THE HAPPIEST TREE Meena is excited about the class play, a new and improved version of Red Riding Hood. But when she learns that she must play one of the trees in the forest, Meena's excitement vanishes. She is just too clumsy to be a quiet, steady tree. One day at the Indian grocery store, Meena sees a yoga class in progress, and the store owner convinces her to try the children's class. Little does Meena know she is about to find a way to grow from the inside out, just like a tree, and move beyond her feelings of clumsiness and frustration. The Happiest Tree is a gentle and empowering story of a young girl's road to self-confidence. It is sure to spark interest in yoga, and provide comfort to all children as they struggle to overcome the everyday obstacles to growing up. * Cooperative Children's Book Center (CCBC) Choices 2006 * * 2006 Children's Books of the Year, Bank Street College Children's Book Committee * * 2006 Paterson Prize for Books for Young People, Special Recognition, The Poetry Center * * 2006 Ten Best Books List, Edmonton Public Library, Youth Services * Rights Information Publisher: Lee & Low Books, Hardcover (October 30, 2005) Territory: World Rights Available: Film/TV Reviews: "The story presents the ubiquitous problem of clumsiness with warmth and veracity. Meena's difficulties are not overcome quickly and yoga is introduced in a nonintrusive way. Krishnaswami occasionally dabs the text with Hindi words and expressions, adding a delightful Indian flavor. An excellent addition to any collection." - School Library Journal "[The] balanced compostitions and bright colors nicely echo the warm, encouraging story about overcoming challenges, while the well-integrated details of Meena's Indian culture, including a few terms, are rare and welcome in books for this age group." – Booklist "Krishnaswami aptly conveys the essence and impact of yoga on a child. Youngsters often struggling to keep their little bodies from wriggling, their attention from drifting, will be comforted to know that they are not unique and that something as basic as breathing and yoga incorporated into a kid's life can be a practical solution. Backmatter includes additional information about yoga and resources for children." - Kirkus "...Meena's story will resonate with many children who feel awkward as their bodies grow, who experience difficulty keeping still, or who are frustrated with their klutziness....Krishnaswami paces this story well, so that the reader understands that learning yoga is a process, not an instant change...This 'yoga story' is a welcome addition to the very small body of picture books featuring characters of East Indian descent. Meena's struggle with her own coordination is one faced by most school-aged children at some time, and will be enjoyed by that audience. Meena's story answers the question 'Why yoga?' and belongs in libraries, bookstores, and anywhere else the question might be asked!" - FOREWORD magazine "Ruth Jeyaveeran's illustrations are all quirky and captivating, but her pictures of children doing yoga are both luminous and humorous. . .It's a strength of The Happiest Tree that there are still challenges in store for our plucky protagonist, who has learned from yoga how to be at peace even in the midst of difficulties with the class play. 'Best of all, she knew she could do this again, anytime she wanted to.' Added benefits include a glossary of Indian words at the beginning of the book, and more information about yoga, including a list of yoga books for children, at the end." - The Asian Reporter Blurbs: Purchase at Amazon.com

THE HAPPIEST TREE

Meena is excited about the class play, a new and improved version of Red Riding Hood. But when she learns that she must play one of the trees in the forest, Meena's excitement vanishes. She is just too clumsy to be a quiet, steady tree.

One day at the Indian grocery store, Meena sees a yoga class in progress, and the store owner convinces her to try the children's class. Little does Meena know she is about to find a way to grow from the inside out, just like a tree, and move beyond her feelings of clumsiness and frustration.

The Happiest Tree is a gentle and empowering story of a young girl's road to self-confidence. It is sure to spark interest in yoga, and provide comfort to all children as they struggle to overcome the everyday obstacles to growing up.

* Cooperative Children's Book Center (CCBC) Choices 2006 *
* 2006 Children's Books of the Year, Bank Street College Children's Book Committee *
* 2006 Paterson Prize for Books for Young People, Special Recognition, The Poetry Center *
* 2006 Ten Best Books List, Edmonton Public Library, Youth Services *

Rights Information

Publisher: Lee & Low Books, Hardcover (October 30, 2005)

Territory: World

Rights Available: Film/TV

Reviews:
"The story presents the ubiquitous problem of clumsiness with warmth and veracity. Meena's difficulties are not overcome quickly and yoga is introduced in a nonintrusive way. Krishnaswami occasionally dabs the text with Hindi words and expressions, adding a delightful Indian flavor. An excellent addition to any collection." - School Library Journal

"[The] balanced compostitions and bright colors nicely echo the warm, encouraging story about overcoming challenges, while the well-integrated details of Meena's Indian culture, including a few terms, are rare and welcome in books for this age group." – Booklist

"Krishnaswami aptly conveys the essence and impact of yoga on a child. Youngsters often struggling to keep their little bodies from wriggling, their attention from drifting, will be comforted to know that they are not unique and that something as basic as breathing and yoga incorporated into a kid's life can be a practical solution. Backmatter includes additional information about yoga and resources for children." - Kirkus

"...Meena's story will resonate with many children who feel awkward as their bodies grow, who experience difficulty keeping still, or who are frustrated with their klutziness....Krishnaswami paces this story well, so that the reader understands that learning yoga is a process, not an instant change...This 'yoga story' is a welcome addition to the very small body of picture books featuring characters of East Indian descent. Meena's struggle with her own coordination is one faced by most school-aged children at some time, and will be enjoyed by that audience. Meena's story answers the question 'Why yoga?' and belongs in libraries, bookstores, and anywhere else the question might be asked!" - FOREWORD magazine

"Ruth Jeyaveeran's illustrations are all quirky and captivating, but her pictures of children doing yoga are both luminous and humorous. . .It's a strength of The Happiest Tree that there are still challenges in store for our plucky protagonist, who has learned from yoga how to be at peace even in the midst of difficulties with the class play. 'Best of all, she knew she could do this again, anytime she wanted to.' Added benefits include a glossary of Indian words at the beginning of the book, and more information about yoga, including a list of yoga books for children, at the end." - The Asian Reporter

Blurbs:

Purchase at Amazon.com