Count Yourself Calm by Eliza Huie

This picture book teaches a five-step calming routine for young children. It starts with breathing in and out and praying as you do so. Then the child counts down from five, naming certain things as they go. It ends again with breathing and praying.

This picture book’s mission is to give a child who doesn’t feel in control of their emotions, tools to reorient their brain on God. I love how each number helps children see the blessings God grants every day. It also teaches them to take their focus off of the emotion that feels so big and to put their focus on God. What is probably most “controversial” about this book is the use of “breath prayer.” This is a very brief prayer where you pray something on an inhale and something different on an exhale. It is used before and after the countdown in this book.

There are claims of breath prayer originating from Eastern mysticism and Hinduism, and while I do think acts like these that empty your mind and fill it with repeated phrases are dangerous, I do not believe that was the intent of the author here. I think the author was simply using the physical reality that slowing down breathing for a child can help to calm them and combined it with reorienting their mind to God. I don’t believe it’s meant to be chanted over and over. If you read the “Word to Parents” at the back of the book, the author clarifies her intent. However, if this violates someone’s conscience, then it’s not a tactic that should be used in their home. Personally, this isn’t a method I use with my children, but as long as the goal isn’t to empty or even calm your child’s mind by using repeated phrases, I don’t think praying while focusing on your breath is sinful.

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