in East Hampton, New York doing her best as a mother of 3 amazing humans and her menagerie of pets.
Susan Verde: On Transitioning From Children’s Books to Books for Adults
Author Susan Verde discusses how the writing process was both similar and different from writing children’s books with her new memoir, Say One Kind Thing.
Robert Lee BrewerMar 15, 2023
Susan Verde grew up in the heart of Greenwich Village in New York City. As a kid she kept a piece of chalk in her pocket (for spontaneous hopscotch) and her skate key around her neck, ready for the next adventure. She found inspiration everywhere and loved to write all about it!
She now lives by the sea in East Hampton, New York, where she writes books for readers of all ages, including the #1 New York Times bestselling I AM series, and teaches kids yoga and social-emotional awareness. Say One Kind Thing is her first book for adults. Find her on Twitter and Instagram.
Susan Verde: On Transitioning From Children’s Books to Books for Adults
Susan Verde
In this post, Susan discusses how the writing process was both similar and different from writing children’s books with her new memoir, Say One Kind Thing, her hope for readers, and more!
Name: Susan Verde
Literary agent: Erica Rand Silverman at Stimola Literary Studio
Book title: Say One Kind Thing: Lessons in Acceptance, Love, and Letting Go
Publisher: Abrams Image
Release date: March 14, 2023
Genre/category: Memoir
Previous titles: Many children’s books, including the I AM series which have sold more than two million copies
Elevator pitch for the book: A personal reflection on Susan’s journey of quieting her inner critic and learning to speak to herself with kindness as she embraces the challenges of being a mother, a daughter, and a human in the world.
Susan Verde: On Transitioning From Children’s Books to Books for Adults
Bookshop | Amazon
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What prompted you to write this book?
As my “I Am” series of children’s books has been growing in audience and success, I began to toy with the idea of writing for adults. I had this desire to share parts of my own story and journey in a way I couldn’t with children.
Adults, particularly those who identify as women and mothers, tend not to talk to each other in a way that reveals their struggles and challenges and feelings of self-doubt. Yes, thankfully some of us have a core group of friends for support and commiseration, but some don’t, and I wanted to be a voice in the conversation, vulnerable and honest.
I didn’t want to tell anyone what they should do or create a how-to, self-help book, but I wanted people reading Say One Kind Thing to feel seen and not alone.
How long did it take to go from idea to publication? And did the idea change during the process?
From idea to publication was about three or four years. It all began as a conversation and I really had no idea how it would turn out. My initial intention was to write more of a gift book with affirmations and “I am” statements, similar to those in my children’s books.
But as I began writing, I found myself wanting to dig deeper and show that being kind to oneself is not just an affirmation on a Post-it note but a constant journey—a rewriting of one’s inner dialogue. The more I wrote, the more the story became a memoir full of essays about parenting, mental health, being a daughter, and what it is to be a human practicing loving oneself in the face of what the world can throw at you.
Were there any surprises or learning moments in the publishing process for this title?
I am definitely a newbie to the adult publishing world. But I am finding it is similar to the children’s book world in that there is a team behind the book and the various departments working on the aesthetics and content, and people are incredibly kind when I ask a lot of questions.
As we get closer to publication and promotion, everything will be different in that I will no longer have the security of speaking to kids in school and practicing yoga and mindfulness with them and making them laugh. It will be, at least initially, a bit more daunting to speak with adults.
But I remind myself that the conversations sparked by the book are what I wanted and I will lean into.
Susan Verde: On Transitioning From Children’s Books to Books for Adults
Were there any surprises in the writing process for this book?
This was a whole new arena for me. I remember when I got the book deal, I was thrilled and then, just as quickly, terrified. I thought to myself, Sh*t! Now I have to write the damn thing.
It felt like a much more solitary process than children’s writing. I had deadlines but really had to hold myself accountable. With picture books, there is always this feeling of constant collaboration. Lots of back and forth with editors, sneak peeks at sketches, and the knowing that everyone is in the same creative mode at the same time.
With Say One Kind Thing, it was me making myself work, and trying in the process not to judge my own writing. It was also a surprise how the book morphed from one iteration to another, and I found myself opening up in a new way. It was less structured than children’s books and very freeing, but also overwhelming at times.
What do you hope readers will get out of your book?
What I hope is that readers will see themselves in this book, that they will find moments of connection or feelings they can relate to and feel supported. I want readers to know that although being kind to yourself isn’t always easy and takes practice, it is possible. As I say in the introduction, there are no shoulds in this book and everyone’s struggle and trauma looks different, and their resources to take care of themselves are different, but they are not alone.
If you could share one piece of advice with other writers, what would it be?
