Kids Yoga and Books: Bill Martin Jr

Bill Martin Jr.’s books lend themselves perfectly to acting out the stories through kids yoga.  A great way to engage children in reading is through yoga poses.  Enjoy these kids yoga sequences inspired by his books.  These are intended as an inspiration guide, so encourage your children’s creativity throughout their yoga experience.  How do they think that the animals behave?  How can they “be” the animals or other keywords in the stories?

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Kids yoga sequence inspired by Bill Martin Jr. book

I am seriously in love with this book.  It has gorgeous photos from around the world, delightful rhyming text, and written in English and Spanish.
A real gem.  Five kids yoga poses inspired by the book, I Love Our Earth/Amo Nuestra Tierra by Bill Martin Jr., Michael Sampson, & Dan Lipow:

I Love Our Earth

Mountain – Mountain Pose

Sun – Extended Mountain Pose or Sun Salute

Tree – Tree Pose

Flower – Flower Pose

Stars – Resting Pose

For pictures and description of the poses, see the List of Kids Yoga Poses.

 

Kids yoga sequences from Bill Martin Jr. & Eric Carle books

The collection of animal books by Bill Martin Jr. and Eric Carle were a staple in my classroom, and now are loved by our daughter.  The repetitive text and engaging illustrations are a winning combination.  Classic books to be treasured for years.  A series of “5 for 5s: Five kids yoga poses in five minutes” yoga flows for each of their books:

Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?

Bird – Warrior 3 Pose

Frog – Squat Pose

Bear – Downward-Facing Dog Pose

Fish – Bow Pose

Sheep – Cat Pose

Polar Bear, Polar Bear, What Do You Hear?

Flamingo – Tree Pose

Elephant – Elephant Pose

Bear – Downward-Facing Dog Pose

Walrus – Upward-Facing Dog Pose

Leopard – Cat Pose

Panda Bear, Panda Bear, What Do You See?

Eagle – Eagle Pose

Monkey – Squat Pose

Fox – Kneeling

Panther – Cat Pose

Turtle – Extended Child’s Pose

 

Baby Bear, Baby Bear, What Do You See?

Baby Bear – Eagle Pose
(wrapping arms and legs around a tree)

Fox – Cow Pose
(on all fours, look up to the moon)

Flying Squirrel – Locust Pose
(on tummy with arms and legs stretched out)

Mountain Goat – Downward-Facing Dog Pose
(on hands-and-feet, walk like a goat)

Blue Heron – Warrior 3 Pose
(stand on one leg with opposite leg stretched out behind you, and flap your wings)

Prairie Dog – Hero’s Pose
(sit back on your heels, and dig your paws into the ground)

Striped Skunk – Cat Pose
(on hands-and-knees, look down, and pretend to sniff the ground)

Mule Deer – Hero’s Pose with Twist
(sit back on your heels, twist your upper body, and put your hands up for antlers)

Rattlesnake – Cobra Pose
(lay on your tummy, and hiss like a snake)

Screech Owl – Hero’s Pose
(sit back on heels, turn side to side with hands in circles over eyes)

Mama Bear – Downward-Facing Dog Pose
(on hands-and-feet, do a bear walk)

For pictures and description of the poses, see the List of Kids Yoga Poses.

Download a printable version of these Bill Martin Jr. book sequences.

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