(3) PS A young child introduces puppy Ollie, who lives in the child's head. When Ollie gets "happy-excited, it's fun." But sometimes Ollie gets too excited, which makes the child upset. Children will recognize that Ollie is a stand-in for big emotions: "If he gets too excited, scared, or upset, he can't listen to me. His FEELINGS control him." Gravel's uncluttered digital illustrations forgo background detail to focus on the two main characters. When Ollie becomes too revved up, the child helps Ollie manage his feelings: "I sit down and take a deep breath. Long, slow, and gentle." By book's end, readers and listeners will feel recharged, as well.

Reviewer: Kitty Flynn

(3) PS Illustrated by Ella Bailey. "I've always known my monster. It's always been there. It knows ALL about me." A young child with short hair and brown skin talks about life with "my monster," a (not-scary-looking) large, round, horned yellow creature. The monster hides when the child attempts to get rid of it--and the longer it stays hidden, the more difficult and demanding it gets. "It even made me stay indoors when my friends came to play..." The monster effectively embodies anxiety in the uncluttered illustrations; the compassionate text keeps the focus on the protagonist, who models how to lessen anxiety's grip while accepting that "My monster is part of me."

Reviewer: Kitty Flynn

(3) K-3 Exploring Our Community series. Five friends learn about mindfulness to help them cope with strong feelings--especially Pedro, who's anxious about moving. Over the course of a day together and a sleepover that night, the kids focus on nature in the park, use their sense of smell at a community garden, contend with negative thoughts during a rainstorm, mindfully eat dinner, perform a "body scan," and visualize positive outcomes. The text's light tone is carried over in Bob Graham-esque illustrations. The book concludes with a few "Mindful Games" and a brief glossary.

Reviewer: Kitty Flynn

(4) K-3 Learning About Emotions series. Three short chapters explore emotions every young child experiences. A scenario that might evoke the titled emotion leads to a brief explanation of why people might feel that way. The final chapter explores ways to master the emotion and to help others. Full-page staged photos portray kids demonstrating the featured emotion. There are seven other spring 2019 books in this formulaic but useful series. Reading list. Glos., ind. Review covers these Learning About Emotions titles: Angry, Happy, Sad, Disappointed, and Embarrassed.

Reviewer: Gail Hedges

(4) K-3 Learning About Emotions series. Three short chapters explore emotions every young child experiences. A scenario that might evoke the titled emotion leads to a brief explanation of why people might feel that way. The final chapter explores ways to master the emotion and to help others. Full-page staged photos portray kids demonstrating the featured emotion. There are seven other spring 2019 books in this formulaic but useful series. Reading list. Glos., ind. Review covers these Learning About Emotions titles: Angry, Happy, Sad, Disappointed, and Embarrassed.

Reviewer: Gail Hedges

(4) K-3 Learning About Emotions series. Three short chapters explore emotions every young child experiences. A scenario that might evoke the titled emotion leads to a brief explanation of why people might feel that way. The final chapter explores ways to master the emotion and to help others. Full-page staged photos portray kids demonstrating the featured emotion. There are seven other spring 2019 books in this formulaic but useful series. Reading list. Glos., ind. Review covers these Learning About Emotions titles: Angry, Happy, Sad, Disappointed, and Embarrassed.

Reviewer: Gail Hedges

(4) K-3 Learning About Emotions series. Three short chapters explore emotions every young child experiences. A scenario that might evoke the titled emotion leads to a brief explanation of why people might feel that way. The final chapter explores ways to master the emotion and to help others. Full-page staged photos portray kids demonstrating the featured emotion. There are seven other spring 2019 books in this formulaic but useful series. Reading list. Glos., ind. Review covers these Learning About Emotions titles: Angry, Happy, Sad, Disappointed, and Embarrassed.

Reviewer: Gail Hedges

(4) K-3 Learning About Emotions series. Three short chapters explore emotions every young child experiences. A scenario that might evoke the titled emotion leads to a brief explanation of why people might feel that way. The final chapter explores ways to master the emotion and to help others. Full-page staged photos portray kids demonstrating the featured emotion. There are seven other spring 2019 books in this formulaic but useful series. Reading list. Glos., ind. Review covers these Learning About Emotions titles: Angry, Happy, Sad, Disappointed, and Embarrassed.

Reviewer: Gail Hedges

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Marta Kissi. In this autobiographical account, sixth grader Tapper struggled with feelings of nervousness about speaking up in class and noticed many female classmates felt the same way. So she proposed a Girl Scout patch and pledge called "Raise Your Hand" to encourage girls everywhere to speak up. Kissi's bright, expressive illustrations bring additional warmth to this motivational tale of female empowerment.

Reviewer: Kristy Pasquariello

(3) YA Illustrated by Libby VanderPloeg. "Your life is only ever happening right here, right now." Gates makes the case to tweens and teens that mindfulness is a way of life and the simplest path to health and happiness. Her chatty guide includes chapters on the practices of mindful breathing, yoga, and meditation, all with easy "try it" activities; "five-day mindfulness challenges" at the end should help readers translate these new skills into a lifestyle. Bib.

Reviewer: Katrina Hedeen

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Michelle Polizzi. This book describes a simple deep-breathing technique to help young readers "push out" sad, mad, or worried thoughts and "feel calm." The watercolor illustrations effectively visualize the "magic breath" by using light-colored swirls to show the happy thoughts and breath, and darker, blue-toned swirls for the sad thoughts and breath ("Remember that happy thought? Use it to push out your sad thought"). Useful for sharing in mindfulness-practicing families or classrooms.

