What to Do When It's Not Fair: A Kid's Guide to Handling Envy and Jealousy

Gr 1–4—This kid-friendly text uses pirates to help readers understand the concepts of envy and jealousy. The book begins with an introduction for parents and caregivers and has 10 chapters designed to help children comprehend the different faces of these emotions. For example, "Lighten Your Load" explains the concept of "every time" thoughts ("Every time there is an award Joe gets it") and encourages youngsters to lighten their loads by changing their thoughts to "This Time" thoughts ("Mrs. Jones thinks Joe did a great job today"). The text does not belittle or minimize the reality of these feelings. Activities appear in every chapter and include making a spyglass, creating a list of envy triggers, and practicing yoga to release stress. The black-and-white illustrations and spot-on text in the thought and speech bubbles combine to create an appealing volume. The author successfully incorporates examples that will ring true with the intended audience, making this book valuable for home and school use.—Stephanie Farnlacher, Trace Crossings Elementary School, Hoover, AL