I love this book! Well, maybe I am a little biased, since I love yoga, but I think the simple text of this book intermixed with yoga poses is genius. Written by Baron Baptiste and illustrated by Sophie Fatus, My Daddy is a Pretzel: Yoga for Parents and Kids introduces some asanas in the context of a story.

The story begins with the typical primary school discussion of parental careers. As each child shares what their parent’s job is, the main character refers to a yoga pose his/her dad does that relates to the occupation.

On the following page, the yoga pose is discussed and demonstrated step by step for children to try. The pages of My Daddy is a Pretzel alternate between the children sharing their parents’ jobs and yoga poses.

Emmy says her daddy’s a farmer. Sometimes my daddy is a plow.

The Plow Pose

Halasana

Like the plow that turns the soil over to make way for new growth, this pose teaches us that overturning old ways of seeing things sets the ground for inner growth. If we plow well, we can sow well, and then reap the rewards of what we have planted.

I like how this book focuses on the father as the yogi. I am not sure it matters, but in my experience, there are more woman that attend my yoga class. By keeping the gender of the main character of this book ambiguous and presenting the father as the yogi, I think this book promotes yoga amongst children of both sexes.

Yesterday, my three-year-old son joined me in my yoga practice. I laid out our lotuspad for him, and he began to flow through the vinyasas. It was so cute and hysterical as he flowed from down dog to plank position. Then he became fascinated with rolling up the mat and using my strap to hold it coiled. Today, the lotuspad is being used as a bowling alley!

Don’t forget: Wednesday, February 27 is the last day to enter our Green to the Letter Giveaway: Free Eco Stationary and Art Supplies!