Calm the Farm by Sarah O'Sullivan

A cross and cranky rooster creates a lot of kerfuffle and upset for other animals on the farm. The animals model emotional regulation and mindfulness to find some calm and teach the rooster how to move from the red zone to green.

With a background in primary teaching, author Sarah O'Sullivan has drawn on her many years of experience working with children to create this mindfulness yarn.

Using gentle repetition, younger readers are taught valuable steps to manage their own emotions. O'Sullivan shares wellbeing concepts that will help grow resilient and tenacious children. There's information for caregivers and educators at the end of the book, along with a QR code leading to audio links where O'Sullivan guides mindfulness practices.

Illustrator Bec Brown brings whimsy to the pages, bringing O'Sullivan's characters to life in vibrant colour. They perfectly capture the emotions and body language of dysregulation. Brown's style was the right choice for the story, with her love of florals and whimsy bringing an extra calming touch.

This book will be a great tool for schools and families to add to their bookshelves. Calm the Farm offers a practical way for children to learn steps to manage their own emotions, while giving adults a way to introduce and support these skills.

Reviewer: Rebekah Lyell

Little Love