National Relaxation Day
The Funtastic Festivities Booklists compile stories that relate to fun and festive days so that readers of all ages can join the celebration with a good book!
Today is National Relaxation Day, where we celebrate kicking back and taking time to chillax. With stress and burnout at an all-time high, it’s important to find time to give your brain and body a much-needed rest. Even now, let’s take a moment to release the tension in your shoulders, unclench your jaw, and then take a deep breath in and breathe out your troubles and worries.
Whether you plan a staycation or a trip to the beach, enjoy a day of relaxation. And if you need a fun read to do so, then check out these books below to help celebrate!
ABCs for a Peaceful Me: A Mindfulness Seek-and-Find Book, by Shelly Becker; illus. by Dan Yaccarino (ABRAMS / Abrams Appleseed) — Fiction, Picture Book, Concepts, Mental/Physical Health, Animals, ages 4-6.
The ABCs of Calm: Discover Mindfulness from A-Z, by Rose Rossner and Brooke Backsen; illus. by AndoTwin (Sourcebooks / Sourcebooks Wonderland) — Fiction, Board Book, Mental/Physical Health, Concepts, Animals, ages 0-3.
The Ball of Red String: A Guided Meditation for Children, by Marlene Halpin, OP; illus. by Carrie Schuler (Loyola Press) — Nonfiction, Picture Book, Mental/Physical Health, Religion / Spirituality, ages 7-12.
Flo, by Kyo Maclear; illus. by Jay Fleck (Macmillan / Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR)) — Fiction, Picture Book, Mental/Physical Health, Animals, ages 4-6.
The Great Peach Experiment 1: When Life Gives You Lemons, Make Peach Pie, by Erin Soderberg Downing; illus. by (Holiday House / Pixel + Ink) — Fiction, Prose, Family / Community, Mental/Physical Health, ages 7-12.
Mr. Calm, by Adam Hargreaves; illus. by Adam Hargreaves (Penguin Random House / Grosset & Dunlap) — Fiction, Picture Book, Mental/Physical Health, Series, ages 4-6.
Niños mindful: Rest and Relax (Bilingual Spanish & English), by Whitney Stewart; illus. by Rocío Alejandro (Barefoot Books) — Nonfiction, Board Book, Mental/Physical Health, How-To / Activity, Spanish, ages 0-3.
Relax to the Max (Jeanie & Genie Book 2), by Trish Granted; illus. by Manuela Lopez (Simon & Schuster / Little Simon) — Fiction, Early Reader, Fantasy, Series, ages 4-6.
Relaxations: Big Tools for Little Warriors, by Mamen Duch; illus. by Raúl Nieto Guridi (American Psychological Association / Magination Press) — Nonfiction, Picture Book, Mental/Physical Health, How-To / Activity, ages 4-6.
Squirrel Needs a Break, by Kristen Remenar; illus. by Matt Faulkner (Charlesbridge Publishing) — Fiction, Picture Book, Family / Community, Mental/Physical Health, Animals, ages 4-6.
Stressed Out! For Teens: How to be Calm, Confident, and Focused, by Dr. Ben Bernstein; illus. by (Familius) — Nonfiction, Prose, Mental/Physical Health, Teen.
This One Summer, by Mariko Tamaki; illus. by Jillian Tamaki (Macmillan / First Second) — Fiction, Graphic Novel, Coming of Age, Friendships, Teen.
Celebrate National Relaxation Day by reading a book!
List compiled by CBC’s resident trivia expert, Sommer Wissner. Check out other book lists on our blog.
