Book Review: It's Hard To Be A Verb!

Author: Julia Cook
illustrated by Carrie Hartman
Interest Level: Ages 4-8

From the Book Jacket: Being a verb is hard...especially for Louis, who can't seem to control himself when he gets the urge to move at the wrong time and situation. Louis' mom comes to the rescue by teaching him techniques to help keep his inner itching, twitching and jumping to be a verb in check. A positive resource for anyone dealing with ADHD or challenged by someone who has ADHD.

Why It's On My Bookshelf: Lots of things I like about this book. The use of the word verb is a perfect way to describe what's going on with Louis. It's sort of a nice and neutral way to explain ADHD behaviors without having to put a label on someone. The first part of the story explains how hard it is for Louis to be in control and someone is constantly on his case because of it. Kids who have these same challenges can absolutely relate to his struggle. But one day mom offers up some solutions. She shows him how to wiggle his wiggles, use a focus squishy, and makes a daily check list. Um, LOVE IT! This makes it easier to introduce my interventions. Also, dad makes a few comments about their strategies being strange. I like that author Julia Cook put this in the book. This is smart. Because it gives me a chance to rebuff that kind of thinking.

I'm so thankful to have a story like It's Hard To Be A Verb. I don't students feeling put-down by their wiggles. Being a verb is tough! But there are ways to redirect those wiggles. Favorite part is the last page when mom shows her acceptance and appreciation of who Louis is....a wonderful verb.  

A Link to This Book:

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Book Review: Katie Loves the Kittens

Author: John Himmelman
Interest Level: Ages 4-9

From the Book Jacket: Katie is just so excited when Sara Ann brings home three little kittens that she can't stop herself from howling "AROOOOOO!" She loves them so much! But Katie's enthusiasm frightens the kittens, and she's sad when they run away from her. Don't they know that she just wants to play?



Why It's On My Bookshelf: Katie Loves the Kittens is delightful, adorable, and even teaches an important social skill - self-control!! I can't even remember how I found this lovely little piece of kid-lit but the first time I read it I couldn't stop giggling! Katie the dog is having the hardest time controlling herself and can't stop howling at the kittens with absolute joy and excitement. The kittens want nothing to do with her and are a bit freaked out by her behavior. I've read this to all of our K-2 grades and the concept of self-control has been so EASY for me to teach thanks to Katie and her impulsive ways. I bring up the word self-control in the middle of the book and I have the kids repeat it. They are total pros now on the concept of controlling oneself and why it's so important. I love the ending to this story. Katie wakes up with the kittens fast asleep and they are snuggled up to her. The picture of her trying to keep it together and not start howling is so cute. I also love how the illustrations show her getting revved up with the wagging of her tail. I ask the kids, "Why isn't Katie howling?" And they say, "Self-control!"

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Book Review: Everyone Has Feelings Series

Everyone Feels Angry Sometimes
Author: Cari Meister
Illustrated by Damian Ward
Interest Level: Ages 4-8

It's OK to feel angry. What does being angry feel like? What does it look like? How can you help anger go away? Everyone feels angry sometimes.

Everyone Feels Happy Sometimes
Author: Cari Meister
Illustrated by Damian Ward
Interest Level: Ages 4-8

Feeling happy is fun! What does being happy feel like? What does it look like? How can you show others your happiness? Everyone feels happy sometimes.

Everyone Feels Sad Sometimes
Author: Marcie Aboff
Illustrated by Damian Ward
Interest Level: Ages 4-8

It's OK to feel sad. What does being sad feel like? What does it look like? How can you help sadness go away? Everyone feels sad sometimes.

Everyone Feels Scared Sometimes
Author: Marcie Aboff
Illustrated by Damian Ward
Interest Level: Ages 4-8

It's OK to feel scared. What does being scared feel like? What does it look like? How can you feel safe again? Everyone feels scared sometimes.

Why They Are On My Bookshelf: At the end of each school year I go through all of my books. Part of my reorganization process is figuring out where the 'holes' are in my curriculum based on the needs of my school population. New books about feelings were at the top of my list. I have some really good solid reads on emotions but I also have some seriously outdated ones. I'm talking 1980's outdated with kids in acid wash jeans. So I began searching for a new series on feelings. I found the perfect set at Capstone Publishing.

