About When I Breathe Deeply/ Cuando Respiro Profundo

When I Breathe Deeply/Cuando Respiro Profundo is a bilingual picture book (English/Spanish) that lifts up the voices of Oakland youth. In it, they describe the way the breath transforms and empowers while the full-color photographs magnify the diversity and beauty that is Oakland and the Bay Area .

Front Cover

Back Cover

Reading Guide

1. Begin by taking three inhales and slow exhales before you start reading (the reader).

2. Start with a Picture Walk, silently looking at each image.

3. Ask, “How do you feel looking at these pictures?”

4. Read the book and stop at the final image (page 45).

5. Ask, “What did you notice?” (people closing their eyes and breathing, diverse kids, different ways to do mindful breathing…)

6. Ask, “How did it feel reading or hearing the words of this book?”

7. For younger children, combine Steps 2-4. Read it the first time and then ask, “What did you like about the book?”

8. Ask, “What are some ways these kids said that breathing deeply makes them feel?”

9. “Can you show me on your body one way that you can practice mindful breathing?”

10. Walk students through the Instructions for Breathing Deeply on page 46-47.

11. Ask, “What did you notice about the way you felt doing deep breathing? How does your body feel? How does your mind feel? How does your heart feel?”

12. Ask, “When is a good time to take deep breaths?”

13. Try it again for a bit longer next time… Ask, “What did you notice?”

14. Ask, “What do you think would happen if everyone in the world breathed deeply?”