Education

The Be and Breathe Series

Big feelings, little breaths.

The heart behind the books, and a practical guide for parents, caregivers, teachers and therapists who want to get the most out of every read.

Why these books · The method · Book guide · How to use · How not to use · Further reading

Written from lived experience

The Be and Breathe books didn't start in a classroom or a research lab. They started at home. Cece Beans is a biological, foster and adoptive mom raising neurodivergent kids, and every story grew out of a real hard moment: a grumpy morning with no clear reason, a bedtime full of shadows, a car ride that felt endless. The calming tools in these books are the same ones her family leans on every day.

That lived-in honesty is why the series has found a home well beyond the bedroom bookshelf. Today, the Be and Breathe books are used in ABA therapy practices and occupational therapy centers across the United States, where providers use them to introduce and rehearse regulation skills in a way children actually enjoy.

Real tools, not just a story

Each book models a simple, repeatable skill (pausing, breathing, noticing, naming) that a child can use long after the book is closed.

No shame, no villains

Grumpy, fearful, silly or cranky, every character is loved exactly as they are. Feelings are never "bad"; they are something we learn to move through.

Rhyme that sticks

Rhythm and repetition make the words easy to remember, so a line from the book can become the calming phrase you reach for in a real moment.

The Be and Breathe method

Every book in the series follows the same four gentle steps. Once your child knows them, you can use them anywhere.

Pause

Notice the big feeling. Stop, just for a moment.

Breathe

Take a slow breath in through the nose and a long breath out. "Smell the flower, blow out the candle."

Notice

Look around. What can you see, hear and feel right now?

Name

Put words to it: the feeling, the safe things around you, the thing you're grateful for.

Book-by-book guide

Find the book that matches the feeling your child is working through, plus one thing to try together after reading.

Moody days · Gratitude

Grumpy Duck

For bad moods that don't have a clear reason. Duck learns to pause, breathe and notice the small, steady things he's grateful for.

Try this: Before bed, take turns naming three "grass beneath my feet" things: small things you're glad about today.

Fear · Bedtime worries

Fearful Bat

For nighttime fears and worry. Bat breathes, looks around and names the safe things she can find, ending with "I am safe."

Try this: With the lights low, point to and name the safe things in your child's room, then say "I am safe" together.

Big energy · Social awareness

Silly Emu

For kids whose bodies just want to move. Emu keeps his joy while learning to look around and notice how his friends feel.

Try this: Play "fast emu, slow emu": run and stomp, then freeze, breathe and look around to see who's near you.

Frustration · Sitting still

Cranky Rider

For car seats, waiting rooms and anywhere it's hard to stay put. Little breaths turn an unbearable ride into something calmer.

Try this: On your next drive, take three slow breaths together, then play "I notice…" with things out the window.

People-pleasing · Boundaries

Okay Blue Jay

For kids who say "okay" even when it doesn't feel okay. Blue Jay learns to pause, listen inside and use her voice.

Try this: Practice kind "no" words together: "No, thank you," "Not right now," "I don't like that."

Overwhelm · Organization

Disorganized Octopus

For busy minds and busy spaces. Octopus slows down, breathes and finds a place for each thing, one small step at a time.

Try this: Pick one small spot to tidy together. Breathe first, then give each thing "its home."

Wanting more · Contentment

Whiney Whale

For the "just one more" moments. Whale learns he can dream about tomorrow while still enjoying what's here today.

Try this: When a "one more" wish comes up, name it kindly, then breathe and find one thing you're enjoying right now.

Books not part of the "Be and Breathe" series

Belonging · Differences

Every Bear Belongs

A celebration of every way of being, from wheelchairs to forever families. Every bear is different, special, and belongs.

Try this: Ask, "Which bear is like you? Which bear is like someone you love?" and celebrate the differences.

How to use these books

Read in calm moments first. Children learn a skill best when they feel safe. Read at bedtime, snack time or cuddle time, long before the big feeling shows up.
Breathe along out loud. When a character pauses to breathe, stop reading and take the breath together. Your calm is contagious.
Read it again (and again). Repetition is the point. The more familiar the rhyme, the easier it is to reach for in a hard moment.
Pause and wonder. Ask open questions: "How do you think Duck feels? Have you ever felt like that? What helped?"
Borrow the words later. In a real moment, a gentle "Let's be like Bat. What safe things can we see?" connects the book to real life.
Model it yourself. Let your child see you pause and breathe when you're frustrated. Kids learn regulation by watching us do it.
Pair it with comfort. A Warmie to hug while you read gives little bodies a soothing, sensory anchor.

How not to use these books

Not as a lecture or a label. Avoid "You're being a Grumpy Duck again." The characters are friends to learn with, not names to call.
Not in the middle of a meltdown. A child who is flooded can't take in a story. Stay close and help them feel safe first; read together once calm returns.
Not as a punishment or a reward. These books aren't something to earn or to take away. They work best as a warm, reliable part of your routine.
Not to make feelings go away. The goal isn't "stop being sad." It's "you can feel this and still find your breath."
Not as a quick fix. Regulation is learned slowly, with lots of practice and lots of patience, for kids and grown-ups alike.
Not as a replacement for professional support. If you're worried about your child's emotions or behavior, talk with your pediatrician, therapist or care team. These books are a companion to that care, not a substitute.

For therapists, teachers and care teams

Providers in ABA and occupational therapy settings use the Be and Breathe books to introduce a regulation skill, rehearse it during sessions and send it home so families can practice the same language. Some ideas that work well:

Use one book as a shared "calm script" between the clinic, the classroom and home.
Pair the Pause, Breathe, Notice, Name steps with visual supports or a calm-down corner.
Try the matching Warmie as a sensory, weighted comfort object during reading.

Interested in classroom or clinic sets? Get in touch with us.