The Reading Warehouse

In Spanish. Meena is excited about the class play, a new and improved version of Red Riding Hood.

Meena is excited about writing and making sets for the class play, an improved version of Red Riding Hood. But when her teacher insists Meena be one of the trees in the forest, she is miserable. I can't, Meena says. I'm too clumsy.

The next day at the Indian store with her mother, Meena sees a yoga class underway in the back. Soon Mrs. Vohra, the owner, convinces Meena to try the new children's class. Over time Meena learns to breathe slowly and deeply-in, and out-and to make herself quiet inside. She learns to move in smooth, slow movements. But at school during play rehearsals, Meena still has trouble being a quiet, steady tree.

The night of the play, Meena trips on her branches as she walks onstage. Drawing on what she learned in yoga class, Meena quiets herself and begins to move slowly and carefully. Turning near disaster into triumph, she becomes the happiest tree in the forest.

UMA KRISHNASWAMI is the author of more than twenty books for young readers. She teaches in the low-residency MFA program in Writing for Children and Young Adults, Vermont College of Fine Arts. Born in New Delhi, India, Krishnaswami now lives and writes in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada.