Billy and Betty's pet hamster, Bessie, goes missing one day. Their mother sends them outdoors to find her. 'Pay attention to everything', says mother. 'She's so small you might step on her if you're not careful!' The children set out with their eyes and ears peeled. They notice so many things. A ladybird on a blade of grass. Dew drops on a spider's web. Rust on a pipe the colour of flames.

Small things they would not have noticed before seem so much bigger and interesting. Along the way, readers are invited to Pause and notice the texture of the page from which they're reading; the quality of the light around them; coolness or warmth, etc. When the children return home, they are so invigorated by what they have seen that they realise they have forgotten about Bessie. They then realise she was in her cage all along, camouflaged by the straw she was sleeping under. If only they had paid such close attention earlier! The story shows how they use mindfulness - the ability to pay attention to the present moment with curiosity - to help them pay attention in everyday life. Mindfulness practices (exercises) are integrated into each story, and expanded on in the 'Notes to Parents and Teachers' section at the end of the books. Readers are invited to PAUSE at various points in the story to notice their own present moment experience. The four stories in the 'Mindful Me' series explore how a mindful attitude to life can enhance enjoyment, promote a sense of calm and confidence, and provide young people with a 'friend for life'.

The books can be used at home or in the classroom, for storytime or as part of the PSHCE curriculum. The other titles are: Just Breathe: A Mindfulness Guide to Keeping Anger at Bay Emotions and Me: A Mindfulness Guide to Exploring Emotions Sleep Easy: A Mindfulness Guide to Getting a Good Night's Sleep.