Breathe and be
Kate Coombs
Breathe and be
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
A Book of Mindfulness Poems
by Kate Coombs
The text is written at a 2nd grade reading level, the subject matter is intended for younger children (ages 5–8), and the content is gentle with no concerning themes.
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About This Book
I breathe slowly in, I breathe slowly out. Thunder crashes overhead as my toes sink into the warm sand. Suddenly, a leaf drifts softly down the quiet stream—where will it go next?
Themes
Quick Assessment
This gently illustrated poetry book introduces young children to mindfulness through vivid connections with nature. Aimed at early readers aged 5-8, it encourages calmness, emotional soothing, and awareness of the present moment. The simple, peaceful language and themes make it a great tool for fostering emotional regulation and appreciation of the natural world without any concerning content.
Why we rated Breathe and be 7LE
Breathe and be is written at a Level 2 reading level across 32 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 3.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Breathe and be works for readers up to grade 4.0.
We rate Breathe and be as 7LE ("Light — Emotional") because the content sits in the "Gentle" range — no conflict beyond everyday childhood experiences. Across our four dimensions (emotional, physical, social, thematic) the book reads as evenly gentle; no single dimension stands out as a concern.
No specific content flags were raised by community reviewers, which is consistent with the gentle intensity score.
Thematically, Breathe and be explores mindfulness, juvenile poetry, nature, and emotional regulation — these threads give the book room to mean different things to different readers.
Good fit for
- ✓ Children in the Ages 5-8 range — the maturity and attention span match the story's pacing.
- ✓ Patient readers who enjoy slower, character-driven stories.
- ✓ Kids drawn to stories about mindfulness, juvenile poetry, nature.
Maybe not for
- ! Reluctant readers who need a fast hook — the pacing here rewards patience.
For Parents
Content Intensity
7LE — Light — EmotionalNo conflict beyond everyday childhood experiences. Safe for sensitive readers.
Was our "Gentle" content intensity rating accurate for this book?
Reading Insights
Hook Factor
1/10A steady, thoughtful read that rewards patient readers.
Discussion Potential
1/10A lighter read — great for independent enjoyment.
Book DNA
Multi-dimensional content fingerprint
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Details
Book Length
- ISBN
- 9781622039371
- Pages
- 32
- Publisher
- Sounds True
- Published
- 2017
- Type
- Fiction