Be Still, Life

by Ohara Hale

Starting from the premise that everything is alive—a feeling that is deep and immediate for many children—Be Still, Life draws the reader into a still place where everything is moving. Thought-provoking in its depiction of the relationship between stillness and motion, this is certain to engage children, slowing them down through sheer fascination and delight.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Nature, Fiction, Art

48 pages, Hardcover

First published August 12, 2016

About the author

Ohara Hale is a self-taught artist who works with many different forms and materials. She sings, writes, draws, and performs sounds, words, colors, and movements that are questions and ideas about love, life, nature, and all the unseen, unknown, and dreamed in between. Hale lives on planet Earth with flowers. : • )

Reviews

[Calista]

A self taught artist put together this book. It celebrates the wonders and humor of this world from a child’s perspective. I think this book would be nice for a young reader, 2-4 or 5.

I don’t have much else to say.

The nephew was bored by this. He yawned throughout it, not because he was tired. He gave this 1 star. He’s too old for this.

[KC]

A wonderful concept-a stop and smell the roses-but too many pages, words, and a bit too illustrated.

[Hannah]

A brilliant, joyful, and perfectly playful introduction to being present for children. BE STILL, LIFE doesn't mention meditation or mindfulness, yet it manages to splendidly capture the bliss and beauty of slowing down and paying attention to everything around us. Come for the colorful, charming illustrations, stay for Hale's warm, wonder-filled contemplation.

[Vishal Katariya]

Delightful. See the Brain Pickings post about the book for some images and choice excerpts. It's a children's book, and you can breeze through in about 5 minutes, but that's not the point. As the book says, be still, life (that's you!). Stop and watch the shadows lengthen, and be patient so that you can see all the ants and the leaves and hear all the sounds. There's this one line that shocked me into a smile:

Now what do you smell if you stop and take a whiff?

Can you smell this book's pages, or the scent of dog lips?

Dog lips!?

[Beth]

A lovely book emphasizing the need to slow down and take in the wonder and beauty around us, particularly nature. It's a bit abstract of a concept, but the rhythm of the story and the fun illustrations will likely hold a young listener's attention.

[Edward Sullivan]

A fun, provocative way of encouraging mindfulness by slowing down and savoring the moments in life, delivered with joyful silliness.

[Marianne]

Quite lovely. And my cat Tiger liked it too. (I've been reading out loud to him for a decade now....)

[Jordan Steyer]

A cute story about mindfulness. I love the idea of teaching slow living and appreciating what is around us. The illustrations are so vibrant and fun. The story is a bit simple so probably best for younger kids.

[Felicia Caro]

This is a lovely book full of bright, happy colors. Featuring fun rhyming words about nature and animals, "Be Still, Life" wonderfully captures a sunny, warm day, just when all the bugs, people, and creatures come out of hiding. The illustrations are a delightful sort of chaos, just like life, and may help children find inner peace and calm in what may seem like a busy mess of movement and energy. Slow down and point out the things you *can* see, hear, touch, feel, smell... and one by one they will come to you and silence your worry and anxiety, asking you to look within. "Be Still, Life" is a story for children (and adults) about being present in the world, being aware of what surrounds you, and embracing each moment of our special lives. A perfect book for spring and early summer.

[Tree]

The colors and line drawings are unique, simple, and appealing. Everything in the world is alive and moving and this little book encourages you to be still, pay attention, and thoughtfully observe it all.

[Kelly]

Loved it. The story is about the stillness and beauty of life, in a loosely rhyming fashion. The illustrations are colorful and whimsical. But the story? Beautiful. Although it is very lyrical and whispy, I think that a child could grasp the meaning.

[Amy]

Cute book about mindfulness. It is a bit long, so for a storytime group, I will choose one or 2 sections to read. It teaches about noticing the small things around you and appreciating everyday sensations, like the scent of rain.

[Emily]

The illustrations are unique in “Be Still, Life.” It would be good for a yoga or bedtime story time.

[Mary Lee]

A book about slowing down, noticing, savoring life.

[Tante Tot]

I loved, loved, loved this book.
Save the bees' knees!

[Emily]

This is a great concept, but I just can't with the illustrations. The banana eyes are just watching me too much.

[Jennifer]

A meditation that doesn't resonate as a story. Vintage palette. Long-56 pages.

[CreateEveryday Classroom]

a reinforcement of the benefits of being still or quiet

I am going to love to use this book for a still life art class

[Erin]

Delightful mindfulness for kids and grown-ups.

[John]

I like this book. It was about being slow and quiet and standing still.

[Megan]

3.5 stars--I love the message in this book--slow down, be observant, be present. It took a lot of highly illustrated pages to get there.

[Suezette Given]

lively way to explore the idea of finding a way into a quiet space

[Hannah]

From the cover alone, I'd thought I'd enjoy this. Ohara Hale does have a way with words, but there's a bit too much going on in one page - it feels a bit cluttered and busy imagery wise.

[Lynn Davidson]

A story of appreciating life and motion, and the calmness that is around us when being quiet to listen and observe.

[Syntha Green]

Bright fun illustrations

[Beth]

Rather confusingly the bright busy illustrations accompany cheerful energetic words extolling the wonders of meditation and contemplation.

[Molly]

I liked the concept and the art, but there was alot going on, even for me- so I'm not sure how it would work for a child.

[FM Family]

I was surprised at how much I liked this one. It's a bit strange, and you can tell that in Japanese it probably rhymed quite nicely but in English they have had to make some compromises. It ends up basically being a book about mindfulness, being in the moment, taking stock of what's around you and just being still. I think it's much more effective than Quiet, by Tomie dePaola, the only similar book I think we've read. I don't think my three year old is old enough to really get pulled into the idea of mindfulness, but I think it could be effective for that? I'll return to it another time.

[Abbigail]

This book felt like a summer goodnight book. From the title I was assuming we would have all of these spreads with a few sparse words and one or two pictures, but there is quite a bit of text and a LOT going on in the pages illustration-wise. At the same time, it felt like the words were very soft or being whispered, even in the midst of so much celebration. This is what leads me to recommend it as a summer goodnight book. Very cute.

[Lizzie Connell]

This is written as a children's book, but is the perfect introduction to meditation. Both deep and light, a pleasant read.