Common Sense Note
Parents need to know that this book's illustrations and rhyming text are playful, presenting a comfortable format for discussing emotions with younger children.
Families can talk about the different moods of the girl in the book and the things she does when she feels silly, angry, lonely, etc. Kids might want to talk about their own moods and how they feel. What do they do when they feel a certain way? They might use the face in the back of the book to figure out which expression goes with which feeling.
Common Sense Review
Reviewed By: Patricia Tauzer
TODAY I FEEL SILLY is one of the several successful books written by Jamie Lee Curtis and illustrated by Laura Cornell. They make a great team: Their books are colorful, playful, and generally have a strong, positive message.
What a wonderful world this would be if we all could identify and accept our feelings and moods. Today I Feel Silly encourages kids to do just that. Though its rhymes may be off at times, the illustrations are amazing and carry the very valuable message that we all have moods and will be happier if we learn to expect and explore them.
As the moods of the little girl on the cover change, the colors and clutter of each page change, too. When she's feeling silly, bright dramatic colors fill the page; when she's angry, we see a red, red face that seems ready to explode; and when she feels confused, we have to turn the book sideways to follow the rhymes and illustrations that run bottom to top across the page, rather than the usual left to right.
The addition of the interactive cardboard face at the end of the book, following the question How do you feel?, is the perfect touch. Kids will enjoy matching the eyes and mouth to their mood. Hopefully, this will help them identify their own feelings, as well as those of people around them.
From The Book
Today I am happy. I'm walking on air.
I learned how to knit.
and to French-braid my hair.
I did my first solo in hip-hop and jazz.
This day's been so great, I am full of pizzazz.
Plot Summary:
A curly-headed little girl shows off her many moods. Each is identified, and examples are presented in rhyme. At the end of the book, a cardboard face with a twirling disk allows kids to adjust eyes and mouth to express whatever mood they're feeling.
Related Books:
Other books by Jamie Lee Curtis and Laura Cornell
Is There Really a Human Race?
It's Hard to Be Five
Other Books About Feelings
Yesterday I Had the Blues by Jeron Frame
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Social BehaviorTeaches acceptance and understanding of kids' many feelings. |
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