Crying is Like the Rain

April 15, 2020
Emotions can be tumultuous but passing, just like the weather. Feinberg, founder of Mindful Kids, a nonprofit that promotes social and emotional learning, likens various emotions to different types of stormy weather. While this is certainly not a new concept, Feinberg delves into the topic by addressing the reader directly with questions and using direct address to pull them in. The beginnings of storms can feel uncertain. Some storms are loud and thunderous; some storms are relatively gentle. Sometimes "the storm feels like it will never end, but it always does." And of course, "crying is like the rain." It helps release pent-up emotions, oftentimes giving a sense of calm at its end. Kellogg's textured brush strokes capture the sweeping clouds, sheets of rain, and various internal storms (or other natural disasters) that children face, such as swirling tornadoes of confusion or fiery volcanoes of anger. The two main characters, presumably siblings, present white, but both adults and children of color also appear throughout. Various mindfulness exercises related to weather ("Be a weather reporter and share your weather with someone you care about") appear in two pages of backmatter. Not brilliant storytelling--but useful and purposeful. (Picture book. 3-8)

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June 22, 2020
Centering on a child getting walked to school by an older sibling, Feinberg uses the changing weather as an extended metaphor for fluctuating emotions. Textural illustrations by Kellogg provide a sprightly backdrop to the characters’ journey. Two consecutive spreads—one depicting clear skies as the duo traverse a rural road, the next depicting the gathering storm as a man tending his sunflowers waves to the siblings—stand out, the perspective shift reflecting characters’ reactions to the weather. While some passages feel heavy-handed (“When you are worried or upset,/ scared or lonely, or something deep/ within feels off balance, there is/ a storm building inside you”), the book stands as a reliable entrée for adults to support young readers’ emotional processing. Back matter includes mindfulness activities and advice for caretakers on how to discuss feelings with children. Ages 6–8.

July 1, 2020

PreS-Gr 1-Through a social and emotional learning lens, Feinberg attempts to explain feelings to readers by likening them to the weather, and noting that they are passing. Some emotions-hurt, loneliness, fear, worry-can feel like volcanoes, tornadoes, hurricanes, and earthquakes inside. Even if "crying is like the rain," there are different versions of that, too: a thunderous downpour, light sprinkles with the sun still shining, or simply misty. Feinberg takes apart the reactions of others to emotional displays; people can be angry, worried, or try to make the one who is crying laugh, but their response may come from a place of their own discomfort. Kellogg's illustrations of acrylic and watercolor capture the emotions of the young character shown in the pages, and add to the reassuring purpose of the book. Back matter suggests having children write "Weather Reports" for their daily emotions, as well as activities to go deeper and ideas for the best way to talk with children. VERDICT Very clear in its didacticism, this empowering book is an intended tool for caregivers and teachers wanting to explore social emotional learning with the very young.-Danielle Jones, Multnomah County Lib., OR

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