A valuable tool for teaching children the important skill of recognizing and naming feelings.
Anger comes in many different forms.
Clenched fists, hunched shoulders, furrowed brows, and a downturned mouth—undoubtedly the young girl protagonist is angry. Her self-aware first-person narration reveals that anger can stem from many underlying emotions. The girl presents various scenarios. When sharing a stuffed animal gets thorny, she reflects: “Sometimes I get angry when I feel like people are being mean.” That is called “ ‘It’s my turn!’ angry.” Or if she finds a puzzle difficult and frustrating, that is called “ ‘I can’t do it!’ angry.” Anger can even spring from sadness; the girl refers to this as “ ‘But why?’ angry” as she looks at a photo of a man who is presumably her deceased grandfather. The second half of the book revisits each scenario, this time offering the possible solution of using words to help diffuse or understand anger. But that can be difficult, too: “Sometimes I can’t think of any words at all, just mad sounds.” Familiar coping mechanisms—such as counting or breathing exercises—aren’t mentioned, though the girl, who has straight black hair and tanned skin, does scribble on paper furiously and cathartically when “anger comes from deep inside and bursts out.” Readers of all ages will identify with the rush of this familiar emotion, explored so sensitively in the book’s thoughtful narrative and emotive, textured digital illustrations. The protagonist’s caregivers are an interracial couple; background characters are racially diverse. (This book was reviewed digitally.)
A valuable tool for teaching children the important skill of recognizing and naming feelings. (Picture book. 3-6)Pub Date: May 3, 2022
ISBN: 978-1-77306-338-6
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Groundwood
Review Posted Online: March 1, 2022
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 15, 2022
A sweetly positive new-pet primer.
Aimed at very young readers, a book that’s all about caring for a new best friend.
Kevin is very anxious to pick up his new puppy, though he understands that he has to wait a bit for the pooch to be old enough to leave his mother. Kevin marks the big day on his calendar and buys several doggy things with Mommy: a basket, bowls, a collar and a leash. Finally, the big day arrives. The new puppy, whom Kevin will call Ruff, is sitting in a big basket with his mother and siblings. Kevin thinks he’s the sweetest of them all. The vet declares Ruff completely healthy and gives some care instructions. Ruff sniffs everything in his new home, then surprises Kevin by doing “number one” on the floor. Mommy spreads out newspapers so that they can teach Ruff before letting him go to the bathroom outside. Kevin and Ruff play together, go for walks with the new leash and collar, and learn a lot at training school. He teaches Ruff to offer his paw for a shake and uses a special shampoo to give Ruff a bath. “Ruff’s my sweet dog and my best friend,” he declares. From the kid-friendly language to the use of rainbow colors to the extra-sturdy pages and smallish trim size, Slegers maximizes appeal for a very young readership, offering many lessons in an entertaining way.
A sweetly positive new-pet primer. (Picture book. 3-6)Pub Date: June 1, 2013
ISBN: 978-1-60537-144-3
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Clavis
Review Posted Online: May 14, 2013
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 1, 2013
Pleasant pictures for pretend-play fanatics; a sweet story for siblings.
Clementine receives a first-aid kit (complete with otoscope, tongue depressor and reflex hammer!) as a birthday present and assumes a new identity: Nurse Clementine.
Minor injuries and ailments (her dad’s stubbed toe and her mom’s headache) require thorough examinations and generous application of bandages. Pen, ink and watercolor illustrations appear on roomy white pages that flatter James’ gestural black lines and palette of muted terra cottas, sandy yellows, and subdued blues and greens. Multiple scenes surface on double-page spreads, floating cheerily in a placid white ocean. Eyes move easily between these islands of image and the well-placed (and -spaced) text, making this read fast and loose—a lot like the nimble artwork. Clementine’s quick exchanges with little brother Tommy, shown scattered across the page, work particularly well as visual banter. Tommy has no use for Nurse Clementine, but he quickly calls for his big sister when he gets stuck in a tree. Brothers and sisters will appreciate authentic family friction (Tommy’s “Leave me alone!”) and the kindness exchanged after Clementine’s rescue mission and Tommy's scrape (“You can bandage it if you like”).
Pleasant pictures for pretend-play fanatics; a sweet story for siblings. (Picture book. 3-5)Pub Date: Feb. 12, 2013
ISBN: 978-0-7636-6382-7
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Candlewick
Review Posted Online: Jan. 27, 2013
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 15, 2013
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