All Through the Crown

The author uses the structure of the classic children’s song “The Wheels on the Bus” to introduce the idea of chakra and its flow. Beginning with the overall energy in the body going “round and round,” each subsequent verse focuses on a different part, moving from the bottom up. Readers are first encouraged to focus on planting their feet (“Our feet on the ground are rooted down”) before moving up to the hips (“Our hips sway from side to side”). Next is the “middle of our belly” that “pumps in and out” and the heart that thumps. Voices then say “peace and love” while eyes move. Lastly, the “thoughts in our mind say I belong”; “helping hands” open and shut before the whole thing loops back to the first verse. Each section concludes with “all through the crown” replacing the “all through the town” lyric from the original song. Nelsen’s illustrations feature close-ups of the body parts being sung about in each verse. Both boys and girls are shown, all of whom are depicted with brownish orange skin. The images are bright and cartoonish, with bold lines and lots of saturated color that perfectly channel the energy from the song and make it visual. A concluding note to parents that briefly discusses the different chakras used in the book (Third-Eye Chakra, Sacral Chakra, and so on) and tips for meditation provides helpful clarity and context for the text. The book does a wonderful job of encouraging children to get up and move while singing along—though some may find that moving one’s eyes “up and down” simply results in a bout of dizziness. Ultimately, Glowacki manages to seamlessly blend silly dancing and singing with a subtle lesson in self-care.