Today I Feel...An Alphabet of Feelings

Today I Feel… An Alphabet of Feelings is a picture book that shows a child experiencing a wide range of emotions. Each two-page spread depicts one emotion, with the letter of the alphabet and corresponding emotion on the left, and the child experiencing the emotion on the right. Each letter of the alphabet is designed using something that corresponds to the illustration of the emotion. For example, the letter E (for excited) is made of two knit scarves. The corresponding illustration shows the child in winter outerwear, including a scarf, looking up at snow falling. The watercolor and India ink illustrations are simple and clean, really imaginative, and clearly depict each emotion. The book ends with a question for the reader – “How do you feel today?” Today I Feel… An Alphabet of Feelings, by Madalena Moniz, is a great book to read to begin a discussion of emotions with children.

Guest post by Allison C. 

It's Tough to Lose Your Balloon

Being a kid isn’t always a walk in the park. When things happen that are neither planned nor pleasant, sometimes it’s hard to know how to respond, especially when you're a kid. Jarrett Krosoczka’s latest offering, It’s Tough to Lose Your Balloon, is a book about dealing with things that make us upset. It’s all about finding good in the bad and looking on the bright side.

The book reads: “It’s sad to drop your sandwich in the sand…but it’ll make some seagulls very happy.” The first illustration shows a little girl feeling upset to have dropped her sandwich on the beach. The next picture shows the girl with a smile from ear to ear as she watches a group of sea gulls feasting on her fallen food. Another example says: “It hurts to get a scrape…but you’ll get a cool bandage. (It might even glow in the dark!)” The first picture, featuring a boy with a badly scraped knee, is followed by a scene in which the same boy is proudly showing off his new bandage.

I love the message that this book sends: “So when life gives you rain…look for the rainbow!” What a great book to share with your children and a terrific piece of advice for us all!

You're a Crab! A Moody Day Book

We all have our good days, our bad days, our silly days, and our just-plain-crabby days. Jenny Whitehead’s new book, You’re a Crab! A Moody Day Book, demonstrates emotions using an assortment of cute and colorful sea creatures. The book explains that if you’re not feeling like a “funny clownfish” or a “friendly dolphin with a squeeeaky laugh,” don’t worry. You can “go ahead and be a stinky anchovy for a while…You can take as long as you need because I will be right here…And soon enough…you will be my happy, funny, silly crab again!” Along with the sweet and very important message, are some fun opportunities to act out these emotions, as the book mentions tickling, hugging, kissing, chomping, and squeezing. So, whether you’re dealing with a silly jellyfish or a mopey manatee, this book is a great one for understanding feelings and ways to handle different emotions.