Homeschool Friday - Breath as Prayer for Kids

Homeschool Friday is a feature here at Somewhere Only We Know that showcases books my family reads during homeschool and provides a mini-review for each.

Breath as Prayer for Kids

By: Jennifer Tucker

Publication: November 10, 2026 by Tommy Nelson

32 pages

Genre: Children, Picture Book, Christian

Source: Publisher via NetGalley (Thank you!!)

( Goodreads | Amazon )

*Note: The above link to Amazon is an affiliate links. Affiliate links support giveaways for Somewhere Only We Know readers.

Goodreads description--Help young children navigate emotions and find peace through prayer with this comforting guide written and illustrated by Jennifer Tucker, bestselling author and artist. When big feelings flare up, breath prayers prompt kids to self-regulate as they take a deep breath and recite simple prayers of love and encouragement.

I read Breath as Prayer by Jennifer Tucker and loved it. So when I saw Breath as Prayer for Kids available, I snatched it up quickly. I was so excited to get this book for my kids. The copyright page does list this book as for kids ages 4 to 8 years old. And I guess overall, I was a little disappointed with Breath as Prayer for Kids. I think the concept is great, but I was disappointed in the execution. The breath prayers that were included in this book weren't Scripture. I mean the ideas come from Scripture, but I expected to see Scripture turned into prayer in as simplistic a way as possible. Even in Breath as Prayer (for adults), "Inhale: The Lord is my shepherd Exhale: I have everything I need" is pretty basic, if you ask me.

My son when he was 2 years old could get himself calm if I told him "Remy, you need to get calm." And he could also quote several Bible verses in their entirety at that age. I think sometimes we dumb things down for kids way too much. And this felt like one of those opportunities that were missed as a means of simplifying for children. But then I had to remind myself that prayer isn't only repeating Scripture back to God. We can pray using our own words, and so it isn't wrong to use non-Scripture as breath prayers for kids. That isn't wrong at all. But not using Scripture does feel like a missed opportunity.

Either way, I love this method of getting calm using breath prayers. Our breathing is such an easy method to use to attack those big emotions. My older son frustrates me because any time I tell him he needs to take a deep breath, he always replies, "I don't want to." He then follows that up with telling me that deep breaths are for babies. And a kids' book about breath prayers isn't going to change his outlook, but it can be helpful for my other kids.

Another comment is on the page about feeling overwhelmed; the page is so visually overwhelming that it feels counterproductive.

Breath as Prayer for Kids still gets 4 Stars. Even though I thought the publisher/author missed an opportunity to use Scripture for the children's book the same as the adult's book, I still love the message and method behind this, and parents can use this book as a guide to tweak the breath prayers in their own ways. Have you or your child read Breath as Prayer for Kids? What did you think? Let me know!

Top Ten Books I Read in 2022

Top Ten Tuesday was created by The Broke and the Bookish in June of 2010 and was moved to That Artsy Reader Girl in January of 2018. It was born of a love of lists, a love of books, and a desire to bring bookish friends together. This week's topic is Top Ten Books I Read in 2022

1. Meet Me in the Margins by Melissa Ferguson (4.5 Stars)
2. Edward and Amelia by Karen Thronell (4.5 Stars)
3. Raising Grateful Kids in an Entitled World by Kristen Welch (5 Stars)
4. FLIP the Gratitude Switch by Kevin Clayson (4.5 Stars)
5. From the Jump by Lacie Waldon (4.5 Stars)
6. A Fate of Wrath & Flame (Fate & Flame, # 1) by KA Tucker (4.5 Stars)
7. A Curse of Blood & Stone (Fate & Flame, # 2) by KA Tucker (4.5 Stars)
8. Reminders of Him by Colleen Hoover (5 Stars)
9. Forgiving What You Can't Forget by Lysa TerKeurst (5 Stars)
10. Breath as Prayer: Calm Your Anxiety, Focus Your Mind, and Renew Your Soul by Jennifer Tucker (5 Stars)
11. Book Lovers by Emily Henry (4.5 Stars)
12. A Hard Day for a Hangover (Sunshine Vicram, # 3) by Darynda Jones

Which books were your favorites reads of 2022? Let me know!

