A well-conceived, approachable book for helping kids process big emotions.
A picture book about big feelings and how to handle them by mother-daughter writing team Diane and Anna Hullet.
In addition to having feelings in their heads and bodies, this book posits that kids also have feelings in an energy bubble: “Your bubble is an invisible field that surrounds you. It is what’s between you and the world and can hold and protect you.” The bubble changes depending on particular lifestyle choices: Watching too much television or not getting enough sleep can cause the bubble to grow foggy or deflate, while going outside and getting good amounts of rest will make the bubble fill up again. Big feelings like sadness, worry, or anger change the bubble as well, and the book shows kids talking to a trusted grownup, engaging in physical movement, and offers a simple breathing exercise to try. The book concludes with instructions for some playful activities to try. There’s a beautifully diverse range of skin tones and hair textures throughout. Unfortunately, kids who use accessibility devices or wear religious clothing won’t see themselves portrayed here, but that’s a small exception in what is overall a helpful book. McLeod does a fantastic job of bringing abstract feelings and concepts vividly to life in watercolor-style illustrations, and the text is uncomplicated without resorting to oversimplification, while offering sound guidance.
A well-conceived, approachable book for helping kids process big emotions.Pub Date: Feb. 17, 2026
ISBN: 9781965278918
Page Count: 36
Publisher: Mission Point Press
Review Posted Online: Dec. 16, 2025
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
Adults looking for an easy entry into this subject will not be disappointed.
This book presents a simplified explanation of the role the atmosphere plays in controlling climate.
The authors present a planet as a ball and its atmosphere as a blanket that envelops the ball. If the blanket is thick, the planet will be hot, as is the case for Venus. If the blanket is thin, the planet is cold, as with Mars. Planet Earth has a blanket that traps “just the right amount of heat.” The authors explain trees, animals, and oceans are part of what makes Earth’s atmosphere “just right.” “But…Uh-oh! People on Earth are changing the blanket!” The book goes on to explain how some human activities are sending “greenhouse gases” into the atmosphere, thus “making the blanket heavier and thicker” and “making Earth feel unwell.” In the case of a planet feeling unwell, what would the symptoms be? Sea-level rises that lead to erosion, flooding, and island loss, along with extreme weather events, such as hurricanes, blizzards, and wildfires. Ending on a constructive note, the authors name a few of the remedies to “help our Earth before it’s too late!” By using the blanket analogy, alongside simple and clear illustrations, this otherwise complex topic becomes very accessible to young children, though caregivers will need to help with the specialized vocabulary.
Adults looking for an easy entry into this subject will not be disappointed. (Board book. 3-4)Pub Date: Aug. 18, 2020
ISBN: 978-1-4926-8082-6
Page Count: 24
Publisher: Sourcebooks eXplore
Review Posted Online: Aug. 31, 2020
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 15, 2020
A fun and engaging introduction to Mexico for the younger set.
Young armchair travelers are invited to join a treasure hunt around Mexico while learning a few Spanish words and geographical facts along the way.
The first double-page spread presents a colorful map of Mexico with some of the objects readers will find over the course of their journey as well as a few quick facts about Mexico. A series of colorful and kid-friendly double-page spreads depict landmarks, customs, and foods to be found in different locales, always following the same format: A scene is depicted, basic information is presented in rhyming text, an object must be found, and a “DID YOU KNOW” fun fact appears. To aid children in their search, the object to be located usually is depicted with an aura or stars around it. Words in Spanish are printed in boldface and then presented phonetically. In Mexico City, for example, amid modern skyscrapers, children are invited to locate the statue of El Angel, before reading the “DID YOU KNOW?” fact: The statue is “covered with 24K gold!” There is a commercial angle to the outing, as children are encouraged at the end of the book to visit the website where they can get stickers for each object found in addition to other, related material for sale. The compositions are busy for younger board-book readers, but older toddlers and preschoolers should enjoy it.
A fun and engaging introduction to Mexico for the younger set. (Board book. 3-6)Pub Date: Oct. 15, 2019
ISBN: 978-1-945635-22-9
Page Count: 22
Publisher: Encantos
Review Posted Online: Nov. 23, 2019
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Dec. 15, 2019
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