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Peaceful Piggy Meditation
The Coalition of Visionary Resources Children's Book of the Year Winner
What can you do when you're mad, sad, or anxious? Find a quiet spot, sit, and breathe. When you meditate every day, your mind stays happy, and even bad days are a little easier.
Sometimes life seems like it's all about hurrying―so many places to go! And sometimes it's hard when things don't go your way―it can make a piggy angry and sad. So how do young piggies find a peaceful place in a frustrating world? They meditate! They find a quiet spot, a special place with a few simple things, and just breathe. They do this every day, feeling their breath going in and out. They slow down and calm down. Now it's easier to deal with whatever comes their way, and they have time to notice all the magical things in life, too!
What can you do when you're mad, sad, or anxious? Find a quiet spot, sit, and breathe. When you meditate every day, your mind stays happy, and even bad days are a little easier.
Sometimes life seems like it's all about hurrying―so many places to go! And sometimes it's hard when things don't go your way―it can make a piggy angry and sad. So how do young piggies find a peaceful place in a frustrating world? They meditate! They find a quiet spot, a special place with a few simple things, and just breathe. They do this every day, feeling their breath going in and out. They slow down and calm down. Now it's easier to deal with whatever comes their way, and they have time to notice all the magical things in life, too!
32 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2004
12 people are currently reading
345 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 52 reviews
September 4, 2020
Great book for mindfulness
January 6, 2019
This book does a good job of showing why we should meditate. The illustrations show pressures of life that kids can relate to, though they senselessly demonize video games as something that prevents us from relaxing "even when we're sitting down." (as represented by a game where two pigs kick logs, the height of excitement)
Unfortunately, the book gives the sense that meditation is easy and that is a panacea for all of life's problems. I felt like this really underestimates the child reader; they don't need a prettified view of meditation.
The end notes also provide a guide for how to meditate. They suggest meditating for 5 minutes, but a pop out on the same page says that 1 minute of meditation for a child is equivalent to an hour of meditation for an adult due to neurological differences...so kids should be meditating for the equivalent of 5 hours?
Unfortunately, the book gives the sense that meditation is easy and that is a panacea for all of life's problems. I felt like this really underestimates the child reader; they don't need a prettified view of meditation.
The end notes also provide a guide for how to meditate. They suggest meditating for 5 minutes, but a pop out on the same page says that 1 minute of meditation for a child is equivalent to an hour of meditation for an adult due to neurological differences...so kids should be meditating for the equivalent of 5 hours?
September 14, 2017
Peaceful Piggy Meditation is a book about a little piggy who finds himself in a lot of different situations. It shows how the piggy needs to breathe when angry or upset, maybe remove himself from the situation, how to help others, and, basically, how to meditate. At the end of the book, there is a "do it with your family" type of instructions for mediating as a family on a regular basis.
I really liked this book because I think it's super important to teach kids how to handle stressful situations or with people they may not like, but in a respectful and peaceful way. Sometimes, a parent simply telling a child how to act won't do the job, but if the kid see's a peaceful piggy in situations he/she is in, they might think "What would piggy do?"
I really liked this book because I think it's super important to teach kids how to handle stressful situations or with people they may not like, but in a respectful and peaceful way. Sometimes, a parent simply telling a child how to act won't do the job, but if the kid see's a peaceful piggy in situations he/she is in, they might think "What would piggy do?"
November 25, 2019
Really liked this book. Torn between 3 and 4 stars. I can see this being great for families, so that you can be inspired to try meditation as a family. I've heard only great things about meditation for children and this book just really spoke to me in the library. Totally worth the read.
September 19, 2021
Piggies explain the basics of meditation and how it is so helpful for bodies and minds alike. Children as well as adults will find excellent guidance about meditation and how it can help in their lives.
August 15, 2017
Ah, good, a picture book about meditation -- I was looking for one of these. Not so much a story, per say, as a gentle walk through and explanation. Nicely illustrated, nicely done.
March 1, 2018
A wonderfully wise and insightful tale to help children be peaceful.
August 7, 2018
One of my kindergarten teachers loves using this book with her students because of how easily the children can relate to the characters.
February 1, 2019
This children's book does a great job introducing children to meditation through a peaceful pig.
May 6, 2019
An absolutely wonderful book!
April 14, 2020
Kerry did a magnificent job explaining the importance of meditation for children and families, loved the illustrations!
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August 27, 2020Done
January 15, 2022
Very cool way to tell kids to slow down
January 7, 2025
I have read this book numerous times with my daughter who suffers from anxiety. It never gets old and is very useful. Her pediatrician recommended it!
July 29, 2015
I like several things about this book. It talks about finding a quiet place to meditate in order to find more peace in life. I think it can be great for toddlers because it mentions specific things in their environment that may cause feelings of frustration or anger and suggests taking a break to breathe and calm down. It also promotes daily meditation to encourage a positive self-image and confidence in doing what is right.