Breath as Prayer - Review

Breath as Prayer: Calm Your Anxiety, Focus Your Mind, and Renew Your Soul

By: Jennifer Tucker

Publication: August 16th 2022 by Thomas Nelson

208 pages

Genre: Non-fiction, Christian, Devotions

Source: Publisher via NetGalley (Thank you!!)

( Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository )

*Note: The above links to Amazon and Book Depository are affiliate links. Affiliate links support giveaways for Somewhere Only We Know readers.

Goodreads description--Find hope amid anxiety through the spiritual practice of breath prayer in this beautifully illustrated and practical guide to connecting body, mind, and spirit during times of stress.

Breath as Prayer will lead you through the practice and the proven health benefits of Christian breath prayer: intentional prayers centered around Scripture that focus our minds on Christ as we calm our bodies through breathing.

Breath as Prayer offers:

More than 80 breath prayers focused on Scripture, along with brief meditations
Gorgeous original full-color illustrations
A quick-start how-to guide to refer to as needed
Guidance on how to implement a breath prayer practice
The science behind breath work and prayer and why it works
An invitation to reflect on the effect of breath prayers on your body
With a beautiful foil-accented cover, Breath as Prayer is an ideal gift for:

Anyone experiencing stress, anxiety, or fear
Grief and anxiety support groups
Prayer groups and prayer ministries
Men and women looking for new avenues for connecting with God
Teens and young adults dealing with stress and anxiety
Adult baptism and confirmation
God created our bodies, minds, and spirits to be intimately connected with one another. Purpose-filled breathing is one of the most effective, calming ways to integrate all aspects of who we are, especially during times of intense stress. Breath as Prayer invites you to the crossroads of Christian contemplative practice, Scripture, psychology, and science to deepen your faith, bring peace to your body, and discover a new reliance on Christ.

Breathe deeply, lean into God's Word, and discover why every breath can be an invitation to pray.

I first became exposed to the idea of breath as prayer or breath prayers back in April of 2022. I saw a post on Facebook shared by a page called A David Paul but written by Sandra Thurman Caporale. I'll try to insert a screenshot of that Facebook post at the end of this blog post. Anyway, the idea became utterly fascinating to me, and so when I saw Breath as Prayer by Jennifer Tucker available for review on NetGalley, I knew I had to request this book. And I am so, so glad that I did.

Jennifer Tucker didn't create the concept of breath prayers, and she doesn't claim to have done so either. From what I understand, the concept has been around for quite some time. But I do think she has a unique take on the concept of aligning your physical breath with your spiritual health. She takes the approach of how anxiety and stress cause havoc on the body in a physical and spiritual sense and offers a solution to those results with deep breathing combined with Scripture prayers.

I don't really consider myself to be an anxious person. I have certainly had period of anxiety in my life. Specifically, my thoughts go to the year we spent living with my parents while our house was being remodeled. Several times during that year we faced some higher than usual periods of stress related to our contractors, to the amount of time we were spending on the road, to behavior patterns in our children, to lack of nurturing our marriage during this season. The stress was so high at times that I found myself holding my breath and then almost gasping for air. I would go through weeks at a time when I felt my breathing patterns were off. I didn't feel like I could get a good breath. I felt out of sync or as Jennifer Tucker aptly describes "in a state of dysfunction." The concepts in this book would have helped me tremendously through these seasons, but I also know that the seasons will change and likely we will face other stressful and challenging times where I can continue to apply these principles in the future.

I enjoyed this book so much that I bought a physical copy to send to a lady that we go to church with who struggles with anxiety before I even finished the book. I knew based on what I'd read that she could benefit from this book. I usually don't purchase books I've read for review. It takes a special book for me to be confident enough that I will re-read it enough to purchase it. But I know this is a book I will reference and re-read more than once. And I can see myself gifting it to just about anyone else I come in contact with that I find out is struggling with anxiety. It's just that good.

Giving Breath as Prayer by Jennifer Tucker a 5-Star rating might be the easiest book rating I've had this entire year. I don't think there was a single thing I disliked about this book. And the fact that I desire to re-read, reference, and buy as a gift for others speaks volumes to me. I highly recommend it. Have you read Breath as Prayer? What did you think? Let me know!