You're a Crab!

June 1, 2015
A parent uses sea-creature metaphors to coax a child out of a “crabby” mood: “Some days you can be a silly jellyfish that does a wiggle-jiggle dance,” writes Whitehead. “And some days you can be a crab!” The parent tries a few tactics to shift the child’s mood (“I’m a puffer fish that will hold its breath and make silly faces at you”) but also acknowledges that it’s okay to “go ahead and be a stinky anchovy for a while.” Swirling illustrations that mix paint, tissue paper, and digital elements create a prevailing sunny mood—one that might persuade a few “mopey manatees” to change their tune. Ages 4–7. Agent: Ronnie Ann Herman, Herman Agency.

March 15, 2015
A marine-themed look at all kinds of moods.Some days you may feel as friendly as a dolphin or as silly as a jellyfish (doing a wiggle-jiggle dance), but on those days when things aren't going right, you may feel downright crabby. And that's OK! Whitehead delves deep into a tissue-paper-swirled ocean to find all kinds of creatures and the many emotions they may be feeling. In the good-mood passages, like the "frog that goes kissy-kissy-kissy" or the "puffer fish that will hold its breath and make silly faces at you," the actions beg to be carried out (perhaps to a slightly cranky listener). But the bad ones-"when you feel MAD like an eel that ZAPS at whatever it sees"-are acknowledged as well. Readers are given permission to "go ahead and be a stinky anchovy for a while," because moods always pass. Even the angry, red, crabby crab (furrowed brows and all) is smiling in the end. Certainly not new fare, but any opportunity to help children understand emotions is never a misstep. (Picture book. 3-6)

June 1, 2015

PreS-Gr 1-Sometimes you just have a day where you're in a mood. A good one or a bad one, a silly one, or a sad one. But it's important to know that everyone has days like this and that even if you're mad today, it doesn't mean you are going to be mad tomorrow. Using pictures done with a colorful and whimiscal mixture of paint, tissue paper, and Photoshop, this work takes a look at the entire rainbow of emotions. Sea creatures including dolphins, jellyfish, whales, sharks, and the titular crab take readers on a fun journey through a variety of feelings. The narrator helpfully offers a sympathetic lense by reminding readers and listeners, "Don't worry. Sometimes I can be crabby, too." This simple picture book will reassure young children that even if they feel crabby one day, the very next day they can be happy and silly again. VERDICT A fun addition for collections seeking more whimsical, and less academic, picture books about emotions.-Paige Garrison, Aurora Central Public Library, CO

Copyright 2015 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.