Book review: 'Yoga Animals' blends animals with yoga poses for kids

After all this Covid quarantining, has anyone else felt like they're basically best friends with Adriene Mishler? C'mon, I can't be the only one!

When Yoga Animals was sent to me, I thought it was the perfect way to continue introducing my kids to yoga. My littles often watch me do yoga and have asked if they can join along. Sometimes I let them, most of the time I don't.

Now, before you get all judgy on me about how I'm stifling their inner whatevers, let me be clear: yoga time is Liz time. All the other time in the day I try to be "on" for my kids. But workout time? No, that's for me so I can recharge and be a better mom.

K, getting off my soapbox now.

Anyho, I did manage to find a yoga for kids channel on youtube that my kids have LOVED! And National Geographic Kids' latest book, Yoga Animals has helped them get their yoga groove on even more.

So let's talk a little more about this book, mm'kay?

Image from Amazon

First of all, each page shows an animal doing a natural animal pose that has been turned into a yoga pose. There are 9 poses in all and each has step-by-step instructions explaining how kids can do their own yoga poses.

As you'd expect, downward dog is one of the poses. But this book also teaches cat pose, tree pose (stand like a flamingo!), and several others that, while I had never thought of them as animal-like, I totally do now!

Naturally, there are amazing National Geographic photos gracing each page and, even if your kids aren't into yoga, they'll most likely want to look at the animals.

Yoga Animals is a clean book with nothing offensive in it. This is an easy way to introduce kids to yoga all while in the confines of your home and while getting reading time in. Win, win, win!

This book also shows photos of actual kids doing the yoga poses. The children are both culturally and physically diverse. Different genders, ethnicities, and body types are all shown in this book.

Review breakdown:
31 pages
Full color photographs
Best for ages: 5 and older
Educational factor: medium-low
Moral content: Nothing to worry about
Parents could be concerned about:Your kids might want to exercise more!