Crab and Whale
a new way to experience mindfulness for kids. Vol 1
by Mark Pallis, Christiane Kerr
Reading Profile
Should I read this?
Crab and Whale is a short, illustrated picture story that uses quiet imagery and simple repetition to introduce very young listeners to basic noticing and breath language. As a read-aloud it's calming and offers caregivers a compact set of phrases to cue slowing and attention. The most useful part is its singable pace and visual calm that make it easy to fold into bedtime or a brief pause. Limitations: it's brief, story-focused and won't satisfy anyone needing structured activities or older-child material.
Read this if...
- •a parent of a 2–5-year-old who struggles with bedtime resistance and wants one short, repeatable read to calm the room and introduce simple breathing words
- •a preschool teacher leading circle time for 3–5-year-olds who needs an illustrated, quiet read to mark a transition into calmer activities
- •a caregiver or nanny who wants a portable picture story to use during brief nap-time, car rides, or quick wind-down moments
Skip this if...
- •you'll likely put it down when you expected explicit how-to steps or longer guided activities — this is a gentle story, not step-by-step instruction
- •annoying if you prefer layered plots, sharper humor, or material for older children; the pacing and simplicity aim at very young listeners
- •frustrating if you wanted a broader set of practices or longer sessions to teach mindfulness across ages — the text stays short and story-focused
Crab and Whale is a beautifully illustrated story, designed to subtly introduce children to the skills and practice of mindfulness. A perfect bed time or play time story and a must have on the bookshelves and kindles of all busy children. Author Christiane Kerr has 20 years experience as a Mindfulness for Kids practitioner and is the author of the ...
Before You Buy
Reading Specifications
Difficulty:easy
Audience Fit
- a parent of a 2–5-year-old who struggles with bedtime resistance and wants one short, repeatable read to calm the room and introduce simple breathing words
- a preschool teacher leading circle time for 3–5-year-olds who needs an illustrated, quiet read to mark a transition into calmer activities
- a caregiver or nanny who wants a portable picture story to use during brief nap-time, car rides, or quick wind-down moments
- you'll likely put it down when you expected explicit how-to steps or longer guided activities — this is a gentle story, not step-by-step instruction
- annoying if you prefer layered plots, sharper humor, or material for older children; the pacing and simplicity aim at very young listeners
- frustrating if you wanted a broader set of practices or longer sessions to teach mindfulness across ages — the text stays short and story-focused
Check formats, pricing, and availability options for Kindle, physical print, or audiobooks directly.
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Why recommended
appears in Mindfulness.
Recommendation Signals
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Appears In
Not sure if this is the right fit?
Consider The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz. Recommended by 36 sources.
“A slim, conversational guide that draws on Toltec spiritual tradition to propose four internal agreements for reducing suffering. The reading feels like listening to an encouraging elder: warm, repetitive, and full of anecdotes. Its value is in persistent reminders that most emotional pain comes from unchecked assumptions and taking things personally. The limitation is a lack of nuance and no practical exercises; it assumes you can reframe your mind through sheer intention. Without follow-up, the advice can feel like fortune-cookie wisdom.”
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Each recommendation is collected from a public source — interviews, articles, or curated lists — and linked to its original URL. Books with many verifiable recommendations from respected people rank higher.