I Hate Everything!: A book about feeling angry
Our Emotions And Behaviour Series
What’s inside...
This children's book explores the emotion of anger, helping young readers understand and cope with this complex feeling. Through engaging storytelling and relatable scenarios, children are guided on how to express their anger in healthy ways and learn strategies for calming down. In the story, Sam struggles with anger when things don't go his way but learns new coping strategies with the help of his aunt. The book is part of the Our Emotions and Behavior series, which includes cheerful, brightly illustrated stories that help children understand the relationship between their emotions and actions, and provides tools for managing both. The series also includes a section for adults with discussion questions and ideas for guiding children in talking about their feelings.
Series reading
Non-Sequential
Age
4-8
Length
32 pages
Text complexity
Discussion points
What are some things that make the characters in the book feel angry?
How do the characters show their anger? Can you think of other ways people might show that they are upset?
What helps the characters feel better when they're angry? What helps you calm down when you're angry?
How do you think the story would change if the characters did not learn to manage their anger?
What can we do together to help manage feelings of anger when they arise?
Tip: Role play these questions
Encourage your child to express their feelings by relating to the characters. Ask them if they have felt similar to any character in the story.
Validate your child's feelings by listening closely and showing empathy. Use phrases like 'I understand why that would make you feel upset.'
Explore anger-management techniques together. Discuss the methods characters use in the book, and practice them during your reading time.
To extend learning, you can role-play scenarios from the book with your child, helping them to express and manage their feelings constructively.
Reinforce key messages from the book by revisiting it multiple times, discussing different aspects of handling emotions each time.
Key lessons
Example Lesson: Expressing emotions is healthy
Explanation: The story encourages children to acknowledge and express their feelings of anger rather than bottling them up.
Real-World Application: Children learn to communicate their emotions effectively, fostering better emotional health and relationships.
Example Lesson: Understanding triggers of anger
Explanation: The protagonist explores various situations that ignite feelings of anger, helping children identify what might upset them.
Real-World Application: Kids can recognize and articulate what bothers them in real-life scenarios, helping adults to understand and address their needs better.
Example Lesson: Constructive ways to deal with anger
Explanation: Through the narrative, the book illustrates different strategies like talking to someone or taking deep breaths to manage anger.
Real-World Application: Children can apply these techniques to calm down when they feel angry, contributing to better emotional regulation.
Example Lesson: Empathy towards others
Explanation: As characters express their feelings of anger and resolution, it teaches children to empathize with others who might be feeling the same.
Real-World Application: This encourages a supportive and understanding environment among peers, reducing conflicts.
Example Lesson: Resilience in overcoming negative feelings
Explanation: The book shows that feelings of anger are temporary and manageable, imparting a sense of resilience.
Real-World Application: Children understand that it's possible to bounce back from negative emotions and regain composure, aiding in emotional resilience.