It’s OK to Feel the Way You Do (Josh Langley, Big Sky Publishing)

It’s OK to Feel the Way You Do is a gentle journey through the emotions that everyone feels at some point—happiness, anger, sadness, loneliness, pride, fear and anxiety. It guides the reader through the experience of these emotions—from the way gratitude feels like ‘the sun is shining in your heart’ to how anxiety can feel ‘like your tummy is being tied in knots’—and offers simple, practical ways to manage these emotions while making a point that there is no right or wrong way to feel. Solutions such as ‘flap your arms like a chicken’ to deal with anger and watching thoughts floating by when feeling anxious are unintimidating and achievable. While the format and illustrations won’t appeal to everyone, the text offers a broad approach to dealing with all the ups and downs of life. It is an excellent resource for discussing emotions in a positive, helpful way with children aged five and up.

Meg Whelan is the children’s book buyer at the Hill of Content Bookshop

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