A child is guided by a loving family through ways to cope with worry in Serani’s picture book, part of the Sometimes When series.

The narrator, a child with wavy red hair and pink cheeks, notices that when they worry, sometimes they feel scared and can’t calm down. Daddy makes a suggestion: “He says I might feel calmer if I find something I can control.” Daddy offers a choice: belly breathing or counting to 10. The choice and the practice both make the child feel better. On each page, as the child expresses their worry, the family offers acceptance, choices, and encouragement, validating the narrator’s experiences and guiding them through it. The author, a psychologist and professor at Adelphi University, offers spare but fluid text that reflects a child’s perspective. The narrator’s family offers a supportive community at every turn, making the book reassuring for young readers. Lengthy text at the back guides caregivers on how to best support their worriers—and how to care for their own worries as part of that process. Teis’ highly-textured full-color paintings allow readers to sink into the scene; the pacing and presence of happy thoughts to contrast the worry make each page feel safe and comforting. The soft tone of both the text and illustrations gives the book the ambiance of a warm hug.

An empowering, soothing aid for children combatting worry.

A boy copes with boredom with parental guidance in this wise picture book about finding opportunity in quiet moments.

A young child laments that idle time is no fun: “Sometimes when I’m bored, everything bothers me.” But when the narrator talks to Momma, she promises that boredom just means something special is ahead. All the child has to do is find it by exploring natural curiosity, using imagination, building something new, or following a natural sense of wonder. Daddy suggests that feeling lonely is an opportunity to play pretend, draw a picture, or write to a loved one. The boy takes these suggestions to heart, and now, when he’s bored, the world is full of possibility. Serani, a psychologist and professor at Adelphi University, carefully balances the “Ugh!” feeling of childhood boredom with the open door of opportunity that unstructured time presents. Along with crafting the authentic child voice of the narrator and using straightforward text and simple sentence structure to help emergent readers, she also offers adults detailed notes on how to support children through their boredom. Teis’ realistic paintings center a Black family in images filled with familial love. Highlights of blue and purple represent the child’s imagination and sparking creativity.

An insightful, encouraging book full of self-guided remedies.

A child copes with anger in this picture book.

Using the refrain “Sometimes when I’m mad,” a girl explains what happens when “everything goes wrong.” Mama says, “Sometimes when we’re mad, it’s because we can’t control what’s happening,” advising her to focus on what she “can control.” Working on a puzzle makes the girl feel better. When she is mad because “nothing feels right,” like her “socks are too scratchy,” Papa tells her: “When we feel mad, we may be tired.” Following a nap, she feels less irritated. After she notes, “When I’m mad, my body doesn’t feel good,” she receives a soothing hug from Grandma. When the girl reacts in ways “that don’t help,” such as yelling at her brother, Grandpa suggests apologizing. On the playground, the girl doesn’t know “how to act.” Her teacher points out: “Sometimes when we’re mad, it’s hard to understand…what we’re feeling and why.” He recommends talking to a trusted person. Chatting with Mama improves the girl’s mood. The story portrays realistic scenarios that will resonate with readers. Serani, a psychologist, utilizes approachable language and helpful examples that demonstrate tools and coping skills. The insights are ideal for kids and adults. Teis’ graphic illustrations, which depict an Asian American family, have an unusual, photographic quality. They thoughtfully emphasize the girl’s emotions and body language, as when she sits alone feeling “icky and tricky.” Many feature colorful backdrops with textures like scratches and lines.

A resourceful, expertly written tale that explores and validates children’s emotions.

In this thriller, a tenacious New York psychologist tries to help a patient who may be a murderer.

Dr. Alicia Reese’s initial encounter with Luke Ferro is unorthodox, as he has a panic attack before their first session begins. But that night, she spots a black sedan near her house before it drives away, and she worries Luke followed her home. Despite assuring herself that it wasn’t her new patient (he drives an entirely different car), Alicia can’t help but associate a feeling of dread with Luke. In a later session, Luke claims he’s killed someone—an individual from another state who’s currently missing. Alicia looks into the supposed murder as furtively as possible, so as not to breach confidentiality. Regardless, she’s determined to remain Luke’s doctor and provide whatever psychological assistance he’ll need. But an unexpected event changes everything and makes Alicia question her choices. Luckily, she has the support of her supervisor, Dr. Susan Prader, and her older sister, Nicole Cappas, who is deaf. But delving into Luke’s background is a task Alicia handles on her own, igniting her fears that he’s a patient she simply can’t help. Author/psychologist Serani’s (Depression in Later Life, 2017, etc.) first foray into fiction is a taut, suspenseful tale. Periodic chapter headers number the sessions, leaving readers in anticipation of the one that the title playfully teases. While some readers will guess a plot turn, it still effectively shifts the story in a new direction. Moreover, it precipitates several additional twists and a relentlessly tense final act. As a protagonist, Alicia is professional (her notes trail each session) and sympathetic. She, for example, lost both parents and her husband, Ryan, in a relatively short time and is a child of deaf adults, or coda, who frequently signs with Nicole. Alicia is also devoted to psychology, and she won’t easily give up on Luke, notwithstanding his potential psychopathy.

A smartly written, edgy story with a keen, tireless heroine.