Wisdom from a Humble Jellyfish: And Other Self-Care Rituals from Nature

Shah, founder of Fuss Class News, a South Asian–American satire website, debuts with a charming “safari of self-care” in which she shares self-care lessons based on the behaviors of animals and plants. To take the animal of the title as an example, Shah suggests that the jellyfish offers an object lesson in the conservation of energy and the need for regular relaxation. Shah’s tips are simple and practical: for instance, in riffing on the jellyfish, she proposes that a moment of rest can come from small novelties, such as simply changing the route of a daily walk to give oneself a chance at new scenery. Oysters exhibit how “pain or difficulty can be used to create something beautiful,” and porcupines teach readers that “you can’t control whether or not you get hurt... but you can control how much you allow it to affect you.” Her trip through nature is illustrated with delightful drawings and dingbats, giving the production the feel of a picture book in some sections. Shah’s humor is infectious, and her breezy approach makes learning from shrimp, sloths, spiders, and wombats, among many others, unexpectedly rewarding. This whimsical excursion into the wisdom of the natural world will appeal to readers on the prowl for lighthearted self-help. (Apr.)