As I am new to this genre, I am just learning myself and I have been fortunate to have friends who have been writing books for adults for many years and were there along the way. But if I have to give some advice to other writers, it would be to be easy on yourself in the process. Let the mistakes happen, let yourself permeate the pages, and remember that there is room for your story and your voice. Let it flow.
Verde, Susan I AM WE Abrams (Children's None) $15.99 10, 1 ISBN: 9781419771941
Helping oneself can benefit others.
A brown-skinned, long-haired child comes to an important realization: "The better I feel inside, the more I can be there for others." With compassion and a commitment toward doing what's right, the youngster says, we can change the world. We can be a safety net for others, we can collectively demand justice, we can have gentle conversations to work out differences, and we can welcome others into the community. Combining creative talents, we can celebrate together; connecting with others opens up wonderful possibilities. Verde's contemplative text sets a tone at once musing and affirming, while Reynolds' cartoon illustrations visualize the concepts in practical ways, grounding readers in colorful and emotive images. In one noteworthy scene, the protagonist sits across a grassy ledge from a pale-skinned, red-haired child, both looking serious but understanding as they talk, the glowing sun and a distant ocean behind them. These characters are physically separated but clearly share a connection. An author's note urges readers to try a group yoga exercise, while an accompanying image depicts young people leaning on one another in tree pose--a concrete example of how we are all stronger together. The cast is diverse.
A genuine call to action paired with sincere reflection.(Picture book. 3-6)
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"Verde, Susan: I AM WE." Kirkus Reviews, 15 Aug. 2024. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A804504691/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=6c355112. Accessed 15 Mar. 2025.
Verde, Susan ARE YOU LISTENING? Abrams (Children's None) $15.99 4, 9 ISBN: 9781419761652
A child reflects on auditory experiences in this immersive ode to mindful listening.
As the book opens on a bustling park, a blond, light-skinned child informs us that "the world is busy." We see someone speaking on a cell phone, an airplane flying, a musician playing the violin, a baby babbling--all familiar, noisy experiences. But when the child's eyes are closed, these sounds become waves, represented as colorful lines and squiggles. The young narrator explains that when we actively listen, we "begin to understand." Sounds such as "the noisiness of nature" become differentiated, and the little one picks up on "the humming of a bee sipping from a flower" and "the whispers of a breeze talking to the tree" and realizes that "everything is alive." Deeper listening--not just to words, but to "the sadness, joy, wonder, or excitement" in conversation--promotes empathy and caring; Verde offers a welcome reminder that when we listen to our own bodies, we're better equipped to care for ourselves. Vibrant, stimulating illustrations depict a diverse world, featuring people of varied skin tones (some with visible disabilities) and a home with two male-presenting parents. Simple questions such as "What do you notice when you listen?" provide opportunity for conversation and reinforce understanding. Verde includes an easy but effective mindfulness exercise in her author's note.
A lovely reminder that listening is more than hearing. (Picture book. 3-9)
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2024 Kirkus Media LLC
http://www.kirkusreviews.com/
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MLA 9th Edition APA 7th Edition Chicago 17th Edition Harvard
"Verde, Susan: ARE YOU LISTENING?" Kirkus Reviews, 15 Feb. 2024. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A782202780/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=1d08d3ae. Accessed 15 Mar. 2025.
Verde, Susan WHO I AM Abrams (Children's None) $15.99 9, 5 ISBN: 9781419770913
You are your loudest cheerleader.
In a world filled with negativity, it's important that children say positive things to themselves to quell the internal voices trying to make them believe they're anything less than kind and exceptional. This inspiring book gently teaches kids to use positive affirmations to remember they're actually terrific. "It's with these words that I am describing the real me. With these words, I know who I am." Verde doesn't suggest it's wrong to experience unhappy feelings, however: "I am human. I am allowed to feel. I am supposed to feel." It's OK to talk about feelings, too, for anxious or other troublesome emotions will pass. As for mistakes, failings, and other challenges? There's a positive angle to them, too. This work contains numerous examples of empowering affirmations kids should learn to tell themselves, but, as the preface sagely advises adults, grown-ups should use this volume so that little ones will hear the positive vocabulary they must internalize to be able to affirm their own value. The delightful, uplifting illustrations, created with traditional and digital inks, plus gouache, watercolors, and tea, feature active, racially diverse children, sometimes appearing in groups, sometimes alone or in meditative poses. (This book was reviewed digitally.)
A must-read that will remind all kids of just how great they are. (Picture book. 5-9)
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2023 Kirkus Media LLC
http://www.kirkusreviews.com/
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"Verde, Susan: WHO I AM." Kirkus Reviews, 1 Sept. 2023. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A762669023/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=3463dc2f. Accessed 15 Mar. 2025.