Review of Andy Gets Angry by Mike Masse, Painted by Emily Corbett

 I'm so glad to see more and more resources available to help children with their social-emotional learning. It's been needed as long as I have been involved in the education/childcare profession and it feels needed more now than ever. Mike Masse has put together the words and Emily Corbett has painted the illustrations in their book Andy Gets Angry. Take a peek inside and read more of my thoughts. Follow the tour to see even more. Best of luck in the giveaway!

Children can develop the ability to respond to their emotions in a healthy way through the practice of mindfulness. Andy Gets Angry is a great introduction for children to learn a fun and simple breath technique to respond to their emotions. The beautifully hand-painted illustrations provide the perfect landscape to tell the story of Andy and his journey in learning the wonderful skill of mindfulness. Share the book with your loved ones, and help us all plant the seed to be present!

Read an excerpt:

Andy doesn’t like being angry, mad, or frustrated – he hates how it makes him feel. Sometimes he feels angry in his face. Sometimes he feels angry in his hands. Other times, he feels angry in his stomach and even in his mind.

Andy later feels bad about some of the things he said or did when he was angry. He felt bad after he yelled at Bobby, and he felt bad after he slammed the door on Sierra… and he felt bad after the one time he told his dad that he didn’t like him anymore. And that didn’t just make Andy angry. It also made him feel sad.

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**My thoughts**

It's hard enough for adults when we aren't sure how to handle our anger or strong feelings. It's even worse for young children. We need to give them as many tools as we can and present appropriate ways of handling those big feelings. This book is a good way to start. 

Andy gets angry, and understandably so with some of his life's frustrations. And then when those feelings have calmed down, he feels bad about it. Kids reading this book will probably recognize some of those frustrating situations and those feelings. So the adults in his life decide to help him by taking him to see Mindful Mike, who teaches him breathing techniques to help him calm down when feeling angry or frustrated. 

Stress breathing techniques really do work wonders with children. They're not going to stop being angry, but they may be able to better control those feelings when they rear their ugly heads. Mike presents them in a creative way that will speak to children. And the paintings by Emily Corbett are bright and lively enough to grab attention and seem familiar.

I would read this with the whole class on occasion and then use it more one-on-one with a child who is feeling particularly frustrated. It would also be a good book to leave out in the reading and/or peace area of the classroom as a reference for kids to go back to on their own. It's long enough that it will probably speak to kindergarten and elementary-age students more than preschoolers. But even preschoolers can benefit from learning these breathing techniques. You could adapt it to fit the audience, if needed. I would definitely add this to my mindfulness arsenal.

Thank you to Goddess Fish and Tellwell Publishing for providing a requested review copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Mike Masse is a mindfulness consultant and public speaker who specializes in mindfulness-based stress reduction. For over a decade, he has been teaching adults, youth, and children mindfulness skills to help reduce their levels of stress and anxiety. A highly sought-after trainer, Mike facilitates workshops with educators, first responders, health care providers, and others who work in high-stress environments. Mike lives in Stratford, Ontario with his two sons and his wife.

CONNECT WITH AUTHOR MIKE J MASSE

WEBSITE: https://mindfulmike.ca/

FACEBOOK: mindfulmike.ca

INSTAGRAM: @mindfulmasse

Mike J Masse will be awarding a $10 Amazon or B/N GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.

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Enter to Win a Nat Geo Kids Prize Pack! Ends 2/26 via @mommysplaybook

  

The National Geographic Kids Books have been some of my favorites for quite some time now! You've seen me feature them and other giveaways on the blog before. Check out this collection and enter to win your own!

Note that affiliate links are included throughout. Should you make a purchase through one, I'll earn a few pennies at no additional cost to you. Thank you for supporting my sites!

ENTER TO WIN a National Geographic Kids Books prize pack! This great giveaway is sponsored by National Geographic Kids Books and hosted By Mommy's Playbook. One lucky winner will receive So Cute: Puppies, We Love Babies!, My Weird But True Fact-a-Day Fun Journal, Little Kids First Big Book of Animals, The Big Book of Bling, Little Kids First Big Book of Animals, and Just Joking 3! That's seven NatGeoKids Books in all! Enter to win on the easy Rafflecopter form below, AND be sure to come back to complete your daily entries tomorrow!

   

So Cute: Puppies That wrinkly little face. Those sweet puppy dog eyes! That squishy, pudgy, fuzzy body! Let's face it ... puppies are SO CUTE! And, well, so is this book! Try to contain your squeals of delight as you flip through pages of the fluffy fur balls. From puppies at playtime to rascally ruff-housing, this book is filled with humor and informational sidebars, and pairs super cute puppy photos with imagined inner dialogue that will have the whole family laughing. Perfect for little kids getting acquainted with a new pup at home or kids who love animals in general.

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Little Kids First Big Book of Animals Filled with fluffy and scaly creatures big and small, this book introduces the youngest explorers to the world of wildlife, including dolphins, tigers, butterflies, frogs, penguins, wolves, and pandas. More than 150 of National Geographic’s most charming animal photos are paired with just the kind of facts that little kids want to know―the creature’s size, diet, home, and more. Child-friendly text explains how animal parents take care of their young, how baby animals change as they grow, and how they learn to hunt and eat. These animal tales will quickly become favorites at storytime, bedtime, and any other time.

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Adorable Animals Super Sticker Activity Book Two sticker books in one that are chock-full of the cutest animals on the planet: pandas, koalas, rabbits, kittens, puppies, and so many more. A perfect cure for cabin fever, kids are sure to love these pages of 2,000 stickers that are loaded with fun.

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ENTER TO WIN!