Reviewer: Bridget McCaffrey

(3) K-3 World Around Us series. Illustrated by Jane Heinrichs. Meant to foster discussion about upsetting news events, this book poses questions--such as "What causes a tragedy or disaster?"--and answers them in a child-appropriate manner. Purposeful but effective, the text defines tragedy and disaster and discusses those of natural, human, and technological causes; near book's end, Roberts briefly pontificates about finding meaning in tragedies. Serviceable illustrations and stock photographs appear throughout. Reading list.

Reviewer: Bridget McCaffrey

(4) 4-6 Illustrated by Stacy Peterson. This self-help book offers a "toolbox of mindfulness practices" with directions for meditation exercises, visualization techniques, and other strategies for handling emotions, stress, and negative thinking. Stewart's persistent "MINDFUL ME" branding is distracting, and her tone can be preachy. That said, her descriptions ("Meditation is like a personal pause button") and the black-and-white illustrations are both kid-friendly, and the topics (technology, social media) are timely.

Reviewer: Tanya D. Auger

(3) 4-6 Savvy: Stress-Busting Survival Guides series. Illustrated by Veronica Collignon. With Karen Bluth. Emphasizing mindfulness and directed at tweens and adolescents, these upbeat self-help books include meditations, physical exercises, crafts (e.g., an anti-stress ball), recipes (a single-serve "Treat Yourself" cupcake), suggested music, organizational tips, and more, all illustrated with photos and pastel-colored art. Appropriately, each volume ends with lists of symptoms requiring professional help, referral organizations, and suggestions for supportive adults. Reading list. Review covers these Savvy: Stress-Busting Survival Guides titles: Happiness Hacks, Me Time, and Stress Less.

Reviewer: Gail Hedges

(3) 4-6 Savvy: Stress-Busting Survival Guides series. Illustrated by Veronica Collignon. With Karen Bluth. Emphasizing mindfulness and directed at tweens and adolescents, these upbeat self-help books include meditations, physical exercises, crafts (e.g., an anti-stress ball), recipes (a single-serve "Treat Yourself" cupcake), suggested music, organizational tips, and more, all illustrated with photos and pastel-colored art. Appropriately, each volume ends with lists of symptoms requiring professional help, referral organizations, and suggestions for supportive adults. Reading list. Review covers these Savvy: Stress-Busting Survival Guides titles: Happiness Hacks, Me Time, and Stress Less.

Reviewer: Gail Hedges

(3) 4-6 Savvy: Stress-Busting Survival Guides series. Illustrated by Veronica Collignon. With Karen Bluth. Emphasizing mindfulness and directed at tweens and adolescents, these upbeat self-help books include meditations, physical exercises, crafts (e.g., an anti-stress ball), recipes (a single-serve "Treat Yourself" cupcake), suggested music, organizational tips, and more, all illustrated with photos and pastel-colored art. Appropriately, each volume ends with lists of symptoms requiring professional help, referral organizations, and suggestions for supportive adults. Reading list. Review covers these Savvy: Stress-Busting Survival Guides titles: Happiness Hacks, Me Time, and Stress Less.

Reviewer: Gail Hedges

(3) 4-6 Illustrated by Emily Bornoff. You can't always trust your brain! That's the message of this psychology and neuroscience book, demonstrated through sensory illusions, magic tricks, and scams. Kids may have seen some of these before, but with lots of hands-on (or brains-on) activities and lively cartoon illustrations, they'll find plenty here to entertain themselves as they acquire some good tips for thinking critically. Glos., ind.

Reviewer: Janet Dawson

(3) K-3 Bumba Books: Feelings Matter series. In each unusually practical guide, easy-reader text introduces an emotion, explores situations that may cause the emotion to arise, highlights physical or behavioral responses the emotion may elicit, and suggests ways to handle the feeling. Relevant full-page stock photos featuring a diverse cast of children brighten every spread. Questions sprinkled throughout encourage readers to make personal connections. Reading list. Glos., ind. Review covers these Bumba Books: Feelings Matter titles: Feeling Angry, Feeling Happy, Feeling Sad, and Feeling Scared.

Reviewer: Rebecca Fox

(3) K-3 Bumba Books: Feelings Matter series. In each unusually practical guide, easy-reader text introduces an emotion, explores situations that may cause the emotion to arise, highlights physical or behavioral responses the emotion may elicit, and suggests ways to handle the feeling. Relevant full-page stock photos featuring a diverse cast of children brighten every spread. Questions sprinkled throughout encourage readers to make personal connections. Reading list. Glos., ind. Review covers these Bumba Books: Feelings Matter titles: Feeling Angry, Feeling Happy, Feeling Sad, and Feeling Scared.

Reviewer: Rebecca Fox

(3) K-3 Bumba Books: Feelings Matter series. In each unusually practical guide, easy-reader text introduces an emotion, explores situations that may cause the emotion to arise, highlights physical or behavioral responses the emotion may elicit, and suggests ways to handle the feeling. Relevant full-page stock photos featuring a diverse cast of children brighten every spread. Questions sprinkled throughout encourage readers to make personal connections. Reading list. Glos., ind. Review covers these Bumba Books: Feelings Matter titles: Feeling Angry, Feeling Happy, Feeling Sad, and Feeling Scared.

Reviewer: Rebecca Fox