Yell Less, Love More

Starred review from November 15, 2014

This reviewer doubts there's a parent among us who didn't wish she yelled less, but here's one who actually learned how. Blogger McCraith (The Orange Rhino Challenge, theorangerhino.com), horrified at being "caught" by her handyman screaming at her four young sons, embarked on a challenge to go 365 days without yelling. In this title that combines personal story and everyday parenting tips, the author shares how she reached her goal and offers readers a 30-day condensed version for doing the same. "Orange Rhinos" ("determined and energetic people who choose not to charge with words") have many options here, including easing into change, gaining awareness, and practicing trigger management. Each day contains tips for mood awareness and specific actions depending on if you're feeling cool, warm, or hot, such as screaming into the toilet and flushing away the rage and squeezing Play-Doh to a pulp in lieu of yelling. VERDICT Beautifully designed, with slick, heavy-duty paper and full-color photos and sidebars throughout. McCraith offers a practical, mom-to-mom approach to curbing the anger-guilt cycle that will likely resonate with readers more than the typical psychological examination of emotional regulation.

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