The Boy and His Higher Self -- Picture Book Review & Giveaway

 

Disclosure: I was sent a copy of this book in order to provide an honest review. All opinions are my own. I am working with The Children's Book Review and Ricardo Santa Cruz to bring you this post. 

As the school year begins, many teachers try to work mindfulness into the classroom. Many parents struggle to find ways to help kids quiet their minds as well. In our society there is so much noise and action. Kids are losing their attention spans because of all the constant input provided with screens. Today we get to share a wonderful picture book that introduces a bit of mindfulness and meditation and the importance of taking time to quiet one's mind. It is one of two books on this Virtual Book Tour. Both books are perfect for back to school! This one is The Boy and His Higher Self by Ricardo Santa Cruz and illustrated by Yuko Kondo. There is a giveaway at the end of this post for both books!

About the Book:

The Boy and His Higher Self Written by Ricardo Santa Cruz & Illustrated by Yuko Kondo

Ages: 4-8 | 38 Pages | Publisher: Mascot Kids (2026) | ISBN: 979-8-99068-351-8

Publisher's Book Summary: And have you always been here right by my side? I have always been with you, living inside. Have you ever listened to the little voice inside your head? What does it say to you? The Boy and His Higher Self is the story of a boy who discovers and learns to trust his higher self, a presence that has always been with him. Dedicated to the inner child and higher self within young children and adults alike, this book offers guidance and tools to help children overcome feelings of insecurity and sadness and gain self-confidence and positivity.

Purchase Links:

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org

About the Author:

Ricardo Santa Cruz currently lives in Xala, located on the Pacific Coast of Mexico, a project of which he is a co-founding partner. All proceeds from The Boy and His Higher Self will be given to The Xala Foundation, aimed at helping to educate and bring opportunities to marginalized communities from the region. You can learn more at theboyandhishigherself.com and thexalafoundation.org.

From Me:

This book starts with a knock-knock joke. It is the perfect beginning to pull a kid in. Through the joke, the boy meets his higher self. His higher self explains how he can help the boy and how he is always with him. They are one. Listening to his higher self will help him find joy and bravery. The boy asks why his higher self waited so long to communicate with him and the answer is that the boy wasn't listening. To hear his higher self the boy needed to quiet his mind. The illustrations towards the end of the book show the boy in a typical meditation pose sitting crossed legs and hands in lap with fingers making a loop. 

This book is perfect to introduce mindfulness and/or meditation to a child. It also is a great way to talk about listening to one's inner voice. The story is well written and brings the idea of an inner voice or a higher self to younger readers. The boy asks questions many children would about this idea which means the book answers kids' questions about a higher self. I love the idea of sharing this book with kids whether at home or in a classroom. I feel a conversation about mindfulness and perhaps a lesson in meditation would be perfect to go with this book. For more resources on mindfulness check out these posts. 

Based on The Boy and His Higher Self I imagine that My First Day of School will be just as amazing for the start of the school year. 

Giveaway:

Readers who follow along on this virtual book tour will have the chance to win one of three book sets, each featuring both The Boy and His Higher Self and My First Day of School. Good luck!!