My feelings ill. by Sarah Jennings

Bloomsbury, 2016. ISBN 9781408869048
(Ages: 4-6) Board book, emotions. This is about how to cope with and talk about emotions. It requires children to have a grasp on labelling and recognising their emotions already as it does little to identify what they are or what they look like. Rather than telling the reader what it looks like to be worried or scared, shy or happy, it gives practical suggestions for dealing with the feeling ('When you feel scared . . . Run away fast. Say 'I'm scared!''; 'When you feel happy . . . Whistle and sing!, Say hello').
Young children often have difficulty dealing with emotions, even positive ones, so this is a fantastic way to give them practical outlets. The pictures clearly illustrate the suggestions, giving children visual as well as verbal cues. This is a great book for parents to read through in its entirety, but also to pull out during emotional times to help young children find a way to deal with a specific emotion. It is appropriately short, and the bright illustrations and tab cutouts will keep young children engaged.
Nicole Nelson