By slowing down, focusing on their senses, and noticing the environment around them, kids can learn how to practice mindfulness and to appreciate the value of the natural world just outside their door―wherever they are!

Forest Bath is an adorable book to show folks how to go outside and enjoy the natural world around us. Highly recommend for children and adults of all ages!

It’s bath time! A time to refresh and reset. This book follows a kid as they thoroughly ‘bathe’ themself in nature: in their toes, wash their face, between fingers! This thorough reconnect to nature brings the kid, and the reader, back to themself and ready to face the rest. There is a helpful guide on forest bathing at the end with ways you and your kid can join: feeling the breeze, listening for birds, etc. Great book!

The art in the book is so beautiful and enjoyable to look at. I really enjoy the way this book compares the forest bath to a literal bath. I do think there was more opportunity to make the words flow more smoothly or poetically but nonetheless, I would still recommend this book to teach children about mindfulness in nature. I appreciate the extra info in the back about the origins of forest bathing, and the tips on how to stay safe after nature walks. It’s good to not over romanticize connecting with nature. I also like the list of activities to prompt children with during nature immersion. I will definitely be using this book for younger kiddos who could use some meditative practices.

What a fun read! Mum follows along as Little One explores all there is to see and feel in the woods and the clearing. Afterward there is a half-page of cautions and another of ideas and activities for parents.
The illustrations by Felishia Henditirto are imaginative and FUN about safely exploring nature using bright colors.
Well suited for reading alone or WITH someone of any age, including ESL, and great for gifting to everyone, but especially to a school, waiting room, or your local public library!
I requested and received a temporary uncorrected digital Galley on Thorium PDF from Magination Press — American Psychological Association via NetGalley. Pub Date OCT 07, 2025 @apa_org
@maginationpress @americanpsychologicalassoc @childrensbookcouncil @goodreads #nature #picturebookart #kidlit #picturebook #illustration #childrensbooks #imagination #sensoryinput
#ForestBath by @jen_barton_author and illustrated by Felishia Henditirto @feelish_arts

Thank you to Netgalley and Magination Press for an advanced copy in exchange for mine, and my son's, reviews.

Gorgeous artwork paired with lovely, yet simple, storytelling! This children's book takes you on a brief journey through the forest as a little girl explores all different sensory inputs from nature. My 5 year old loves nature books and giggled at the imagery of "washing" different parts of her body with dirt or leaves. However, the abstract nature of forest bathing went over his head and I had to explain several times what that meant.

This is a cute story about a little girl who uses the forest to bathe her.
My rating of 3 stars is because I found the book to be super short and just kind of abruptly ends in an unnatural way.
Otherwise this is a cute story with good potential of being a great story to read with your kids.

This is a great imaginative story of a child who "takes a bath" in the forest instead of the bath tub. I love the imagery in this short book. The illustrations are beautiful.

I love the concept of this book! Just getting kids outside and exploring nature. I love how the main character takes a "bath" in nature and has so much fun exploring. Then gets an actual bath at the end. The illustrations are enchanting, colorful, and fun! I think they really pull the reader in and helps children visualize how to "take a bath" in nature. I think this is a wonderful book for any child and would highly recommend!

Thank you Jen Barton and Magination Press — American Psychological Association for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book via NetGalley! This review was written voluntarily and all opinions are my own.

I loved it. The short amount of words per page means this book will work for all ages storytimes, and the premise was fun and clever. The language of a bath being used to illustrate a forest bath was really joyful and worked the whole way through, and the cap of the child in the bath on the end brought it all together.

This is a book that I jumped at the chance to read, as I have long been a fan of books like "Last Child in the Woods," and I have seen the rejuvenating influence of nature in my own kids as they have spent unstructured play time outside. This book introduces the Japanese concept of "forest bathing" to children at a level that is accessible and understandable to them. The journey of the child through the story is anything but "bathing" as most kids conceptualize it, including my preschooler, but we were able to talk about how this was a "bath" that made the insides of the child feel sparkly and happy and fresh and new, compared to the bath at the end when the child gets all cleaned up from getting dirty all day.

The illustrations are loose and imbue a sense of magic to the story, similar to the "flow" that comes when one is spending time connecting with nature, and it serves to deepen and enrich the story. This is definitely a book I will request at my library so other children will have the opportunity to read it, and buy for my children as well.

Cute little story about forest bathing! As a family who places a lot of importance on being outside, this was a short and sweet, cute read for our family! Definitely for the younger ages. The illustrations were beautiful and well done. Overall, a great read!

Thanks to NetGalley and American Psychological Association for the ARC copy in exchange for my honest review!

An adorably fun and immersive story of a young child who takes a 'forest bath.' Squishing the moss between their toes, patting their face with mud, smelling the flowers -- what could be better?

I really love this book and I love the concept of forest bathing. I particularly appreciate how the author shows how wild, carefree, and peaceful such a practice can be, while also taking time to highlight the practical side in their author's note (like making sure to not ingest random plants and checking yourself for ticks when you're done.) Definitely a must have for any nature loving kiddos!

Thank you to NetGalley and the author for providing me with a free eARC in exchange for an honest review.

What a beautiful picture book that makes the imagination run wild. I didn’t know about this Japanese concept of forest bathing, either, but I was very lucky to grow up spending loads of time outside and this book even made me dream of those years :) beautifully illustrated

Great illustrations! I think any children who love the outdoors will love this book! A great motivating book to get kids outdoors more!

Thanks for letting me read this book!

Forest Bath is the adorable story of a child who slips into an imaginary forest during bath time, embracing grounding techniques in nature. Throughout the story, she “washes” herself in nature, and comes out clean and refreshed. Forest Bath is complete with beautiful illustrations, and well as tips and tricks for ways you can have a forest bath of your own!

This book will remind people of all ages to revel in the simplicity of the outdoors. It shows how valuable nature is and how it can energize and refresh people.

Forest bath is lovely! The art uses both light and perspective in unique ways and story is a great appreciation of the outdoors! Thanks NetGalley for the eARC

Netgalley ARC - this is definitely a cute concept though I would discourage children from interacting with skunks for sure.

A sweet story depicting the importance of connecting with nature for mind, body and spirit. A celebration of taking a moment to slow down, get dirty and appreciate the wonder of nature.