📖 Overview
When I Feel Like Exploding addresses anger management for children through the lens of an Inside Out-style story about emotions. The book follows a child learning to understand and cope with intense feelings of anger.
The narrative introduces techniques and strategies for managing strong emotions, presented in a straightforward way that children can grasp. Through colorful illustrations and simple text, readers learn alongside the main character about recognizing anger signals and finding healthy ways to respond.
The book serves as a tool for parents, teachers, and counselors to open discussions with children about emotional regulation and self-control. This straightforward approach to complex emotional concepts aims to help young readers develop essential coping skills and emotional awareness.
👀 Reviews
Parents report using this board book effectively with toddlers and preschoolers who struggle with anger management. Multiple reviews note that the monster character resonates with young children who can relate to feeling overwhelmed by big emotions.
Readers liked:
- Simple language accessible for ages 2-5
- Practical coping strategies like deep breaths and counting
- Durable board book format
- Colorful illustrations that capture emotional expressions
Readers disliked:
- Some found the solutions oversimplified
- A few noted the book was shorter than expected
- Text focuses more on describing anger than resolving it
Ratings:
Amazon: 4.8/5 (124 reviews)
Goodreads: 4.3/5 (37 ratings)
One parent wrote: "My 3-year-old asks for this book when he's starting to get frustrated and will now do the breathing exercises unprompted."
A critical review noted: "Good concept but needs more concrete examples for redirecting anger in positive ways."
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B is for Breathe by Dr. Melissa Munro Boyd Twenty-six strategies, one for each letter of the alphabet, help children cope with emotions and develop emotional intelligence.
The Feelings Book by Todd Parr Simple text and illustrations present different emotions and ways to process them.
When My Worries Get Too Big by Kari Dunn Buron The text provides strategies for children to recognize stress triggers and develop calming techniques.
The Way I Feel by Janan Cain Each page explores a different emotion through relatable situations children experience in daily life.
B is for Breathe by Dr. Melissa Munro Boyd Twenty-six strategies, one for each letter of the alphabet, help children cope with emotions and develop emotional intelligence.
🤔 Interesting facts
🌟 The book is part of a specialized series that helps young children identify and process difficult emotions, particularly anger management
📚 Author Courtney Carbone has written over 40 books for children, including many adaptations of popular franchises like Barbie and Pokemon
💭 The story uses simple, child-friendly metaphors comparing anger to a volcano, making complex emotions more understandable for young readers
🎨 The book features vibrant illustrations by Hilli Kushnir that help children visualize the physical sensations associated with anger
🧘♂️ The narrative includes practical coping strategies like deep breathing and counting, which are scientifically proven techniques for managing anger in both children and adults