They are SUPER user friendly and can be used in a multipurpose fashion. I am absolutely integrating these into my feelings curriculum as a read aloud to classes. I feel confident when I'm reading them....I'll tell you more about that in a minute. They will also fit wonderfully into a small group setting. I have run a group in the past called "Fishing For My Feelings" and these will definitely boost those sessions. I also have a recommended list of books for parents to read to their children. These will DEFINITELY be on it. Another use will be in our school library. I spoke with our school librarian today and we decided to have a new shelf called - The School Counselor's Bookshelf. These will be books picked out by me for the kids to check out. Um, I think it's going to be a hit. So we decided to order another set of my new feelings series because these are definitely books kids could read alone.

So let me share why I loved these immediately. They are simple and concrete. I know I'm not going to lose my audience. These are not over the top books. There is enough room allowing me to expand my teaching on feelings. They are the perfect length of about 22 or so pages. That's what I need for this age population. It's also awesome to just focus on one feeling at a time. Each book proposes solutions to an uncomfortable feeling. Here's an example from Everyone Feels Sad Sometimes: "Zack watches the other kids play kickball. Some of the kids told him he couldn't play. Zack looks at the ground. His throat feels tight." And then the next page gives a solution to the situation and feeling: "Zack talks to the kids. They let him play. Soon he's having a blast!" LOVE THAT! There's a lot of books out there explaining what a feeling is...but this goes further. It teaches kids it's sometimes necessary to do something with those feelings. Do something positive. I often remind the students there is no problem in life we can't find a solution for....no matter how big or small. This also includes feelings. Don't overlook the power of sharing books on this subject matter. Kids desire the emotional guidance.

Stay tuned for future reviews of other titles I have from Capstone.

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Book Review: The Way I Feel

Author: Janan Cain
Interest Level: Ages 4-9

About This Book:

Silly is the way I feel

when I make a funny face

and wear a goofy, poofy hat

that takes up lots of space

So begins a child's romp through a feelings word book. Feelings are neither good nor bad, they simply are. Kids needs words to name their feelings, just as they need words to name foods, clothes, toys, people, and all the other interesting things in their world.

Strong, colorful, and expressive images go along with the verses to help children connect the word and the emotion. Your child will learn useful words, and you will have many chances to open conversations about what's going on in her/his life.

Why It's On My Bookshelf: When it comes to the social and emotional growth of children, this just might be in my top five book picks. The Way I Feel was first released ten years ago and is as relevant today as the day it was published. I get a lot of, 'Yaaaas, I love that book!!' when I show the cover. Not only do they love the illustrations, but they relish the opportunity to discuss feelings and what to do with them. Yes, it may sound cliche for a counselor to highly recommend a book about feelings but I have students who are desperate to have their emotions validated and heard. Author Janan Cain writes a thoughtful note to parents on the last page. She offers four suggestions to parents as they read The Way I Feel to their child (super helpful). I'm so happy this is on my shelf to share with children.

Emotions covered: silly, scared, disappointed, happy, sad, angry, thankful, frustrated, shy, bored, excited, jealous, and proud. 

PS. For the littles, The Way I Feel board book.

A Link to This Book:

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Book Review: My Book Full of Feelings - How to Control and React to the Size of Your Emotions

 

Authors: Amy V. Jaffe and Luci Gardner

Interest Level: All Ages

About This Book: This highly engaging workbook is an ideal way to help teach children to identify, access the intensity of, and respond appropriately to their emotions. The book is fully interactive. By using a dry-erase marker, unique situations and solutions can be added and changed with a wipe of a paper towel, as the child masters a skill and grows. Also included is a Communication Pad for tracking and sharing information between home and school an important component of effective programming. The book is great for all children, including those with Asperger Syndrome and other autism spectrum disorders.

Why It's On My Bookshelf: This workbook is for ALL children, not just those with Asperger Syndrome and other Autism Spectrum Disorders. I came across My Book Full of Feelings at my local bookstore and immediately saw it's potential in helping children at my school. It uses colors for feelings, visualization, and a triangle that has three sizes of feelings - small, medium, and big. Make sure to read the "How To Use This Book" section. We tend to skip past those pages to get immediately to the 'goods'. The author gives really good suggestions on techniques to use with children while using the workbook. A lot of children struggle with identifying their feelings which can lead to an out of control response to a situation. My Book Full of Feelings has helped me be a better counselor. Your shelf needs a resource like this if you work with children who need help controling their reactions and the size of their emotions. 

