Books That Heal Kids: tantrums

Showing posts with label tantrums. Show all posts
Showing posts with label tantrums. Show all posts

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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Book Review: You Get What You Get

Author: Julie Gassman
Illustrated by Sarah Horne
Interest Level: K-3

About the Book: Melvin throws fit after fit when he doesn't get what he wants. He must learn how to deal with disappointment. After all, you get what you get and you don't throw a fit.

Why It's On My Bookshelf: What a great new discovery. This is a saying we use A LOT in the younger grades - "You Get What You Get and You Don't Throw a Fit!" I am REALLY excited someone finally turned this great little saying into a helpful book. It is PERFECTLY written. Best part is Melvin goes home and also teaches his family all about this new rule he learns at school from his teacher. Students are always learning to deal with disappointment throughout their school day. This saying is an easy way to help kids cope and move on from whatever small issue they think is an injustice. In life we are not always going to get our way and get what we want - lets remind kids to be happy and grateful for what they do get - not what they don't get.

A Link to This Book: 
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Book Review: Finn Throws a Fit!

Author: David Elliott
Illustrated by Timothy Basil Ering
Interest Level: Ages 2-5

About This Book:
Today, Finn does not like peaches.  He doesn’t like anything at all.  He is just plain grumpy!  He slams doors, yells, cries, stomps his feet.  His temper is so huge that when he does these things they have disastrous effects.  His tears flood the house.  Lightning flashes when he yells.  It’s an earthquake when he stomps his feet.  And then it is over.  Readers find out why he was cranky, and now?  Now, he’d like a peach please.

For any parent who has ever survived toddler tantrums, this book hits the mark perfectly.  The drama of the fit itself is right on, cranked up to the ultimate level just as every tantrum feels.  For me, the best moment of the book beyond that charmer of a first page is the end of the fit which ends with this line:

“It lasts until it doesn’t.”

Exactly.  Perfectly and succinctly put.

Elliott’s writing is very simple and yet dramatic.  The short sentences on each page make this a perfect book for toddlers who just may be capable of this sort of tantrum.  Ering’s art is delightfully wild, filled with stormy clouds of emotion.  Done in charcoal, oil paint and grease pencil they work very well in both the sunny parts of the book and the dramatic.  A perfect choice for toddler story time, you could have them yell, stomp, and more while reading.

Why It's On My Bookshelf: Temper tantrums - a parent's worse nightmare! Finn's body language in the book is PERFECT. It's a really good reflection of what a child looks like when they are pouting, angry, and throwing a fit. Read the reviews on Amazon to fully appreciate the impact of Finn Throws A Fit. If you want to make an impact on your toddler's behavior and encourage them to use their words - get this one on your shelf.

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

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