Striker, Slow Down!: A calming book for children who are always on the go

by Emma Hughes, John Smisson (Illustrations)

Striker the cat is unstoppable! He thinks that there is too much fun to be had, and no matter what his mama tells him, he never slows down. One day, a bump to the head brings this busy cat to a standstill. Will Striker finally listen to his mama and learn to make time for a little calmness? This charmingly-illustrated picture book for ages 3-6 aims to teach busy children about the benefits of taking time to sit quietly and clear their mind. Touching on the principles of mindfulness, it provides the perfect introduction to the differing feelings of chaos and calm and encourages children to find balance in their increasingly busy lives.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Cats

40 pages, Hardcover

Published October 21, 2016

Reviews

[karen]

this is a cute little picture book about a cat named striker who is crazed with wanting to experience everything, all at once.



his frequent refrain, when cautioned by his parents about his speed-demon lifestyle, is adorable



i requested this book from netgalley because - cat, obviously, but also because i figured there may be a lesson in here that i could work into my own life, where i always seem to be doing too many things at once, and getting frustrated when i don't meet my too-ambitious goals.



the book is intended to be used on the 3-6 year-old set, as a way to help parents encourage their overactive children to chill out, through an adapted-for-kids version of yoga practices.

does it work? no clue. 3-6 year-olds are, from my casual observation only, pretty enthusiastic and filled with energies making them tricky to corral into deep-breathing sessions. but it's a good lesson to learn at an early age - to take the time to recalibrate before heading back out into the fray, just to make sure you're not running yourself so ragged that you start to overlook details. or planters.

did it work on me? well, i'm going to try. i'm going to start making little pockets of time where i just sit here and think about my projected goals and try to make them into more realistic, prioritized goals. and maybe ALSO try to have a moment where i just do something wild and free, taking a page from striker's original process. because it looked like he was having a lot of fun, and i need some of that. so, as a grown-up reading this book, i've decided to modify the lesson a little, because i've earned the right to make my own adult decisions, which includes the decision to act like a frenzied little kid every now and then.

the book also has really cute endpapers, which - like all photos in this review - are probably better in person and not just photographed from my computer.



come to my blog!

[Marie]

This is a cute picture book about a cat who is alway wound up, keeping busy, running circles around himself. It is full of gentle reminders to slow down, relax, find quiet. My 6 year old summed it as “a book about finding peace.” Interestingly, I have an 8 year old who is this “on-the-go”, “can’t-sit-still” personality. My 6 and 4 year olds with whom I read the book with, had trouble identifying their brother in this story. This would be a lovely book to read with a child who has these tendencies, as a reminder that it’s ok to slow down, especially in today’s society where there is so much emphasis on starting sports and other activities so early. In today’s world we are always telling are children to go, go, go. This is a nice reminder to children and parents alike that it’s great to slow down, breath, think, be. The illustrations are lovely: simplistic and fun. It makes sense that a yoga instructor wrote this, someone who has a practice of patience, of mediation. This is definitely something our children need more of in life, which is easy to forget. I recommend this book highly, especially for anxious children, or those with ADD.

Thank you to net galley for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

If you are interested in discussion questions, please see: http://www.book-chatter.com/?p=664

[Sandra]

I loved the idea of a calming book for children who are always in the go, but I think that concepts like "emptying your mind", or "thinking of nothing" are complicated for kids in the age range this book is addressed too. The idea is good, but the approach needs to be more accessible, in my opinion.

I received this copy from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Find more children's book reviews in Reviews in Chalk

[Laura]

How do you teach yoga, or calming through to a young child. I have no idea, but this picture book does attempt to explain the idea, if nothing else.

Somewhere between a 3.5 and a four star, this book shows a typical young child, wanting to be busy, and have fun all the time, despite his parents just wanting him to calm down. By showing that you can have fun, and feel good just letting herself think of nothing, and relax, the young cat realizes he can still have fun, while doing yoga.

Not sure if you will ever be able to teach a child about yoga, by reading this book to them, but as I have said before, if someone sees themselves in a book, it legitimizes them, so this might be good for young kids that are just getting into mindful thought.

Bright colorful pictures to keep the child engaged, as well as quick, lively text.

Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review.

[Hilary]

I'm a little tired of children's books that feel the need to always rhyme, because too often it just feels forced, and this is one of the books that suffers. I liked the concept of a book to help children slow down (I've got one who's always zooming around) but this didn't really work. There was lots about Striker being busy and very little about being calm, and certainly not in a way to encourage calmness in the younger children in its target group (ages 3-6).

Other parents might wish to know that Striker practices emptying his mind through yoga.

Disclaimer: I received a free copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Fatima Seraj Alam]

The intent behind this book is good but I don’t think this book will calm little kids who are bundles of never ending energy. Yes, as parents we would like kids to be calm and I am blessed to have a calm child but this is the only age when they can explore that energy and have fun. We shouldn’t put a stop to it or calm them down.

