Mini Reviews [22]

Simon and the Big, Bad, Angry Beasts: A Book about Anger

by Ian De Haes

WhenSimongetsmad,hegetsREALLYmad.Somadthatbig,bad,angrybeastsappear.AtfirstSimonloveshavingthebeastsaroundtohelpscareoffanyonewhoupsetshim,butovertimeherealizesthatnoonewantstobearoundhimorthebeasts.ThismakesSimonsad,sohedecidestotrytostillhismindandpracticebeingcalm.Andthebeastsdisappear!


Featuringcolorfulandexpressiveillustrations,thisinsightfulbookhelpschildrenages4-8learnhowtohandletheiranger.Aguideforparentsandteachersinthebackofthebookfeaturesstrategiesfortalkingtochildrenabouttheiremotionsalongwithvariousexercisestheycanusetocopewithanger.WhenSimongetsmad,hegetsREALLYmad.Somadthatbig,bad,angrybeastsappear.AtfirstSimonloveshavingthebeastsaroundtohelpscareoffanyonewhoupsetshim,butovertimeherealizesthatnoonewantstobearoundhimorthebeasts.ThismakesSimonsad,sohedecidestotrytostillhismindandpracticebeingcalm.Andthebeastsdisappear!


Featuringcolorfulandexpressiveillustrations,thisinsightfulbookhelpschildrenages4-8learnhowtohandletheiranger.Aguideforparentsandteachersinthebackofthebookfeaturesstrategiesfortalkingtochildrenabouttheiremotionsalongwithvariousexercisestheycanusetocopewithanger.
Synopsis (via Goodreads): When Simon gets mad, he gets REALLY mad. So mad that big, bad, angry beasts appear. At first Simon loves having the beasts around to help scare off anyone who upsets him, but over time he realizes that no one wants to be around him or the beasts. This makes Simon sad, so he decides to try to still his mind and practice being calm. And the beasts disappear! 

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I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. My thoughts and opinions are my own. Any quotes I use are from an unpublished copy and may not reflect the finished product.

We loved this one! Simon and the Big, Bad, Angry Beasts personified anger and offered a more understandable perspective for children. My son thought it was interesting that the boy's anger could change shape depending on the situation, and we had fun discussing what his animal would be. We both liked the illustrations and thought they really added to the overall experience (especially at the end when the dragon starts dissolving into butterflies). We will definitely be adding this one to our shelves!

Normally, I don't read the teaching guide in the back of a book, but this one was actually helpful. My son was able to express himself in new and unique ways that I think will benefit us both in the future. He even surprised me by doing the breathing exercise! 

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How Rude! by Clare Helen Welsh, Olivier Tallec

Synopsis (via Goodreads): Dot invites Duck to a tea party, but from the moment Duck enters the house, the tea party descends into chaos; from licking sandwich fillings to spitting tea, Duck gets ruder…and ruder…and ruder. Just how will Dot react to such outrageous behavior?

Simple, funny, and ultimately touching, this book will appeal to any child who is learning what it is not to be rude and, more importantly, what it is to be a true friend.

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I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. My thoughts and opinions are my own. Any quotes I use are from an unpublished copy and may not reflect the finished product.

This book didn't hold our attention. I think How Rude! had the potential to be more than it was, and would have benefited from more dialogue. We see Dot becoming increasingly frustrated with Duck, but Dot never actually communicates her feelings. We always tell our children to use their words to express their thoughts and emotions, which allows us to have conversations. Eventually Dot snaps and does something rude, and Duck realizes he was being a terrible friend. 

I think it sends a bad message to children, because the book is essentially telling them to mimic the bad behavior to solve their problems. Dot should have tried talking to Duck instead of lashing out. I believe this one missed the mark.

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The Not-So-Brave Penguin by Steve Smallman

Posythepenguinisscaredofmanythings-snowstorms,loudnoises,thedark-butwhenheradventurousfriendPercyismissing,Posyplucksupthecouragetoovercomeherfearsandgoesonanexcursiontofindhim.Afteranintrepidjourney,PosyfindsaninjuredPercyinadarkcave.Sherescueshimandbringshimhome,realisingintheendjusthowbraveshecanreallybe.Aheartwarmingstoryaboutfriendship,beingbrave,andovercomingfearswhenitreallymatters,thispicturebookissuretodelightandentertain.Posythepenguinisscaredofmanythings-snowstorms,loudnoises,thedark-butwhenheradventurousfriendPercyismissing,Posyplucksupthecouragetoovercomeherfearsandgoesonanexcursiontofindhim.Afteranintrepidjourney,PosyfindsaninjuredPercyinadarkcave.Sherescueshimandbringshimhome,realisingintheendjusthowbraveshecanreallybe.Aheartwarmingstoryaboutfriendship,beingbrave,andovercomingfearswhenitreallymatters,thispicturebookissuretodelightandentertain.Synopsis (via Goodreads): Posy the penguin is scared of many things - snowstorms, loud noises, the dark - but when her adventurous friend Percy is missing, Posy plucks up the courage to overcome her fears and goes on an excursion to find him. After an intrepid journey, Posy finds an injured Percy in a dark cave. She rescues him and brings him home, realizing in the end just how brave she can really be. A heartwarming story about friendship, being brave, and overcoming fears when it really matters, this picture book is sure to delight and entertain.

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I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. My thoughts and opinions are my own. Any quotes I use are from an unpublished copy and may not reflect the finished product.

The Not-So-Brave Penguin was a short read about overcoming your fears. Posy is scared of a lot of things, but her biggest fear is darkness. At night she imagines the worst possible scenarios, even though she is huddled against friends and family. Eventually the need to save her friend becomes more important than her fear, and she's able to overcome her personal obstacles. While the story itself was okay, I felt like it was missing something. There was no oomph!

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Who Is My Neighbor? by Amy-Jill Levine, 

Sandy Eisenberg Sasso, and 

Denise Turu (Illustrator)

Synopsis (via Goodreads): Blues and Yellows just don't mix, and that's how it's always been. No one remembers why. But then comes the day Midnight Blue takes a tumble along the road. His friends Navy and Powder Blue don't even stop to help! It's only when a Yellow comes along that everything changes--forever.

This creative story is sure to prompt rich conversations, encouraging new ways of seeing our neighbors and ourselves. A note for parents and educators is included.

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I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. My thoughts and opinions are my own. Any quotes I use are from an unpublished copy and may not reflect the finished product.

I thought this book showed the importance of kindness and the consequences of fearing others because they're different. The Blues think poorly of the Yellows, the Yellows distrust the Blues, and that's just the way things are. The two have never mixed, and we see how an older generation passes on that prejudice to their children. It took two people meeting on accident, and being their best selves, to show the two groups that neither was "bad". 

I believe this is a lesson everyone should learn, and not just children. People may be different, but that doesn't make them less or bad. It's going to take everyone being their best selves to make a difference in the world. We have to ignore the hate and distrust from the past and focus on what we know to be right.