Books That Heal Kids: bad mood

Showing posts with label bad mood. Show all posts
Showing posts with label bad mood. Show all posts

Book Review: Sweep

Author: Louise Greig
Illustrator: Julia Sarda

From the Book Jacket: Ed's bad mood begins as something small. But before long it grows, and grows, and spreads through the whole town. Can Ed clear his troubles away? Or will everyone be swept up in his bad mood?

Why It's On My Bookshelf:
Absolutely love love this book! Ed's bad mood becomes out of control and starts to become bigger and bigger. The leaves represent his feelings and they grow so huge they start to overtake the town - affecting everyone and everything. As this is occurring Ed secretly wishes this would all just stop. Right after this thought his bad mood is swept away by the wind which allows Ed to see the positive things. I really enjoyed this story and I think it is going to be helpful for kids to cope with bad moods. 

A Link to This Book: 

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Book Reviews: Fergal and the Bad Temper and Ravi's Roar

Author/Illustrator: Robert Starling

From the Book Jacket: Fergal the dragon does not like being told what to do. It's not fair! And when things aren't fair, Fergal loses his temper and snots angry fire. He feels sorry afterward, but Fergal just can't control his outbursts!

After one really fiery day, his family and friends offer him some advice to calm down. Can this dragon learn to cool it before a temper tantrum hits? A perfect choice for fiery kids everywhere!


Author/Illustrator: Tom Percival

From the Book Jacket: Meet Ravi. Ravi never minded being the smallest in his family. Until..one day, Ravi's short arms can't reach the monkey bars, he can't find anyone during hide-and-seek, AND he's too little to ride the big slide. Ravi is so mad - so FURIOUS that he becomes a ferocious, roaring TIGER!

Being a tiger is great. Tigers can do anything they want! But who wants to play with someone who won't share or behave? Ravi is about to discover something very important about voicing his feelings. 

Why They Are On My Bookshelf: I thought these were two great finds on helping kids deal with tempers. They both address how tempers can get triggered when something doesn't feel fair. And unfortunately when this behavior continues - we can find ourselves socially isolated. Both books have ways of coping with anger and show different ways to cool down. Great resources!

A Link to This Book:
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Book Review: Grumpy Monkey

Author: Suzanne Lang
Illustrator: Max Lang

From the Book Jacket: Jim Panzee is in a terrible mood for no good reason. His friends just can't understand it - how can he be in a bad mood when it's SUCH a beautiful day?

They encourage him to stop hunching, to smile, and to do things that make them happy. But Jim can't take all the advice...and has a BIT of a meltdown. Could it be that he just needs a day to feel grumpy?

Why It's on My Bookshelf: This has been a really helpful book to introduce coping skills when kids are having difficulty regulating emotions. I like how the story ends with the monkey meeting a gorilla who is also having a hard day. Their conversation is a good reminder that everyone feels these feelings and eventually they will pass. I used this page of the book to talk about being still and silent and wait for the calm to come. Love Grumpy Monkey!

A Link to This Book: 
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Book Review: The Bad Seed

Author: Jory John
Illustrator: Pete Oswald
Interest Level: Ages 5 and Up

From the Book Jacket: There is a bad seed. A baaaaaaaad seed. How bad? Do you really want to know? He lies about pointless stuff. He cuts in line. Every time. He never washes his hands...or his feet. And he does lots of other bad things too. But what happens when a bad seed doesn't want to be bad anymore? Can a bad seed change his baaaaaaad ways?

Why It's On My Bookshelf: This book helped provide so many insights to our students about what is really underneath anger.....hurt and sadness. When I teach my students strategies to calm down or deal with anger, it's important that I am also helping  them figure out what is really triggering their behavior in the first place. It could be bullying, a problem at home, feeling left out....many many things. We have to take the time to get to the root. I highly recommend this book!!!!



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Book Review: Bernice Gets Carried Away


Author/Illustrator: Hannah Harrison
Interest Level: Ages 4 and Up

From the Book Jacket: Bernice is having a truly rotten time at her friend’s birthday party. First, everyone else gets a piece of cake with a frosting rose. But not Bernice. Then, everyone else gets strawberry-melon soda. Bernice gets the prune-grapefruit juice. And it’s warm. The last straw is the one lousy (squished) candy she gets from the piñata. So when the balloons arrive, Bernice knows just what she has to do: grab them all. And then, poor cross Bernice gets carried up, up, and away. Luckily, she figures out just how to make her way back down to the party…and she brightens lots of other animals’ days on her way.

Why It's On My Bookshelf: A great message in this one - focus on others...don't focus on what you can GET from others. What's most important are friendships and relationships. Bernice Gets Carried Away delivers this message in such a lovely way. I want to figure out how to add this to my bucket filling lessons. What makes Bernice most happy in the end is when she gives all the balloons away. Because it's really not about the balloons - it's about being a giving person. If you are focused on being a receiving person - you are going to miss out on being connected to those around you. Love.


A Link To This Book and Others That Might Be Helpful:
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Book Review: Sam's Pet Temper




















Author: Sangeeta Bhardra
Illustrator: Marion Arbona
Interest Level: Ages 3 and Up
Free Activity Page Click HERE

From the Book Jacket: Sam has a new pet. It's a TEMPER, and he found it on the playground. At first, the Temper is great company. But before long, it becomes hard to handle, and Sam starts to wish it would leave him alone. One dreadful day, the Temper takes things TOO FAR, and Sam knows he has to do something. He tries one thing after another, but the Temper won't back down. Will Sam find a way to tame his Temper?

