The Gift of the Broken Teacup: Poems of Mindfulness, Meditation, and Me

Allan Wolf is the author of many books for young people, including the novel The Watch that Ends the Night, which was named one of the 50 Best Young Adult Novels of All Time by Booklist; the novel Junius Leak and the Spiraling Vortex of Doom; the nonfiction graphic novel The Vanishing of Lake Peigneur, illustrated by Jose Pimienta; and the poetry collection The Gift of the Broken Teacup, illustrated by Jade Orlando. His books celebrate his love of research, history, science, and poetry. He is a Los Angeles Times Book Prize finalist, a two-time winner of the North Carolina Young Adult Book Award, and a recipient of the Bank Street College Claudia Lewis Award. Allan Wolf lives in Roanoke, Virginia, with his wife, his sister, and a dog named Mo. Learn more at www.allanwolf.com.

Jade Orlando’s colourful illustrations are featured in books, apparel, advertising, and licensing, with clients including Hallmark and the ACLU. She lives in the ’burbs of Atlanta, Georgia, with her husband, three cats, and a greyhound named Petra.

In three sections of roughly equal length, oft-rhyming verse scans impeccably, the better to convey messages of perseverance and self-acceptance. . . . Orlando’s pictures beautifully complement Wolf’s poems, with plenty of animals, playful perspectives, and thoughtfully diverse depictions of children. A terrific exposition of mindfulness, perfectly distilled for curious kids.
—Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

Through prose and rhythm, these 30 poems explore profound yet accessible themes, such as integrity, perseverance, empathy, and appreciation for life’s small wonders. . . The Gift of the Broken Teacup is a treasure trove of mindfulness where readers can find inspiration and cultivate peace within their lives.
—Booklist

Recommended for elementary collections where mindfulness-based stress reduction and social-emotional learning through yoga and meditation are popular.
—School Library Journal