Stories, Songs and Stretches: Creating Playful Storytimes with Yoga and Movement. By Katie Scherrer. Chicago: ALA, 2017. 112 p. Paper $48 (ISBN 0-8389-1544-8).

Katie Scherrer, a well-known library consultant and a registered yoga teacher, has combined her expertise in these two fields to provide librarians with a manual to guide them on how to present yoga in storytime “to engage children and families through embodied play” (x). A brief introductory chapter gives a history of the development of modern yoga and explains the benefits of introducing yoga to children. Chapter 2, “Yoga, Movement and Early Learning” demonstrates that yoga and movement enhance early literacy, including the CASEL social emotional learning competencies. The author also discusses the difference between offering yoga classes and integrating yoga into storytime sessions and includes detailed information and resources regarding hiring a yoga teacher. Moreover, she addresses the common perception that yoga is a religion and provides information about yoga’s potential role in library programming. This information will help librarians decide whether yoga movement storytimes are appropriate for their community.

Chapter 3, “Yoga Storytime Fundamentals,” including a template; tips for selecting books, music, and digital tools; and details regarding planning the logistics, promoting the program, and preparing yourself. Additional information is included in highlighted boxes: one such sidebar is a description of Yoga Play! At Akron-Summit Count (Ohio) Public Library (31). Chapter 4, “Basic Yoga Poses for Yoga Storytime,” covers the appropriate yoga poses for storytimes and features easy-to-read diagrams. Chapter 5 includes twelve ready-to-go storytimes that incorporate the basic yoga poses. The yoga poses usually are reflected in one or more of the stories, songs, or stretches, so they flow well with the theme and content of each storytime. Although it would take a little practice to integrate these poses into one’s storytime program, it would be well worth the effort to help children with “self-regulation and the promotion of attention and social skills” (3). Images of book covers accompany the lists of recommended books for each storytime, and the majority are either recently published or titles considered storytime “classics.”

Chapter 6 is a comprehensive listing of yoga resources, including books, online resources, and bibliographic information about all of the materials used in the storytimes. Scherrer’s clarifies the issues involved in using yoga in storytime and distills the relevant information to present a guide enabling any librarian to present an authentic yoga movement storytime. For the librarian looking for more mindful use of movement in storytime, this book is a must-have. Written for the public librarian to be used in presenting preschool storytime, this book would be helpful to any early childhood educator, parent, or guardian who wishes to use yoga as a movement tool to support early learning.—Jenny Foster Stenis, Readers’ Services Coordinator, Pioneer Library System, Norman, Oklahoma