[Emily]

I loved the concept and illustrations; I just wish that it had more calming techniques for children instead of the many reasons children should calm down

[Jessica Rambo]

This book was given to me by the publisher through NetGalley. My opinions are mine and mine alone.

This is one of those books that has adorable art (very simplistic and cute kitties are almost always a win for me), and a good moral about slowing down at times, but even as a children's book, it appears to not be the kitten Striker that needs to slow down, but the book and its execution of the message. Basically, Striker keeps running around and being rambunctious until he smacks his head and relaxes before finding that it's okay to slow down at times. Overall, a pretty decent moral, especially for young children who almost always are running around, however, there didn't really appear to be any lead-up to Striker wanting to slow down just because he smacked his head one day. I think having a page dedicated to Striker liking to slow down and be with his parents would make all the difference in the world so it doesn't seem to come out of nowhere and make the book feel disjointed as it does now. I would have liked to see more foreshadowing of the parents inviting him to do some slow things that look fun to show children they don't have to be constantly running around to enjoy life instead of taking slowing down like a punishment, but that's just my opinion.
With all of the negativity, here are the things I liked. I loved the cute, yet simplistic art style, even if some of the art was disjointed to the story. I love cats, so I'm probably biased in that regard, but seeing cats running around and being spazzy reminds me of home (yes, I'm a college student away from my pets, how could you tell?), and as such, I'm more inclined to like books with that sort of illustrations. I also feel the book, while a bit misguided, does have a decent moral for children who are always on the go.
With this essay in mind, would I give it to my rambunctious cousins as a gift? Probably not since I don't feel like it is quite strong enough to keep their attention or get the message completely. However, if they were to pick this book up at a library and want me to read it every night for two weeks, then I can safely say it's a cute book about a rambunctious little kitty with some adorable drawings, so I wouldn't be too disappointed.

[Storywraps]

This charming book features a little rambunctious kitty that just has to be on the move. From the time his eyes open until they shut he is very, very busy.

He dashes and rushes and never sits still. His refrain is: I love being busy. I'm wild, I'm free! His mama is forever telling him to slow down please and his daddy tells him he's got ants in his pants. The only time the little guy rests his head is if he feels poorly, or is asleep in his bed ... O my!

One day while sprinting off to the park he falls down and bumps his head causing great concern to his parents. They both realize it is definitely time for an intervention and they begin teaching him how to slow down and how to relax. He and his Mama relax in the garden on big old lawn chairs and soak up some summer. They chat about how he can breathe in slowly and empty his mind. If he needs a bit of calm he can find a quiet secluded spot and still himself inside and out by blocking the distractions that are everywhere in our world.

Will Striker practice what Mama so lovingly is telling him? Will he opt to relieve himself of his busyness and free his mind absorbing both peace and tranquillity? I'm sure he will listen to her and start truly enjoying quiet time with himself.

This book is written in rhyme and is a wonderful way to get your little energized bunny to stop and smell the roses around him. The illustrations are vibrant, very colourful and expressive. I know it is a book that you will not only find helpful (perhaps for you too) but very enjoyable to read together again and again.

[Carla]

Striker is a young cat who does not know when to stop. Unfortunately, there are many people, including children who have this problem. Sometimes, it is the parent who overschedules their child. According to the publishers synopsis,

"This charmingly-illustrated picture book for ages 3-6 aims to teach busy children about the benefits of taking time to sit quietly and clear their mind. Touching on the principles of mindfulness, it provides the perfect introduction to the differing feelings of chaos and calm and encourages children to find balance in their increasingly busy lives."

In the story, the mother and father are constantly trying to get Striker to relax and slow down with no luck. When Striker has an accident, bumping his head, he is finally ready to listen to his mother and sits with her outside, quietly taking in the sunny day. If it was that easy, I think more active children would be able to calm themselves. I believe that reading this book and putting the idea into the heads of the child and parent may get them on the right path but it will take work and more sessions of sitting quietly in the garden. The illustrations are bright and colourful, yet not to complicated and busy, which makes sense considering what the book is trying to tell children.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher via netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Sharon Tyler]

Striker, Slow Down is a picturebook written by Emma Hughes and illustrated by John Smisson. Striker the cat is unstoppable! He thinks that there is too much fun to be had, and no matter what his mama tells him, he never slows down. One day, a bump to the head brings this busy cat to a standstill. Will Striker finally listen to his mama and learn to make time for a little calmness?

Striker, Slow Down is a charming book about slowing down and taking the time to notice things and clear the head. The illustrations are sweet and charming, capturing the energy Striker has and the reluctance to slow down. As a mom of two very active children I have seen this in real life, the fear of missing out or not taking advantage of every fun possibility that comes their way. I enjoyed that the book show how slowing down and being more aware, more mindful, of their bodies and the world around them. I think there was a nice balance of fun and getting the point across with out getting pushy. I think the concept of thinking of nothing might be hard for some youngsters to grasp, and I felt like there was not much time spent on how to actually relax. Although I do like the idea of starting this conversation and giving parents and caregivers some of these tool, both for themselves and the kids.

