Zadie the Zen Zebra
Zadie the Zen Zebra
Big Feelings, Brave Hearts — An Alphabet Collection for Kids
By Jessica Schoettle
Zadie is a zebra who loves calm, peaceful moments. She enjoys quiet mornings, gentle walks across the savanna, and the feeling of stillness that helps her feel safe and steady.
But sometimes, the savanna becomes loud and busy.
When animals rush around and voices overlap, Zadie begins to feel overwhelmed. Her heart beats faster, her body feels tight, and she struggles to stay calm. Zadie wants to feel peaceful again, but she is unsure how to find calm when the world around her feels noisy and fast. With gentle support from a caring friend, Zadie learns that calm does not come from controlling the world around her — it begins inside her body.
As Zadie practices slowing down her breathing and paying attention to her body, she discovers that calm can stay with her, even when her surroundings are busy. Zadie learns that steady breathing, patience, and mindfulness can help her feel balanced, safe, and strong wherever she goes.
This meaningful story helps children learn:
• Calming breathing techniques for emotional regulation
• How to manage overwhelm in busy environments
• The importance of slowing down and listening to body signals
• Confidence in self-soothing and mindfulness skills
• Emotional awareness and stress management
• Social-emotional learning through relatable storytelling
Zadie the Zen Zebra is part of Big Feelings, Brave Hearts — An Alphabet Collection for Kids, a heart-centered series designed to introduce children to emotions, character strengths, and social-emotional skills through lovable animal characters and developmentally appropriate storytelling.
Each book in the series encourages meaningful conversations between children, parents, caregivers, and educators while supporting emotional growth for children ages 2–6.
Perfect for:
- Bedtime reading
- Preschool and early elementary social-emotional learning lessons
- Speech and emotional development support
- Classroom read-alouds
- Gifts for toddlers and young children
- Parents and educators teaching calming strategies, mindfulness, and emotional balance
Help your child discover that calm can live inside them, even when the world feels busy and loud.
Zadie is ready to show them how.