There are also a few things I did not like. It shows another piggy using a ladle to hit and, on another page, tripping a pig who then has a bandaid, bandaged foot, and crutches. I feel somewhat uncomfortable showing my two-year-old books with those actions. Unfortunately, there have been a few situations recently where other children did mistreat her physically, so this gave me another opportunity to explain to her that people sometimes misbehave, that it is not okay, and how to respond. So, it can be very appropriate once children are exposed to violent behavior.
The main page I have an issue with, and now cut down to one sentence, suggests having parents set up a special place with "maybe a crystal, for clear thinking, a stone, for stillness, or even a flower, for kindness." Just a little weird for me.
There are also a few things I did not like. It shows another piggy using a ladle to hit and, on another page, tripping a pig who then has a bandaid, bandaged foot, and crutches. I feel somewhat uncomfortable showing my two-year-old books with those actions. Unfortunately, there have been a few situations recently where other children did mistreat her physically, so this gave me another opportunity to explain to her that people sometimes misbehave, that it is not okay, and how to respond. So, it can be very appropriate once children are exposed to violent behavior.
The main page I have an issue with, and now cut down to one sentence, suggests having parents set up a special place with "maybe a crystal, for clear thinking, a stone, for stillness, or even a flower, for kindness." Just a little weird for me.
February 1, 2009
This book first caught my eye because my daughter loves pigs and collects all things "Piggy". Next I was drawn in by the beautiful idea of teaching young children a tool for calming themselves down in this crazy, fast paced world, in which we always seem to be telling the little fellows to "hurry up!" Weather you meditate, pray, practice yoga, all or none of the above, there is a wonderful message to be found here about taking a few moments to enjoy some peace in a modern world that asks us to always be thinking "what's next." Calming ones self is a skill all children can benefit from learning...and grown-ups too! Our family prays together daily, but I'm seriously thinking about adding a little meditation as well...we don't have to call it that, if it sounds too daunting (funny how we can make even the practice of being peaceful into something stress-inducing!) But just taking a few minutes to sit together quietly each day and not try to rush all the time sounds like a glorious and loving way to start or end the day to me. Check it out.
December 30, 2015
A wonderful introduction to the importance of meditation or, if that's too much of a "new-age" vibe for some, the need to take time out for oneself and refocus. In a world that is rapidly becoming BusyBusyBusy with technology and other exciting gadgets, many children don't know how to turn things off - including themselves. This picture book illustrates the importance of becoming a "peaceful piggy" and how meditation can take a variety of forms. The benefits, however, are that it can bring you into balance. Using language and scenarios children can understand, such as friends being unkind or siblings not sharing, the story's real success is using plump pigs waltzing about the pages. Excellent for one-on-one sharing and large group storytelling, most children will be receptive to the idea of finding time out for themselves to be a peaceful piggy. Includes an extra meditation in the back as well as another craft/meditation families can do together. Highly recommended.
December 20, 2008
Gorgeous paintings and a simple story about the hectic and sometimes frustrating life of a couple of pink piggies teaches us the meaning, purpose, and practice of meditation.
This book is a great idea and was very well written...it is clear enough for even the littlest piggies to understand. At the end, the author offers tips for successful meditation for children and families, tips on creating a special place to meditate, and even gives you the "mind-in-a-jar experiment" to illustrate in a concrete way the benefits of meditation. (Take a jar of water to represent the mind, add a scoop full of dirt to represent thoughts, frustrations, etc. Cap the jar and shake it up to represent a busy, jumbled mind. Its not very clear. Let the jar sit quiet, and undisturbed and see the "thoughts" settle and the "mind" clear. ---What a great idea!!!)
This book is a great idea and was very well written...it is clear enough for even the littlest piggies to understand. At the end, the author offers tips for successful meditation for children and families, tips on creating a special place to meditate, and even gives you the "mind-in-a-jar experiment" to illustrate in a concrete way the benefits of meditation. (Take a jar of water to represent the mind, add a scoop full of dirt to represent thoughts, frustrations, etc. Cap the jar and shake it up to represent a busy, jumbled mind. Its not very clear. Let the jar sit quiet, and undisturbed and see the "thoughts" settle and the "mind" clear. ---What a great idea!!!)
August 27, 2016
Recommended by Samantha P.
Gorgeous paintings and a simple story about the hectic, and sometimes frustrating life of a couple of pink piggies teaches us the meaning, purpose, and practice of meditation.
This book is a great idea and was very well written. It is clear enough for even the littlest piggies to understand.
