Top 4 Picture Books for Teaching Mindfulness and SEL to Kids

As teachers, we know that sometimes the best way to teach life skills is through a good story. 

After all, students can remember how they felt during a great book long after they’ve forgotten the lesson on fractions (unless you’re teaching fractions with pizza—then they’ll definitely remember). That’s where picture books come in!

Introducing mindfulness and social-emotional learning (SEL) into the classroom doesn’t have to be complex or time-consuming. In fact, one of the easiest and most enjoyable ways to integrate these concepts is through picture books. 

With their engaging stories, beautiful illustrations, and important life lessons, picture books are an effective tool for teaching children mindfulness, emotional regulation, and empathy.

Let’s explore four fantastic picture books that are perfect for introducing mindfulness and SEL practices in your classroom. These books not only help children understand their emotions but also teach them valuable life skills such as self-compassion, gratitude, and emotional resilience. 

Plus, we’ll explore actionable ideas on how to use these books to engage your students and integrate mindfulness into your classroom routines.

1. Good Morning, I Love You, Violet by Shauna Shapiro

Good Morning, I Love You, Violet by Shauna Shapiro is a beautifully illustrated picture book that encourages children to practice self-love and mindfulness. Violet learns how to begin each day with kindness and set positive intentions, helping young readers embrace self-compassion and start their day with a calm, mindful mindset.

Why it’s Perfect for the Classroom: This book is a wonderful introduction to self-compassion and mindfulness. It's ideal for helping children develop positive self-talk and gratitude, laying the foundation for a calm and focused classroom environment.

3 Ways to Use It in the Classroom:

1. Mindful Morning Routine: Start each day with self-love by having your students place their hands over their hearts, taking three deep breaths together, and repeating, “Good Morning, I Love You!”

2. Affirmation Wall: After reading the book, encourage students to create personal affirmations and display them in the classroom. These affirmations can be revisited daily to promote self-love and positive thinking.

3. Gratitude Reflection: Ask students to reflect on one thing they are thankful for and how it makes them feel. Have them share their reflections or write them in a journal, reinforcing the practice of gratitude.

2. Breathing Makes It Better by Christopher Willard

Breathing Makes It Better by Christopher Willard introduces children to the power of breathwork for emotional regulation. The book features simple breathing exercises that help kids calm themselves when they feel upset or overwhelmed. With colorful illustrations and easy-to-follow instructions, this book is an excellent resource for teaching mindful breathing.

Why it’s Perfect for the Classroom: This book is a fantastic tool for teaching children how to use breathing techniques to manage their emotions. It's especially helpful for children who need support with emotional self-regulation.

3 Ways to Use It in the Classroom:

1. Balloon Breathing: After reading the book, guide students in a “balloon breathing” exercise, where they breathe in deeply through their noses (imagining they are inflating a balloon) and exhale slowly through their mouths (imagining the balloon deflating). It’s a fun and effective way to help students refocus and calm down.

2. Breathing Stations: Create a calming “breathing station” in your classroom, where students can go to practice the breathing exercises from the book whenever they need to reset or manage big emotions.

3. Emotion Check-In: Use the book to prompt emotional check-ins with your class. Have students assess how they’re feeling and guide them through a brief breathing exercise to help them self-regulate before moving on to the next activity.

3. It’s Okay: Being Kind to Yourself When Things Get Hard by Wendy O'Leary

It’s Okay by Wendy O'Leary is a reassuring story that teaches children that it's okay to feel sad, frustrated, or upset—and that they don’t need to be perfect. The book encourages children to practice self-compassion, especially during difficult moments, promoting emotional resilience and kindness toward themselves.

Why it’s Perfect for the Classroom: This book is perfect for teaching students that it's normal to face challenges and feel a range of emotions. It helps children develop resilience and learn how to practice self-compassion when things get tough.

3 Ways to Use It in the Classroom:

1. Self-Kindness Practice: After reading It’s Okay, encourage students to reflect on times when they felt frustrated or upset. Guide them in saying something kind to themselves, such as, “It’s okay, I’ll try again,” or “I’m proud of how hard I’m working.”

2. Empathy Role-Playing: Create role-playing scenarios where students practice responding with empathy to a classmate who is having a tough day. Use the book’s themes to guide students in offering comfort and understanding to others.

3. Self-Compassion Journals: Have students keep a “self-compassion journal” where they write or draw about times when they were hard on themselves. Encourage them to reframe those moments with a kinder, more compassionate perspective, as the book encourages.

4. Breathe Like a Bear by Kira Willey

Kira Willey’s Breathe Like a Bear is a playful, engaging book that introduces children to simple mindfulness and breathing exercises through animal metaphors. From “bunny breaths” to “bear breaths,” this book offers a variety of fun breathing exercises that help children calm their minds and focus their attention.

Why it’s Perfect for the Classroom: This book is a great way to incorporate mindfulness into your classroom routine, especially for younger students. The playful animal-themed exercises make it easy for kids to understand and engage with mindfulness in a way that feels natural and fun.

3 Ways to Use It in the Classroom:

1. Animal Breathing Game: After reading Breathe Like a Bear, practice the animal breathing exercises with your class. Invite them to pretend to be the animals in the book and try to “breathe like a bear” (slow, deep breaths) or “breathe like a bunny” (quick, shallow breaths). This fun activity helps students connect with their breath and calm their minds.

2. Mindful Transitions: Use the breathing exercises from the book to help students transition between activities. For example, guide students in a “bunny breath” before moving from one activity to another, helping them reset and refocus.

3. Breathing Posters: Create a classroom poster that illustrates the different animal breathing exercises from the book. Display it as a visual reference for students to use whenever they need a quick mindfulness reset.

Integrating mindfulness and social-emotional learning (SEL) into your classroom doesn’t have to require a lot of extra work—picture books make it easy and fun! 

Books like Good Morning, I Love You, Violet, Breathing Makes It Better, It’s Okay, and Breathe Like a Bear provide children with valuable tools for emotional regulation, self-compassion, and mindfulness.

By incorporating these books into your classroom routines, you’re helping students develop the emotional skills they need to thrive both in school and in life. 

So, grab a book, gather your class, and start practicing mindfulness and SEL one story at a time!

Be well,

Christine