[Eve Costarelli]

This book is A+ adorable! The verses are, on a whole, well metered and really help to put you in the shoes of a very hyper, run around and bump into things, kind of kid (er…kitten). Striker is just go, go go; he is full of spunk and curiosity. After a bit of a tumble, he has to slow down and in that moment his mom jumps in and helps him center himself, bring his focus inwards, and from their the lesson about mindfulness is ingrained in him. This book is a great resource for any adult working with very young children on bolstering their social emotional learning and can be added to yoga classes and at home and classroom learning. The message is simple, but clear, and will encourage self-control, inner peace and a more positive outlook. Striker has a great sense of self . The book takes a fun and light-hearted approach to helping kids take control of themselves and to learn to slow down and smell the roses. The adorable illustrations by John Smisson just “POP” and add spot-on visual fun to Ms. Hughes story. #jkpbooks #emmahughes #mindfulness #johnsmisson
Full Disclosure: The publisher sent me a copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

[Penny lurkykitty]

I received a copy from NetGalley in return for an honest review.
Striker is a non-stop busy little cat, always active and on the go. He gets a bump on the head and learns that it is important to slow down and calm down sometimes. Written by a yoga teacher, this book attempts to introduce the concept of meditation and stillness to children. The book is intended for 3-6 year olds and I'm not sure that they'll get the concept of emptying their mind or will change their behavior because of the book. However, when I read it to my six-year old, it was a good lead-in to discussing the importance of quiet time. Striker slow down would be a great pre-naptime book in a daycare setting. Parents who overschedule their kids could walk away rethinking their behavior after reading this book. It was an enjoyable read and the illustrations are excellent.

[Andrea Lorenz]

Striker is a busy cat, running from place to place, from activity to activity, never taking time to rest (unless he's feeling bad or sleeping or eating). When a unexpected block in the road throws Striker off his game, he learns he needs to slow down from time to time.

I liked the idea of this - a book to calm children down who are always on the go - but I don't feel like this delivered. Three-quarters of the book is about how Striker is so busy and not about calming down. Instead of a bump on the head, he could wear himself out, get sick, get cranky, and have an accident. One little bump on the head isn't going to deter a child who never stops. The illustrations though were wonderful-cute, simple, and to the point. Again, I like the idea, but I don't love the execution.

[jess ~has abandoned GR~]

Encouraging calmness in children is a noble goal, but I'm not sure the book succeeded. The majority of the book is spent seeing how energetic Striker the kitty is, and how exasperated his parents are as a result, but I'm not convinced that his energy is a bad thing. After taking a bump to the head, Striker requires a little quiet time for recovery, and finally learns how to relax.

I would have loved to see more of an explanation on how Striker learns to embrace calmness, other than just sitting quietly and breathing.

Also, as an aside, the illustrations were beautiful.

I received this book via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Kate Puleo Unger]

Striker is a VERY active young kitten. His mother is always telling him to slow down, but he sees himself as a wild and free kitten and to him that means always moving. In the end his mama teaches him that being free can also mean expanding your mind and focusing your thoughts. He starts to meditate essentially, and it helps him calm down.

This book is written in rhyming stanzas that don't always work. It's a little clunky to read at times, but the message is cute. The illustrations are fun as well. They portray the very active Striker in vivid colors. It's a decent read for kids ages 2-5.

http://www.momsradius.com/2016/11/kid...

[Magy]

Striker the cat is wild and free! He is always on the go. There is too much to do. There is too much fun to have. But one day when Striker is go-go-going, he bumps his head and learns an important lesson: it's okay to relax and have a bit of calm in your life.

Striker, Slow Down! is well written with fun illustrations. Kids will be drawn to the rhythm of the words and to its message.

*A copy of this book was provided free of charge for an honest review.

[Donna Maguire]

I enjoyed this book, the images are lovely and bright, the layout is great it keeps attention too. The whole concept is good overall and its been put together well. I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review - 3 stars from me

[Sarah]

I like the thought of this book, but I didn't think it was actually calming. Most of the story was about how busy Striker is, and little time was spent on how to be calm.

I received an ARC from NetGalley.

[Tara]

Striker is always on the go, even though him mom tells him he must slow down. It finally catches up to him and he is injured. He must sit quietly and have time for himself. Cute idea, but I'm not sure that kids will enjoy this or that they will understand it.

[Morgan Sohl]

Fun introduction to kids about being calm. could be especially useful for families with high energy kids or those with ADHD

[Andréa]

Note: I accessed a digital review copy of this book through Edelweiss.

[Poongothai]

Good illustrations. Striker the cat relaxes after getting bumped in his head which leads to other thoughts rather than the moral that it is ok to relax.

Thanks to netgalley

[ʕᵔᴥᵔʔ]

I really enjoyed the illustrations, though there could be a little more to the story than there was.

[Carolyn]

Great illustrations. Gives kids a different perspective on what being active can mean