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Don’t Rush The River

Name: Don’t Rush The River
Brand: Heart Bright Learning
Price: 5.0 USD
Availability: InStock

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Don’t Rush The River

Slow down, breathe deep, and notice the world you're rushing past.

Being overwhelmed is a part of life, but there are ways to manage those feelings. That’s what Rabbit learns from Fish, who helps her to understand that, by slowing down and being aware of her surroundings, she can learn to be mindful and calm. When she recognizes her emotions and uses grounding strategies, Rabbit is able to move through her responsibilities with greater balance, presence, and emotional control— supporting her own self-management.

The Don’t Rush The River Read&Color Booklet brings the story to life through creative play. This coloring book invites children to color, play, and engage imaginatively with the journeys of the charming animal characters, while fostering emotional engagement and expression.

For a richer, more in-depth learning experience at home or in the classroom, the Don’t Rush The River Instructional Package gives educators and families everything they need to turn the story experience into a transformative conversation. For a comprehensive Social-Emotional Learning experience, our complete SEL Collection 1 Instructional Bundle includes all five SEL fables, with accompanying Read&Color Booklets, Listen&Enjoy eBooks, and Instructional Guides to deepen engagement and let learning flow.

What Makes Our Books Unique?

Creative Engagement: A charming black and white line drawing invites children into the story in a new way, encouraging them to express what the story brings up for them through coloring and generative play.
Literature-Based Discovery: Through Rabbit and Fish’s conversation, children observe how we can manage feelings of stress and anxiety by staying mindful and present.
Social-Emotional Connection: By sharing personal experiences in which they felt overwhelmed and how they managed it, children learn strategies to manage stress while exploring how their own feelings connect to those of the characters.

Product Details

Title: Don’t Rush The River
Author: Jon Madian
Guided Reading Age: 3-8
Independent Reading Age: 8-9
Themes: Social-Emotional Learning, Self-Management, Emotional Awareness, Anxiety, Stress
Format: Coloring Book
Best For: -
Series: -

What Parents and Teachers Are Saying

The work that Heart Bright Learning is doing to support a balanced approach to reading has helped me understand how the fundamental elements of reading work together, with and beyond phonics. I have found learning about the Science of Reading to be overwhelming, but the synthesis that Heart Bright Learning provides, both in their instructional blogs and in the integrated, science-based materials that they produce for early readers, have been very helpful to my continued learning as an educator.

Frequently Asked Questions

What age group is this fable best suited for, and can it be used across mixed-age groups?

Designed for ages 3–9, the read-aloud format suits ages 3–8 and the independent reading version ages 8–9. Beginning and independent readers can be paired together for shared learning.

How does the story present coping strategies for stress and anxiety to children?

Through Rabbit and Fish’s conversation, the story introduces grounding strategies, such as mindfulness and stretching. Children learn that these exercises can help them to stay calm when they are feeling overwhelmed.

What SEL competency does Don’t Rush The River focus on?

The primary focus is Self-Management, but all five SEL competencies are woven throughout — Self-Awareness, Social Awareness, Relationship Skills, and Responsible Decision-Making are all modeled through Rabbit and Fish's interactions.

How does this Read&Color Booklet differ from the Listen&Enjoy eBook and the complete instructional package?

Children can use the Read&Color booklet to color while strengthening their reading skills. The Listen&Enjoy eBook provides a fully color-illustrated story that children can read or listen to. The complete instructional package deepens learning and engagement through guided inquiry, creative activities, and practical instructional support.

My child is a beginning reader — can they still enjoy this Coloring Book?

Of course! While the Read&Color Booklet includes the story text for fluent readers, developing readers can still enjoy the booklet as a coloring book. To deepen engagement and build reading skills, a parent or caregiver can read the story aloud while the child colors.

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About the Author

Jon Madian

Jon, an educational psychologist, and his wife, Karen, an instructional designer, received numerous grants to support learner-centered education throughout their careers. He founded the Artist-in-Residence Reading Project in Los Angeles’s inner-city schools and later co-founded Humanities Software with Karen. Their early literacy curriculum became part of Apple’s early learning initiatives and IBM’s writing programs. Over the course of their careers, Jon and Karen developed more than 100 reading, writing, and process-based programs for print and software, consistently focusing on empowering and inspiring students in educational settings. Their 11 grandchildren and one great-grandchild continue to fuel their commitment to enriching education. Today, through Heart Bright Learning, they are helping parents and teachers reimagine education for the 21st century by developing resources that inspire and empower children to understand themselves, others, and their world through observation, reflection, and process-based learning.

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Don’t Rush The River