Your mind is like the sky. Sometimes it's clear and blue - but sometimes a raincloud thought comes along and makes everything seem dark. So what can we do about rainclouds? This beautiful picture book, written by psychologist Bronwen Ballard and illustrated by award-winning artist Laura Carlin, shows children that worries and negative thoughts are normal and helps them develop healthy thinking habits. Tips on mindfulness and extra resources for parents are included at the back of the book.

 

This book has been graded for interest at 7-10 years.

There are 32 pages in this book. This is a picture book. A picture book uses pictures and text to tell the story. The number of words varies from zero ('wordless') to around 1k over 32 pages. Picture books are typically aimed at young readers (age 3-6) but can also be aimed at older children (7+). This book was published 2019 by Frances Lincoln Publishers Ltd .

Bronwen Ballard is a coach and psychologist who teaches mindfulness-based thinking skills in primary schools. She has a degree in Philosophy and Modern Languages from Oxford University, in Psychology from London Metropolitan University, and an MA in Applied Positive Psychology and Coaching Psychology from the University of East London (specialising in Mindfulness). She has 20 years' experience of working with corporate clients, adults and children, often on the same topic: thinking about how we think and finding ways to do it better. Since her first daughter started school, Bronwen has made it her mission to help children avoid the thinking pitfalls so many of us fall into. She lives in South West London with her husband and two daughters. Your Mind is Like the Sky is her first children's book. Laura Carlin is an illustrator and ceramics artist based in London. A graduate of the Royal College of Art, her illustrated edition of Ted Hughes' The Iron Man won the V&A Book Illustration Award in 2011. Her clients include The New York Times, The House of Illustration, Vogue magazine, The Guardian, and The Financial Times among others.