At the end, the author offers tips on creating a special place to relax and foster successful mediation practices for children and families.The "mind-in-a-jar experiment" illustrates, in a very concrete way, the benefits of meditation. Take a jar of water to represent the mind; add a scoop full of dirt to represent thoughts, frustrations, etc.; Cap the jar and shake it up to represent a busy, jumbled mind. It's not very clear. Allow the jar to sit quiet, and undisturbed. Notice the "thoughts" settle and the "mind" clear. What a great idea!
Gorgeous paintings and a simple story about the hectic, and sometimes frustrating life of a couple of pink piggies teaches us the meaning, purpose, and practice of meditation.
This book is a great idea and was very well written. It is clear enough for even the littlest piggies to understand.
At the end, the author offers tips on creating a special place to relax and foster successful mediation practices for children and families.The "mind-in-a-jar experiment" illustrates, in a very concrete way, the benefits of meditation. Take a jar of water to represent the mind; add a scoop full of dirt to represent thoughts, frustrations, etc.; Cap the jar and shake it up to represent a busy, jumbled mind. It's not very clear. Allow the jar to sit quiet, and undisturbed. Notice the "thoughts" settle and the "mind" clear. What a great idea!
May 19, 2011
WONDERFUL BOOK! This book was instrumental in taming my daughter's temper tantrums. I can tell her to take a few deep breaths and find her peaceful piggy and she calms down. Sometimes it takes a little more, maybe taking her hand and sitting with her, but we practice meditating together.
We breathe in happy thoughts (and share them - it is amazing what you learn about your child through their happy thoughts) and breathe out our sad/mad/angry thoughts (ditto). I can also talk to her about her about things that make her sad. For example, she told me she gets sad when I go to work. I was able to have a very serious conversation with her about why I have to leave.
Astounding. I highly recommend it.
We breathe in happy thoughts (and share them - it is amazing what you learn about your child through their happy thoughts) and breathe out our sad/mad/angry thoughts (ditto). I can also talk to her about her about things that make her sad. For example, she told me she gets sad when I go to work. I was able to have a very serious conversation with her about why I have to leave.
Astounding. I highly recommend it.
February 6, 2017
This book is both an adorable and important reminder of (or introduction to) the importance of mediation or simply taking a deep breath and refocusing. In a world that is constantly busy, on the move, and even frustrating, taking a moment out for yourself and finding peace can help improve not only how you interact with the world but also how you treat yourself. It's so easy to get upset or feel anxious; feelings that are relatable not only for the intended young audience but also for adults. Peaceful Piggy Meditation shows how meditation can help provide peacefulness and refocus energy to create a more positive worldview. There are also more in-depth instructions and explanation in the back.
I would recommend this for ages 2-8 and their parents.
I would recommend this for ages 2-8 and their parents.
August 16, 2014
I purchased this to read to my elementary music students because I am trying to integrate mindfulness and mindfulness practices into my teaching methods.
I am a bit disappointed by the book because I think it is better suited to families with spiritual inclinations and am afraid that my particular population of students might find it silly, alienating, or easy to make fun of.
However, I am still going to try it and see what happens. Nothing ventured, nothing gained. Perhaps I will not get the reaction I anticipate if I stop expecting it!
I am a bit disappointed by the book because I think it is better suited to families with spiritual inclinations and am afraid that my particular population of students might find it silly, alienating, or easy to make fun of.
However, I am still going to try it and see what happens. Nothing ventured, nothing gained. Perhaps I will not get the reaction I anticipate if I stop expecting it!
May 4, 2008
Me and Teora took this out from the Friends Library, recommended by our librarian friend. It is so good. Perfect introduction to meditation for kids- it's not corny, just the right balance of information and narrative, cute pictures, and easy-to-understand dialogue. My daughter loves it and so do I.
Want to read
September 23, 2011Teaches how to relax and regroup even when things are too busy, or don’t go the way you like.
~Ashley B
Click here for the full article on: More Than Just Fairytales
~Ashley B
Click here for the full article on: More Than Just Fairytales
May 30, 2015
My kids really enjoyed this book and I have found them sitting peacefully numerous times trying to "meditate" since reading it to them. Speaks well to young children in terms that are meaningful and understandable.
January 17, 2015
My six year old did not like this story because 1) the topic of being peaceful was boring to him; 2) the illustrations were also about being peaceful things; and 3) it was not very exciting and didn't have an adventures.
March 22, 2015
Wonderful book explaining the benefits of meditation (and mindfulness) to children. The exercise idea at the end of the book is very powerful for children, and the author includes a great page for parents and adults for pausing with their children for 5 or 10 minutes everyday to meditate.
August 30, 2017
Peaceful Piggy Meditation, by Kerry Lee MacLean, introduces young people to the importance of finding time to cherish the little things in life. I used this as an introduction to mindfulness time in my classroom.
February 29, 2008
Great introductory book on teaching kids about the meditative mind.
August 23, 2010
Loved it. I need to start meditating every day. Definitely going to read this one aloud....
Displaying 1 - 30 of 52 reviews