Why It's On My Bookshelf: This is a great book for kids who are struggling with emotional regulation. Especially those kids who are really trying and frustrated with their anger because they feel like they can't control it. I liked all of the examples of how the anger pops up in his life at home and school and one day it goes too far. Sam is sent home from school. At the end of the story Sam is able to handle his anger and stop the misbehavior cycle. He tells the Temper he is stronger and does breathing. This is an awesome resource for helping kids manage their anger. 

A Link to This Book and Others You Might Find Helpful: 
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Book Review: The Grouchies



 













Author: Debbie Wagenbach
Illustrator: Steve Mack
Interest Level: Ages 4 and Up

From the Book Jacket: Lots of things make kids grouchy. Their sister plays with a favorite toy. They can't finish a puzzle. Or they're just in a bad mood. So what can children do when they get grouchy? How can parents help them deal with bad moods?

The Grouchies does just this. In a fun rhyming story, kids follow a boy through a grouchy day. Through him, kids will learn easy, practical ways to turn their grouchies into smiles and understand how their mood can affect others. 

An extensive Note to Parents further explains the child's experience and provides parents with easy-to-apply tips and tools for helping their kids when a grumpy day comes along.

Why It's On My Bookshelf: I've been reading Calm and Compassionate Children: A Handbook and it made me think of - The Grouchies. The boy in the story has a running tape in his head: "Grouch and grump at everyone you meet throughout the day. Don't be nice to anyone and you will get your way!" Many children struggle with this internal dialogue and it becomes an unhealthy coping mechanism. There is a chapter in Calm and Compassionate Children titled 'High-Mindedness' that really spoke to me and the work I do with children in the area of self talk.

When we think positive thoughts, our feelings become peaceful. When our thoughts are negative, we become edgy, irritable, even angry or agitated. High-mindedness is the practice of focusing our thoughts in a positive direction. Positive thinking aids healing. 
- Calm and Compassionate Children

The Grouchies is a perfect book to help kids turn unhelpful and negative thoughts into high-mindedness. The boy gets rid of his negative feelings by using positive words. I like the concrete way the story is told and I can't wait to integrate it into my lessons. It's going to move more kiddos out of stinkin' thinkin' and into empowerment.

A Link to This Book and Others You Might Find Helpful: 


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Book Review: Crankenstein


Author: Samantha Berger
Illustrator: Dan Santat
Interest Level: Ages 4 and Up
   
 Book Description:
BEWARE OF CRANKENSTEIN!
Who is Crankenstein? HE IS A MONSTER OF GRUMPINESS THAT NO ONE CAN DESTROY! MEHHRRRR!!! HE'S ALIVE!

He may look like any ordinary boy, but when faced with a rainy day, a melting popsicle, or an early bedtime, one little boy transforms into a mumbling, grumbling Crankenstein! When Crankenstein meets his match in a fellow Crankenstein, the results could be catastrophic-or they could be just what he needs to brighten his day!

Why It's On My Bookshelf: I was so happy to see this come on to the book market. And even happier when it arrived in my mailbox and proved to be such an awesome delight. I love using humor in counseling. Kids GET humor. Kids NEED humor. Sometimes the best medicine to a problem is laughter. Children (and adults) will be wowed by the illustrations. What a fun way to open up some dialogue on how to handle life's cranky moments. Crankenstein is going to be a blast to read. Can't wait for all the giggles. But I mostly want kids to look in the mirror and reflect on their own moods and how to handle them without becoming such a crankster. Enjoy this one!

A Link to This Book and Others You Might Find Helpful:


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Books About Being Grumpy

When I think about the word grumpy what comes to mind is negativity. Because if you have ever been around someone in a bad mood you can feel it. Here are two very helpful books to help kids understand what those negative feelings are and can encourage a discussion on how to get rid of them. For those parents who deal with a moody kiddo once in awhile - I think you will REALLY like these new finds. 

Maya Was Grumpy
Written and Illustrated by Courtney Pippin-Mathur
Interest Level: Ages 5 and Up

From the Book Jacket: Poor Maya. She doesn't know why she's grumpy. She's just in a crispy, cranky, grumpy, grouchy mood. Luckily, Gramma isn't ruffled by Maya's glumping and growling. She simply reminds Maya of all the fun things she might miss out on because of her grumpiness - like hunting for hippos, bathing baby elephants, and tickling tarantulas. Will Gramma's silly suggestions coax Maya out of her miserable mood?

Grumpy Goat
Written and Illustrated by Brett Helquist
Interest Level: Ages 5 and Up

From the Book Jacket: Meet one grumpy goat. He's cranky, he's hungry, and he's never had a friend. He is making a terrible mess at Sunny Acres Farm, and the other animals just stay away. He knocks over the pigs' trough, kicks down the garden fence, and eats everything in his path. Until one special flower stops him in his tracks. And once Goat opens his eyes, his heart is soon to follow. See how stopping to smell the flowers really can change everything. 

A Link to These Books:


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