MY MAGICAL FEELINGS

A picture book encourages kids to recognize their emotions.

Cummings’ White narrator explains that “feelings…help you explore…like crayons coloring you within.” The narrator describes situations and common emotional responses, reminding readers to recognize and accept their feelings by repeating the phrase “and that’s okay!” For instance, readers can say “I feel sad and that’s okay!” after “hearing names or words that hurt, / getting teased about your shirt. / Saying bye to furry friends. / The final day when summer ends.” Other scenarios include feeling lonely, loved, scared, embarrassed, or joyful (“Eating cones of cold ice cream. / Waking up from a happy dream. / Building castles made of sand. / Giving friends a helping hand”). Ultimately, the narrator stresses that it’s essential to “honor feelings, breathe them deep,” and acknowledge their impermanence. The author accessibly demonstrates the significance of emotional awareness and recognition through kid-friendly, relatable examples. The work will be a valuable and validating resource for youngsters. Shojaie’s friendly, cartoonish illustrations include Black, brown, Asian, and White kids. Most scenes mirror descriptions in the text, as when an “embarrassed” kid cries after falling off a bike, a child feels “loved” playing a game with grandma, and another feels “safe” reading in bed with mom. Some spreads feature creative elements, such as a youngster holding hands with an anthropomorphic heart. The last page shows kids with different facial expressions clutching vivid hearts against a rainbow sky.

An insightful and heartening reminder to accept emotions and respect feelings.