As two children confront a barrage of emotions, mindful breathing helps them to feel grounded in Rummel and Bunting’s earnest picture book. Through first-person narration, the figures, one portrayed with brown skin and one shown as pale, describe their alternating experiences of worry, excitement, sadness, nervousness, anger, and embarrassment (“I feel sad./ A heavy feeling/ weighs me down.../ down... down”). Accompanying the titular refrain “I remember my breath,” metaphor offers a helpful aid for emotional self-regulation. The breath is “the wind” amid worries, “a paintbrush” around excitement, and an “umbrella” for sadness. Lightly washed illustrations depict common childhood scenarios (a tumble, a birthday, a move), amplifying the text’s relatability for effectiveness. A “Guide for Caring Adults” provides contextual background and activities. Ages 4–8. (Jan.)

PreS-Gr 2— Two children, one presenting white and the other with tan skin, demonstrate simple mindful breathing techniques and imagery to help calm and center themselves. When a child feels worried, they remember their breath and imagine the wind blowing the "what-ifs" away. A nervous child remembers their breath and imagines a net to catch the butterflies in their stomach and set them free. The pacing of the text is excellent, with the spreads detailing emotions moving quickly, while those describing breath read more slowly, subtly inviting readers to breathe along and imagine their breath as well. An afterword "for caring adults" explains how the book came about and emphasizes the benefits of mindfulness. The author also includes activities adults may want to share with children to help identify their feelings and how they choose to act on them. VERDICT For story hours or classroom use, this is a calming and reassuring read that demonstrates mindful breathing in a way that will resonate for many children. Recommended where books on mindfulness and social emotional learning are in demand.— Heather Webb