Book

Now

📖 Overview

A young girl narrates her experiences of the present moment, expressing what she loves most right now. Through simple declarations, she shares her immediate preferences and favorites as she moves through her day. The book uses a repeated pattern and structure to showcase the child's perspective on everyday objects, activities and encounters. Black line illustrations with minimal color highlight each "now" moment the protagonist describes. The story captures how children fully inhabit and find joy in the present moment, rather than dwelling on the past or future. This meditation on mindfulness and appreciation demonstrates how young children naturally practice presence in their daily lives.

👀 Reviews

Readers appreciate the book's message about living in the present moment and its ability to resonate with both children and adults. Parents report that kids request repeated readings and connect with the simple, relatable examples of favorite things. Parents and teachers note the book's effectiveness in teaching mindfulness and gratitude to young children. Multiple reviewers mention using it as a calming bedtime story or classroom discussion starter. The minimalist illustrations and brief text work well for toddlers through early elementary ages. Some readers wished for more complex examples or additional pages. Ratings: Goodreads: 4.16/5 (2,900+ ratings) Amazon: 4.8/5 (500+ ratings) Barnes & Noble: 4.8/5 (25+ ratings) Sample review: "Perfect for helping kids understand that their current favorite thing/activity/moment is special and worth savoring. The illustrations are clean and engaging without being busy." - Goodreads reviewer

📚 Similar books

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Here and Now by Julia Denos Text reveals the interconnected nature of present moments happening simultaneously.

This Is Sadie by Sara O'Leary A child transforms everyday objects and experiences into opportunities for imagination.

They All Saw a Cat by Brendan Wenzel Different creatures perceive the same cat in unique ways based on their perspectives.

🤔 Interesting facts

🌟 Author Antoinette Portis worked as a creative director in advertising before becoming a children's book creator 🌱 The book celebrates mindfulness and living in the present moment, a concept that's increasingly being taught to young children to promote emotional well-being 📚 "Now" received a starred review from Publishers Weekly and was named a Charlotte Zolotow Honor Book 🎨 The illustrations were created using brush and sumi ink with digital coloring, giving the book its distinctive bold, simple style 🌈 The book's core message aligns with Buddhist philosophy of being present, though presented in a way that's accessible to very young readers through simple, everyday moments