Good Night, Body: Finding Calm from Head to Toe

By Britney Winn Lee

& Illustrated by Borghid Fallberg

Good Night, Body, by Britney Winn Lee, a delightful and cosy book for you and your child to snuggle up with at bedtime. Within its pages lies a mindfulness meditation known as body scanning, brought to life by the beautiful and dreamy illustrations of Borghild Fallberg. As part of a bedtime routine, this practice helps children to both find a sense of calm, and to connect with their bodies. It is also a great reminder to the grown-up reading to them!

This book is an invitation to say good night to the whole body. Following an opportunity to “get out the last wiggles” and prepare for the practice, different parts of the body are acknowledged in turn, each with a wonderful sense of gratitude and kindness. Addressing the body from the head down to the toes has a very grounding and calming effect. The text is lyrical and soothing to read, and the illustrations match that gentle tone. The colours are soft and relaxing, and there is an airy feel to the images – think leaves adrift on the breeze, balloons, and hammocks. The illustrations are also inclusive, thoughtfully depicting diversity of children.

“Hello, body. Hello, dear friend. We’ve been with each other all day, but sometimes I forget to notice you!”

The reason I enjoyed this book, aside from how lovely it is to read, is that it introduces some hugely beneficial tools. Developmentally, little minds are busy, and many children find the transition to bedtime a difficult one. Mindfulness practices, like body scanning, are a wonderful tool that people of all ages can use to let go of the day and prepare for sleep. Good Night, Body shows children how to do this in an age-appropriate way. Even more than this, I love the way the book nurtures a sense of compassionate connection with one’s body. In her Note to Parents, the author acknowledges that all bodies are different, and she encourages parents to adapt the pages to serve their people. What a wonderful gift to give our children to carry with them through a life – the tools of mindfulness and loving connection with one’s body!

Good Night, Body is the ideal children’s book for the world we live in. While it is recommended for children aged 4-8 years, one could easily use ideas from the book with younger children. And for adults, reading aloud an embodied mindfulness practice is not only relaxing but a sweet reminder to bring more of that to our own nightly routine. This is truly a wonderful book, and I will definitely be recommending it to parents.

Head over to this link for a free Good Night, Body activity download from the publisher.