Feelings: Inside my heart and in my head...

Children need to learn how to identify and recognize their own feelings, figure out how to manage them, express what's happening, adapt their emotions to their environment and along with this, develop empathy for others. This development of emotional literacy is an important life skill and one that supports mental health and well being. So, as becoming emotionally literate involves a whole LOT of learning - any book that supports this is always welcome on my shelf! Feelings offers a lovely opportunity for reflecting on and talking about emotions. The book deals with ten emotions including excitement, fear, embarrassment, loneliness and happiness. Importantly, it explains that, how we appear on the outside, may differ from what's happening deep within....while a person's feelings may not be visible, they are an important part of who we are. Each page has a cut out with a little boy character peeping out. Surrounding him are various colours and characters, each illustrating a different type of emotion. Through lovely rhyming text and metaphors,feelings are described:sadness is a river bursting it's banks, anger is a volcano erupting, while jealousy feels like a misty steam that 'churns and seethes'. Beautifully illustrated with warm tones, a variety of textures and mosaics, each page is atmospheric and dream-like. The scenes surrounding the main character change to convey each new emotion. There are animal characters too-tearful rabbits, dancing dogs, fluttering birds and happy crabs. A gentle and sensitive read, this book highlights how all feelings are important, while offering readers a chance to reflect and talk together. By sharing this book with children, we can develop self awareness, nurture empathy and build emotional literacy. Perfect for group story time, this book will also help individual children who need support and opportunities to recognize or open up about feelings. 32 pages / Ages 5+ / Reviewed by Elaine Ball (Missus B's Picture Book Reviews)

Suggested Reading Age 5+