by Mary Jessica Hammes
December 30, 2011

I didn’t know if the book would work, but I was desperate for something—anything—to make the day end on a good note.

The day was consumed with whining by my 5-year-old son and voice-raising by me—back and forth, a cycle we couldn’t seem to break. I was hoping for a bit of bedtime magic.

I asked Tommy to sit with me and read Yawning Yoga: A Goodnight Book for a Good Night’s Sleep, a new picture book by Laurie Jordan.

It proved to be the magical touch we both needed.

Bedtime in our house can be laborious. Tommy resists it like many children.

Today had been particularly tedious and Tommy was unusually ornery. I didn’t know what to expect when I suggested we read Yawning Yoga. I was surprised by Tommy’s willingness to curl up next to me, book in hand.

Appropriate for any child who enjoys picture books, Yawning Yoga uses short and playful poems to describe various yoga moves. Instructions for Downward-Facing Dog, aptly named “Dog-Tired Down Dog,” include, “Get onto all fours like your 4-legged friend. Becoming a dog is fun to pretend.” Aaron Randy’s illustrations are bright and cheerful yet surreal and dreamy, such as a child lying in a bed-sized plate of spaghetti, preparing to have her arms and legs wiggled by a parent for the “Spaghetti Test.” The pictures also have a cozy, warm, glowing quality, which is appropriate given the book’s final word, Namaste, which means “The light in me sees the light in you.”

The yoga poses are arranged in a specific sequence, starting with broad exercises that gradually become more focused and calm. The exercises at the beginning of the book are intended to “blow off steam,” while those at the end target stretching, breathing, and guided visualization.

Tommy grinned his way through each exercise. The first poem, “Greet the Moon,” had him stretching his arms to the ceiling pretending to catch a passing star. “Good Night Little Body” was similar to a bedtime routine we often do in which Tommy says goodnight to each body part. He thoroughly enjoyed having me wiggle his arms and legs for the “Spaghetti Test,” although it took a while for him to relax his limbs enough to get the full effect. We both enjoyed “Ocean Breath.” “That’s so relaxing,” sighed Tommy. “Wishing Star” encourages children to describe a star in their imagination and introduces the concept of meditation, which I appreciated. In “Mind’s Eye” readers travel somewhere “safe and secure” thinking about what they see, hear, and feel when they get there. I chose a beach. Tommy picked Pump It Up, one of those places where a warehouse-sized building is crammed full of gigantic inflatable bounce houses and screaming children.

While we enjoyed all of the poems, a few tripped us up. Some of the language of “Jiggle and Wiggle” gave Tommy pause—“What’s Jell-O?” he asked, as we tried to mimic the movement of an unfamiliar food. And we completely misread “The Twister,” not understanding that we were supposed to lie down. We realized later that there was an illustrated index featuring black and white photographs of each yoga pose along with detailed instructions.

Questions have been raised about the safety of yoga for young children. Since this book relies more on gentle stretching and relaxation, it’s unlikely to cause any problems. Poses are not held but gently explored—in the “Dog-Tired Down Dog,” the child stays busy wagging his or her “tail” and moving “paws” in a way that would be natural in even non-yoga imaginative play. (For more on yoga dos and don’ts, see baby gooroo’s safety tips.)

Calming words and soothing pictures aside, I loved this book because it encouraged interaction between parent and child. You can’t just read the book, you have to get in on the action and try out each exercise.

I can see this book becoming a regular part of our bedtime routine. When Tommy whispered “Namaste” to me at the end, it was an incredibly sweet moment—a good note on which to end a stressful day.

When my alarm went off at 6 a.m. the next morning, I was shocked to find Tommy still asleep in his own bed (he usually crawls into our bed sometime during the night).

Was it the magical influence of Yawning Yoga: A Goodnight Book for a Good Night’s Sleep? I don’t know, but we’re reading it again tonight!

Mary Jessica Hammes is an Athens, Georgia-based writer, trapeze instructor, knitter, gardener, comic book enthusiast, and hula hooper. She is mom to Tommy.