Common Sense Media Review
By Diondra K. Brown
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Relatable tale of boy's bad day gives helpful coping tips.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 5+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
KEEP YOUR HEAD UP is the story of D, a young boy who has a bad day that seems to be getting worse. When D oversleeps on a school day and then can't find his toothpaste, he starts to feel "scrunchy" and knows it will be a rough day. He tries to have hope that things will get better, but when he realizes that he forgot to pack his gym uniform, doesn't get the class job he wants, and ruins his friends project, he can't control his emotions. His frustration, disappointment, and tiredness turn into a meltdown. The adults in D's life encourage him to keep his head up and make the day positive. But with all the terrible things that have happened, is it too late for D to turn his day around?
Is It Any Good?
This book is a helpful read for children and parents. Keep Your Head Up reminds us the we all have bad days, and it's important to be kind and patient with yourself when you're overwhelmed by negative thoughts and feelings. The illustrations are full of details that capture the reader's attention and evoke emotion. Readers are likely to walk away with a feeling of empathy and a desire to identify or create their own positive affirmation for when they have a bad day.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how in Keep Your Head Up, D wakes up late for school, which is the start of his terrible day. Have you every woken up late for school? How did it effect the rest of your day?
"Keep you head up" is the positive affirmation D is encouraged to use when he's having a bad day. Do you use a positive affirmation? If so, what is it? If you don't have one, what positive affirmation could you use?
D has a dark cloud over his head that changes colors throughout the story. What do you think this represents?
Book Details
- Author :
- Illustrator : Charly Palmer
- Genre : Picture Book
- Character Strengths : Empathy , Perseverance , Self-control
- Book type : Fiction
- Publishers : Denene Milner Books , Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
- Publication date : September 28, 2021
- Publisher's recommended age(s) : 4 - 8
- Number of pages : 32
- Available on : Nook, Hardback, Apple Books, Kindle
- Last updated : September 14, 2022
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