1-2-3 My Feelings and Me

January 24, 2020

K-Gr 2-This title gives children practical tools to understand and deal with emotions, and stresses that all feelings are okay. It also explains that feelings may manifest in our bodies and minds. In one lunchroom scene, eight different children all have different emotions that seem possible in a real lunchroom setting: a boy with his hand on his head as he opens his lunch to find a disappointing meal, a girl who drops her ice cream, and happy friends splitting a sandwich. Illustrations and text work well together; when explaining that feelings come in three sizes, there are three separate illustrations of a girl. The big feelings show her very angry, stomping her feet and yelling, the in-between illustration is smaller and she is crossing her arms, and the small image shows a blank expression on her face. Several illustrations highlight more complex ideas. A two-page spread of a boy drawing shows how emotions change all the time-in one illustration the artwork is ripped up and crumpled, while another illustration shows the boy proudly showing his dad his artwork. This title lends itself to discussion in a classroom or individual setting, and includes tips for understanding feelings and practical tools for dealing with them. The authors are psychologists and have provided a five-page guide for adults in the back of the book. VERDICT Recommended for school and public libraries, this title will appeal to children and provides valuable resources for adults.-Robin Sofge, Prince William Public Library System, VA

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