Bedtime routines can be a challenging time for parents and caregivers as little ones often struggle to settle down for the night. Bellies to the Sky: A Bedtime Breathwork Book by Colleen Canning is an excellent resource for parents and caregivers looking to teach their children about mindfulness, breathwork, and stress relief, all while promoting a peaceful and calming bedtime routine.

The book is aimed at children aged between 3 and 8 and uses animals to guide little ones through a breathwork journey. The story takes readers on a journey through different environments, from a quiet farm to a peaceful forest, the Serengeti, the Arctic, and back to the loving home. The parent animals in each environment teach their little ones how to breathe and relax. Each animal family has a unique part of the body to relax with each breath. The lion relaxes its toes, the Arctic fox relaxes its belly, the deer relaxes its hands, and more. With every animal, a new body part is relaxed and calmed with deep breaths, breathing down to Mother Nature.

One of the strengths of Bellies to the Sky is its focus on breathwork as an important tool for emotional regulation and stress relief. The book’s use of animal characters and simple phrases on each page make breathwork accessible to even the youngest readers. The exercises are direct, yet serene, which helps engage young children and motivates them to breathe just like the animal families. By focusing on the breath and the body, the book provides children with a valuable tool for calming their minds and bodies before bed, helping them to fall asleep more easily and wake up feeling refreshed.

The illustrations in Bellies to the Sky are captivating and beautiful, done by Allie Daigle. Each page is richly colored and captures the essence of the animal characters and their environments. The illustrations make the book a joy to read and create a peaceful and relaxing atmosphere, which is perfect for bedtime. Children will love the colorful and realistic animal characters, and parents will appreciate the beautiful artwork.

In addition to teaching children about breathwork and emotional regulation, Bellies to the Sky also promotes a connection to nature. The book takes readers on a journey through different environments, highlighting the beauty of the natural world and the importance of connection. This theme is especially important in today’s world, where children are increasingly disconnected from nature.

Overall, Bellies to the Sky is an excellent resource for parents and caregivers looking to teach their children about mindfulness, breathwork, and stress relief. It is a beautifully written and illustrated book that will engage and captivate young readers while also teaching them valuable life skills. By incorporating breathwork and nature into bedtime routines, parents can help their children develop healthy habits and promote a peaceful and calming environment at bedtime.

Great for kids that struggle to calm down at night, Bellies to the Sky is a wonderful bedtime book for children and parents to cuddle in and calm down at bedtime. Its focus on breathwork, emotional regulation, and nature makes it a valuable resource for parents and caregivers looking to teach their children about mindfulness and stress relief. The beautiful illustrations and tranquil animal characters make the book engaging and entertaining for young readers, while also promoting a peaceful and calming atmosphere at bedtime.  Bellies to the Sky is a must-read for parents and caregivers looking to help their children develop healthy habits and promote a peaceful bedtime routine.

“The book’s use of animal characters and simple phrases on each page makes breathwork accessible to even the youngest readers.”

“‘Bellies to the Sky’ is an excellent resource for parents and caregivers looking to teach their children about mindfulness, breathwork, and stress relief.”