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As a child growing up in the San Francisco Bay Area, nature served as a protective friend. I would spend countless hours studying ants on their journey to and from their nests, fascinated by how they walked in continuous streams of small black lines. Watching these little beings was calming. It helped me forget my troubles and challenges by bringing me into a different universe. Nature uplifted me whether I was with ants, lizards, frogs, bees, trees, or weeds.
After graduating from UC Davis and living in Idaho and Arizona, I settled in southern California after finding my spiritual home with the Yoga Center of California. Founded in 1970 by master yogi Ramakrishna Ananda, the teachings were a healing balm to my mind, body, and heart. My almost 40 years of studying with him have given me a grounding in spirituality I had longed for my entire life.
I wrote Bee-Coming Strong to enable children (and the adults reading along with them) to learn simple, ancient yoga breathing practices to become calmer, kinder, more connected, and grow in self-esteem. My goal is to plant seeds of curiosity about life both within and around us and share some tools that have enabled me to find inner peace and fulfillment beyond my dreams. What I write about comes from my own experiences. I hope you find some gems that will serve you and your children.
You can join our hive and sign up for our monthly newsletter by going to https://anandamayibaker.com
Reviewed by Doreen Chombu for Readers' Favorite
Bee-Coming Strong is a heartwarming children's picture book written by Anandamayi Baker, with illustrations by Akiko Martinache. The story follows the adventures of Jazianzza Buzzabee, a curious honeybee who lives in a tree trunk with her family. Despite coming from a large family, Jazianzza often feels left out because her brothers and sisters bully her for wearing eyeglasses and having an antenna shaped like a corkscrew. This leads to feelings of insecurity. However, with the help of her new friend Lydah the butterfly, guidance from her tree friend, and her mother, MamaQueenzieBee (MamaQB), Jazianzza begins to grow confident and learns to accept herself. They teach her practical tools for coping with her insecurities. When faced with danger, Jazianzza finds the inner strength to confront her fears and bring joy to her family.
Bee-Coming Strong is a heartfelt and educational book that imparts valuable lessons about self-acceptance, resilience, kindness, and embracing one's uniqueness. Through Jazianzza's interactions with friends like Lydah and the wise counsel of her mother, young readers learn practical techniques such as breathing exercises and positive self-talk to manage fears and teasing. Anandamayi Baker's engaging narrative promotes mindfulness, emotional strength, and empathy. The book also includes lessons about the butterfly life cycle, pollination, the queen bee's role, and plant growth. The colorful illustrations vividly depict the various characters in the story. Bee-Coming Strong is an enjoyable read filled with empowering lessons that will help children develop a love for nature while boosting their self-esteem and bravery to explore the world. Overall, this is great work!
