Book Review: Anh's Anger

Author: Gail Silver
Illustrated by Christiane Kromer
Interest Level: Ages 4-9

From the Book Jacket: "Who are you?" asked Anh. "And how did you get into my room?" "I'm your anger," said the creature. "You brought me here."

This enchanting story gives children and caregivers a concrete practice for dealing with anger and other strong emotions. Anh, a five-year-old boy, comes to know his anger when they dance, play, sit, and breathe together, creating a space for Anh to resolve an earlier conflict with his grandfather. The vibrant multi-textured collages illustrate the connection between the characters and their environment and express the wide range of emotions present in the story.

Ahn's Anger can help children learn to acknowledge and understand the causes of their own strong emotions, and ultimately feel safe expressing themselves and accepting accountability for their actions when appropriate. The story also provides caregivers a model of being calm and compassionate with children's anger.

"Anh's Anger reminds us that anger is part of all of us and that mindful sitting and breathing can help transform it. Both adults and children will benefit from learning how to change an unhappy situation into a joyful one." —Thich Nhat Hanh   

Why It's On My Bookshelf: Do you remember when you were a child and were angry about something? Do you remember what you did to get rid of your anger? Did an adult help you? My mom would ask me to "retire" to my room for a cool down. I remember lying on my bed, listening to music, being still with my breath....this book reminded me of those times. It's going to come in handy if you need to help teach this skill.

"You're upset," said Grandfather. "Please go to your room and sit with your anger. I'll come in when you're calm and able to talk." I love that it models the adult giving an appropriate calm response. When I'm dealing with an ANGRY kid I first have to find my inner calm before I even open my mouth.

In Anh's Anger the child asks, "How do I sit with my anger?" As a parent, teacher, or counselor - that question is your IN. I asked this question to students when we finished reading. They answered it in many different ways. Anh uses breathing as his calming technique. Empower your child to come up with techniques to let their anger go. Put this one on your shelf, it's not just a message for kids - it's for everyone.  

Check Out A Preview:

A Link To This Book and Others You Might FInd Helpful:

1 comment

  1. Anonymous25 May, 2012

    This seems perfectly suited to so many people I know including myself. Thanks so much for introducing this book to me. :)

    ReplyDelete