Big Feelings
All Are Welcome (Picture Books) Series
What’s inside...
The newest picture book from the creators of All Are Welcome, titled Big Feelings, by Alexandra Penfold and Suzanne Kaufman, helps children navigate big emotions they face in daily life. Through exploring feelings like frustration, anger, and feeling overwhelmed, the book encourages talking things through, compromising, and seeing different perspectives to start anew.
Series reading
Non-Sequential
Age
4-8
Length
42 pages
Text complexity
Discussion points
How do you think the characters felt when they faced challenges?
Can you remember a time when you felt similar emotions? What did you do?
What are some ways the characters could help each other feel better?
Why is it important to understand and talk about our feelings?
How do you think the story would change if the characters made different choices?
Tip: Role play these questions
Before discussing the book, ensure that your child feels comfortable and ready to share their thoughts and feelings.
Use the illustrations in the book to guide the conversation, pointing out facial expressions or actions that might indicate how a character is feeling.
Encourage your child to express their feelings by relating personal experiences to those of the characters.
Validate your child’s feelings and thoughts as they express them, reinforcing that it’s okay to have and discuss big feelings.
End the conversation with a positive note, perhaps by brainstorming ways to handle tough emotions, which can empower your child to manage their feelings constructively.
Key lessons
Example Lesson: Embracing emotions
Explanation: The book 'Big Feelings' illustrates various characters navigating through their emotions and finding healthy ways to express them.
Real-World Application: Children learn to recognize, identify, and articulate their feelings in real-life situations, enhancing emotional intelligence.
Example Lesson: Conflict resolution
Explanation: The narrative showcases how friends with differing opinions find common ground and solve their disagreements.
Real-World Application: Kids are encouraged to apply these conflict resolution skills in their interactions with peers, promoting harmony and understanding.
Example Lesson: Empathy and compassion
Explanation: Characters in 'Big Feelings' demonstrate understanding and support for each other's emotional states, teaching the importance of empathy.
Real-World Application: Children can learn to be more attuned to the emotions of others around them, fostering stronger, more supportive relationships.
Example Lesson: Resilience in adversity
Explanation: Throughout the book, children characters face challenges but learn to overcome them, demonstrating resilience.
Real-World Application: This teaches children to persevere through their own challenges, be it at school or in personal growth.
Example Lesson: Importance of community
Explanation: The story emphasizes the strength found in community support when dealing with big feelings.
Real-World Application: Children learn the value of seeking help and being a supportive part of their community, enhancing social bonds and collective problem-solving.