Title: Mindful Moments with Maude
Author: Pamela Cappetta, EdD
Illustrator: David Gnass
Publisher: The Quippy Quill
ISBN: 978-963565-40-9
Pages: 41
Genre: Illustrated Children’s Book / Education
Reviewer: Beth Adams
Hollywood Book Reviews
Addie is a little girl with an Australian Shepherd named Maude. Together they spend time together having a clear enjoyment of the moments of each day. In Mindful Moments with Maude, author Pamela Cappetta has created a superb educational story teaching children how to turn off distractions such as computer tablets and phones and become mindful of the moments each of us experience every day. She dials back the fast-paced day to slow down to the simple enjoyment of breathing, feeling the body’s powerful sensations of hunger and the need to relieve oneself, savoring the aromas and tastes of food, and even sensing the feelings of clothing’s different fabrics upon one’s skin.
These lessons foreshadow the story’s theme as the characters’ actions throughout the day are described with almost Zen-like realizations that every sensation is unique and needs to be brought to mind. That is what mindfulness is all about. In our fast-paced daily activities it is easy to skip over the simple enjoyment of being human, which is clearly told through the eyes of Maude, as having a dog’s sense of awareness focusing on the here-and-now moments comprising each day is something we all can benefit from.
In this story readers enjoy the daily activities of Addie and Maude, along with Grammy, as they have breakfast, then go out to the park to enjoy their day. But first, after brushing her teeth, Addie is told by Maude to get comfy and do your breathing…now breathe in through your nose and out through your mouth, counting to 3 as you breathe. “Now breathe out, and count to 3 again: 1… 2… 3. It’s easy.”
It must be mentioned that this book is generously laden with artfully drawn illustrations by David Gnass, which adds the visual dimension of creating the world where Maude lives with the other characters. Pamela Cappetta’s skills in education are brought out again at the end of the book having a list of questions asked to test comprehension and create open-ended questions. There is a “Mindfulness Bingo!” check-off box which truly is a fun way to bring the theme of this book to life.
Mindful Moments with Maude encompasses many of the best-in-class elements of the children’s educational book genre, and as turning off technology to experience the moments is recommended, I do believe this book should be purchased in printed format. It will become a book reached many times off the bookshelf by young readers wanting to play with Maude and enjoy their day. I wonder what other adventures Addie and Maude will experience in future episodes. Mindful Moments with Maude gently teaches children how to manage big emotions, stay grounded, and appreciate life’s simple joys, one mindful moment at a time. Perfect for bedtime or classroom reading, this book inspires young readers to pause, reflect, and grow.