“The Heart Keeps the Beat helped my child learn to do something I never expected, she actually checks the tempo of her heartbeat to bring herself back into calm and regulate her emotions. We love singing the song on walks and in the bath! Bum-Bum Bum-Bum!” -Parent of 3 Year old
The Heart Keeps the Beat
A children’s book about mindfulness by author Alexis Novak
The Heart Keeps the Beat (ages 0-7) is a rhythmic lesson on the human body, how its parts work together, and what happens if they fall out of harmony! The heart is the beat keeper, thumping on the drums bum-bum-bum-bum, the lungs backup the heart hee-huff-hee-huff, and so on! Enjoy this funky journey of the human body, and watch as each piece plays a vital role in our anatomical jam band!
Praise for The Heart Keeps the Beat
“I wanted to share with you the coolest/sweetest thing Pep did the other day. She was upset and crying, and suddenly started tapping her hand on her chest repeating, ‘The heart keeps the beat…’ and it helped regulate her! It was SO cool.”
— Mother of Mindful Reader
“We were out walking the other day and was running (she loves to run) and then stopped and said her chest was tight. She got that from Kai. Both books have given her the language to name her experience. You are a star!!”
— Father of Mindful Reader
Meet the Author
Alexis Novak is a creative and fun Early Childhood Educator, Mindfulness and yoga facilitator, and comedy writer in Los Angeles. She has been published in Reductress, McSweeney's, Mad Magazine, Shape, Harper's Bazaar, and Buzzfeed, and Women's Health annual book, Yoga Now. Over the years she has developed a unique skill-set which focuses on Mindfulness, Interpersonal Connection, and Play-Centered Learning. She has been a child and adult yoga instructor for over 12 years and is passionate about heart-centered learning. She obtained her Early Childhood Development Teacher Certificate from UCLA Extension, and is currently studying at the Mindful Awareness Research Center at UCLA. Alexis is also studying at Pacific Oaks College Bachelor of Arts program in Early Childhood Development.
In the midst of the 2019 novel coronavirus pandemic, Alexis founded Mindful Place to Meet, a children’s mindfulness resource hub that encompasses enrichment classes to teach self-regulation and emotional tools to early childhood students through arts & crafts, creative games, and mindful play. To explore with Mindful Place to Meet, please visit www.mindfulplacetomeet.com.
Meet the Illustrator
Nadia Ronquillo is a children’s book illustrator, visual development artist and content creator from Ecuador. In 2017, she was part of the Scriptwriting and Concept Development program at La Poudrière, France. That same year, she was awarded a scholarship and mentorship for the Storyteller Academy. In 2018 the project she co-created Tally Molly, was part of the Pixelatl Bootcamp at Mexico, The Laboratory, Bridging the gap in Spain, and winner of the tv series category at Ventana Sur, Argentina.
Mindful Place to Meet
Founded by Alexis Novak in 2019, A Mindful Place to Meet began as an enrichment class to teach self-regulation and emotional tools to early childhood aged students through arts & crafts, creative games, and mindful play. This is a children's mindfulness resource hub. A place that aims to provide accessible, developmentally appropriate, and fun curriculum to children ages 2-6. During the COVID-19 Zoom Boom, the program expanded as children and caregivers were forced to transition to digital learning. The need for resiliency comprehension and mindful awareness has become a vital necessity for adults and children.
