Children’s Book Review: Yoga Game by the Sea
Yoga Game by the Sea is the first entry in The Yoga Game series by Vancouver Island author, Kathy Beliveau. Intended to be an introduction to the practise, readers are presented with brief riddles that ask, “What am I?”and the answers reveal ten basic yoga poses. Rather than a strict how-to manual, this interactive book encourages young yogis to gently reach, twist, and bend, while imitating diving dolphins, burrowing clams, and the phases of the moon. The exercise nicely winds down with a calming, relaxation pose and a concluding salutation of “Namaste.”
Denise Holmes’ delicate ink illustrations have an appropriately Zen-like design, as the simply drawn figures of a boy and a girl (accompanied by a winsome and flexible seagull) demonstrate each pose. The characters connect with nature on the sandy beach setting and careful observers will find clues to the yoga stance riddles in the background details.
Beliveau’s playful and thoughtful verse encourages attention to detail, as ocean waves are likened to a “breath and sigh,” and an eagle is described as “perching poised with piercing eyes.” With a pleasing rhythm and flow, the riddles are well suited to being read aloud. Children will enjoy stretching their imaginations along with their bodies in this engaging offering.
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