Dear Author Raven Howell,
As a fellow children’s book author and father of two young daughters, I want to share what a joy it was to read your book, Grandma Yogini. My girls and I were instantly drawn to the grandmother’s energy and obvious exuberance for life. She is such a likable character that it creates deeper engagement with the story, making it easy to deliver the book’s messages.
This book is a wonderful way to introduce yoga to children in a way that is accessible and inviting – if grandma can do it, so can we! Both the narrative and the vibrancy of the detailed illustrations provide enough detail, without feeling academic, to create curiosity and interest for a child to try various poses themselves. My children certainly did!
The comic book style of the dialogue in the book works, although it took us a moment to adjust to this style, as we were expecting a more traditional layout. We did find ourselves wanting a bit more information on meditation or breathing exercises associated with yoga; perhaps this could be the topic of another book about grandma’s next visit!
What I also appreciate about this book is how it showcases diverse cultural activities while honoring the value the older generation can bring to younger populations. The introduction of the unique cultural teachings that other grandmothers impart upon the neighborhood children is inspiring. It made me want to start a “Grandma Club” in my own community. I applaud your accomplishment in creating a story that informs while celebrating multiculturalism and intergenerational relationships.
Overall, we thoroughly enjoyed Grandma Yogini and know that other children will too.
All my best and congratulations on a wonderful book,
Tom Tracy for Dear Author Book Reviews/Speak Up Talk Radio
THIS IS A PRE-PUBLICATION REVIEW – PRE-ORDERS AVAILABLE MARCH 2025