One Winner will Receive a National Geographic Kids Books Prize Pack!

(APV $95)

The giveaway is open US Only, 18+

The giveaway ends 2/26 at 1159 pm est

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Mommy’s Playbook Giveaway Rules: This giveaway is Sponsored by National Geographic Kids Books and hosted by Mommy’s Playbook. Mommy's Playbook and the participating bloggers are not responsible for prize fulfillment. No purchase is necessary to enter. Void where prohibited by law. By entering this giveaway you are giving the giveaway host and/or event sponsor permission to retain your email address for future communication, you may choose to opt-out of such communications at any time. This giveaway is not sponsored or endorsed by any social media outlet including, but not limited to, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Pinterest. Only authentic accounts are eligible to win. Dummy/fake accounts are not eligible for entry and will be blocked. Entrants who have created social accounts purely to enter competitions or sweepstakes will not be eligible to win. All social accounts used must be public. See Rafflecopter for official rules. Please contact Victoria (at) MommysPlaybook.com regarding any questions you have pertaining to this giveaway.

Review of A Last Goodbye by Elin Kelsey

How do we say goodbye to a loved one after they die?

This book broaches a difficult topic in a heartfelt way by exploring the beauty in how animals mourn. From elephants to whales, parrots to bonobos, and lemurs to humans, we all have rituals to commemorate our loved ones and to lift each other up in difficult times.

New from the award-winning team behind You Are Stardust, Wild Ideas, and You Are Never Alone, this book gently recognizes death as a natural part of life for humans and all animals. Written in spare, poetic language and illustrated with stunning dioramas, it draws out our similarities with other animals as it honors the universal experience of mourning. The touching and uplifting book ends on a hopeful note, showing how we live on both in memories and on the planet, our bodies nourishing new life in the Earth and the oceans.

Goodreads * Amazon * BN

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**My thoughts**

This is not a book that you are just going to randomly read for fun or leave out in your classroom. It's designated for those who are preparing to say goodbye to a loved one. The story was inspired by a young girl who was there when her dog had to be put down, but it also applies to people. I had a hard time getting through it, because it took me back to those final moments with each of my parents as they passed. I think I actually uttered some of those words to them.

It's also supposed to show how animals deal with death and grief, which I think too often we forget they also go through. 

I think maybe because of my own personal experience going through this relatively recently with my parents, it was harder for me to read the book from the perspective of animals. I think I know what the author's intention was. And I also had moments of remembering being there when my elderly pets also died recently and how the younger ones reacted. But the part about "I will watch our children grow up. I will watch our grandchildren, too," kind of threw me off a bit. I don't know how children will relate to that part. I felt like I was getting mixed stories from this one book. Is it people or is it animals? I think minus that little bit, I may have appreciated the story more.

Nevertheless, I think it could potentially be a starting point for conversation with children when you know that a pet or beloved relative or friend is going to pass on, how you can say goodbye and grieve as you remember them after they're gone. We never know how we are actually going to react as adults, let alone how the kids are going to react in these situations.

I will say that the illustrations are absolutely beautiful and do compel all kinds of emotions when you look at them. I could feel the sadness and the pain of the animals saying goodbye to their loved ones.

Thank you to the publisher for fulfilling my review request via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Goodness on Deposit: The Ginormous Tiny Idea by Mary Argento

 

"Goodness on Deposit - The Ginormous Tiny Idea” is the first in a series of books which promote a child's awareness of other's needs and demonstrates practical ways for children to make a difference in the life of a friend, neighbor or family member. It is a sweet interactive story which teaches children, through M.T.'s journey, to identify acts of kindness that need doing and record them in their Goodness on Deposit bankbook which is outlined in the book. M.T., our 8 year old main character very much admires his mother because she is kind and loving to others and possesses what he believes to be a "heart of gold". A small seed of an idea begins to percolate in M.T.'s head. He has a vision where he, along with his buddies, would open up a Goodness on Deposit Bank where children like himself would deposit their good deeds until they reach a balance which would earn them a heart of gold.

Buy on Amazon

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I was compensated via Fiverr for sharing this post. I only share those books that I feel will be of interest to my readers.

One Day I Tried to Rhyme a Word with On-o-mat-o-poe-ia by Lucinda West, Timothy West, and Elizabeth Land

 

Hi! I’m Beatrice, and I love words, especially BIG, GINORMOUS words like on-o-mat-o-poe-ia. Isn’t that a fun word to say? ON-O-MAT-O-POE-IA! ON-O-MAT-O-POE-IA! Are you ready to go on an adventure?

Let’s see if we can find a word that rhymes with ON-O-MAT-O-POE-IA!

Follow Beatrice’s lead and ask your family to help you make up a few of your own rhymes to bring your own favorite sounds to life.

Your family may also enjoy reading the helpful hints at the back of the book for creating your own family project.

This is a perfect book for children learning to sound out words and sentences. Filled with sounds, rhymes, and rhythm, this book instills confidence and supports success for children eager to start reading on their own.

Kindle * Paperback

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About the Author

Lucinda is a doctor. No, not that kind. She earned her PhD in CES and received awards for teaching and mentoring doctoral counselors as a university professor.Asa licensed marriage and family therapist, her books are crafted to help families have fun together and strengthen their relationships while giving children a sense of accomplishment. Dr. Westhas previously published twobooks, a book chapter, and several articles. She also plays the piano and loves to draw.

Lucinda was diagnosed in 2016 with Stage 4 metastatic breast cancer. She retired from her full-time job to focus on writing books and spending time with her family.You can follow her journey here: thebreastcancerjourney.com.

I was compensated via Fiverr for sharing this post. I only share those books that I feel will be of interest to my readers.