Shy Spaghetti and Excited Eggs

PreS-Gr 3—The authors cover a vast array of emotions and present ways for children to handle them when they feel out of control. For example, if youngsters get too excited, the suggestions are to count their fingers and toes to themselves, leave the room for a bit, sip some water, or go to a quiet spot and close their eyes and breathe in and out slowly. Frequently, the advice includes asking grown-ups for help. The setting for the book is the "Feelings Restaurant" with various foods experiencing the emotions—"Happy Hot Dog," "Worried Watermelon," "Angry Apples," etc. This device, coupled with the colorful, child-friendly illustrations, is what saves the book from being overly didactic. A note to parents offers additional suggestions for helping children label and cope with their feelings. A useful addition to parent shelves or for guidance counselors.—Grace Oliff, Ann Blanche Smith School, Hillsdale, NJ