Cool Down and Work Through Anger/Cálmate y supera la ira

March 1, 2015

K-Gr 3-A variety of situations, diverse characters, and different facial expressions combine to create experiences with which children will be all too familiar. Young readers will understand the feeling of wanting something someone else has, of being pushed and left out, and of the burning sensations that accompany these types of actions. These books not only depict stressful situations that children experience daily, but they let kids know that the feelings resulting from these situations are perfectly normal. The children pictured have realistic expressions such as anger and concern as well as joy when they have overcome a difficult situation. Positive methods of dealing with emotions are provided, such as apologizing, drawing or working on an activity while calming down, asking a friend to share, and understanding that someone may need more time to share a favorite toy. The English to Spanish translations are well done and, except for minor mistakes, the Spanish text is accurate. Ideas for adults to use to reinforce the lessons learned in the books are provided at the end of the text, including sharing games, the creation of collages and the use of diaries to express emotions. VERDICT A great way to learn about sharing and the importance of working through emotions to prevent hurtful reactions.-Selenia Paz, Helen Hall Library, League City, TX

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