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Book Review: Glad Monster, Sad Monster A Book About Feelings

Authors: Ed Emberley and Anne Miranda

Interest Level: Ages 3-8

About This Book: Children who lack the vocabulary to distinguish the emotions they're feeling may find some comfort in this book, which makes use of masks to unmask feelings. Each spread shows little brightly colored monsters acting out different emotions--pink monsters cut out valentines and bake cookies to express love, yellow monsters play ball and open birthday presents in the name of happiness--while a gatefold page reveals a big mask of whatever emotion is covered in that spread. The eyes and noses are punched out, so children can hold those pages up and "wear'' the mask.

Why It's On My Bookshelf: What a cute book! It's just pure fun for little kids. Learning about feelings shouldn't be boring. They jump at the chance to put the mask on and 'try on' a feeling. It's been a wonderful addition to my shelf.

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Book Review: My Many Colored Days

Author: Dr. Seuss

paintings by Steve Johnson and Lou Fancher

Interest Level: All Ages

About This Book: Pairing emotions with colors is nothing new to poetry, but pairing impressionistic full-color paintings to the text of Dr. Seuss is a first. His formerly unpublished manuscript becomes the basis for a simple color concept book; children will easily identify primary colors and enter into the feeling and mood depicted by the creature in every spread: ``On Bright Red Days/how good it feels/to be a horse/and kick my heels!'' Broad strokes of thick paint on canvas create basic forms with texture, sometimes dark and weighty, sometimes bold and breezy. Those who can set aside preconceived expectations--there is no butter-side-up Seuss here--will find that some of the spreads gracefully elevate poetry that often has feet but no wings.

Why It's On My Bookshelf: This is one of my favorite books to read about feelings. It not only introduces feelings, but also moods. The pairing of colors and emotions is such a great way for kids to communicate how they are feeling. I sometimes notice students using other ways to relay their feelings, and often those are negative ways. My Many Colored Days helps kids to identify emotions in a positive light, through the use of colors. Be sure to ask your child, 'What color are you feeling?' Get this Dr. Seuss book on your shelf.

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

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Book Review: The Recess Queen

Author: Alexis O'Neill

Illustrator: Laura Huliska-Beith

Interest Level: Ages 4-8

From the Book Jacket: Mean Jean was Recess Queen and nobody said any different. Nobody swung until Mean Jean swung. Nobody kicked until Mean Jean kicked. Nobody bounced until Mean Jean bounced. If kids ever crossed her, she'd push 'em and smoosh 'em, lollapaloosh 'em, hammer 'em, slammer 'em, kitz and kajammer 'em...until a new kid came to school...

Why It's On My Bookshelf: Trying to find books dealing with bullying in younger grades is often a frustration of mine, until I discovered The Recess Queen. The little girl on the cover looks like the meanest baddest bully you have ever seen. Based on the title and the cover illustration alone, I was sold. As I read through the story at home, I was expecting the book to teach strategies on how to deal with mean behavior at recess. But, The Recess Queen uses a different take on bullying. The strategy is to turn the bully into a friend (and we all know how hard it is to respect someone when they are disrespecting you) with kindness. Yes, there is a moment of standing up for oneself during the story, but it ends with kindness. I really appreciate the author using another child to turn Mean Jean's behavior around. It's been impactful in our K-2 grades. The illustrations are awesome and the kids love all the rhyming. I suggest this book to help children see the bully through a different perspective.

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

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Book Review: One of Those Days

Author: Amy Krouse Rosenthal

Illustrator: Rebecca Doughty

Interest Level: Ages 5-11


About This Book: Rosenthal enumerates ways in which a child's happiness can be squelched by a rotten day. The array of mishaps includes sibling and friendship problems, disappointing birthdays, itchy clothing, misplaced belongings, and self-doubt. Each unwelcome incident warrants a special designation. There's a Keep Spilling Stuff Day, a Nobody's Listening To You Day, a Gutter Ball Day, and a Not Big Enough Day. This succinct book is not a story but an imaginative list of calamities that culminates predictably with the promise that all bad days lead to a new dawn.


Why It's On My Bookshelf: Sometimes I notice kids walking around school in sort of a slump. This book has helped me as a counselor to reach out to those students. Just like adults, kids sometimes have really hard days. One of Those Days comforts and validates children. I love to say to kids, "Hey, looks like you are having one of those days." They know exactly what I am talking about because we are using a phrase we know and have learned about. It's a great way to help kids figure out some coping skills to handle hard times.

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