Kirkus Review
How are you feeling? Kids are frequently willing to discuss their emotions, though they can't always explain why they feel and behave as they do. The "ups and downs" included in this book cover a range of common emotions that can be readily identified by children; illustrated pages depict easily understandable situations that might trigger those feelings. Each page usually mentions one emotion (or, as in the case of descriptors such as "sleepy" or "AWAKE," a state of being). Through facial expressions, occasional spoken comments, or body language, a group of sweet-faced, racially diverse young kids demonstrate emotions aroused by realistic situations--on their own or with family members or peers at home, at play, at school, and in the neighborhood. Among the recognizable sentiments on display are "scared," "lonely," "worried," "surprised," "cheerful," and "excited." Some words that may be unfamiliar to many youngsters (although they will certainly be familiar with the sentiments) include embarrassed, disgusted, stressed, regretful, apologetic, flattered, and awkward, making this volume a nifty vocabulary developer. Children will feel reassured to have their own emotions validated, perhaps under circumstances they've experienced, and to note that the book ends happily. The soft gouache illustrations are comforting; occasional onomatopoeic words add dramatic interest to scenes. Adults sharing the book should encourage volunteers to discuss when they felt some of these emotions and what brought them on. (This book was reviewed digitally.) Young readers will feel good about this book that mirrors everyday experiences. (Picture book. 3-6) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Booklist Review
An alarm clock rings. Breakfast is enjoyed--or not, depending on the person. Children make their way onto buses and through imposing doors. It is the first day of school, accompanied by a wide range of emotions. One girl, seemingly new in town, is anxious about starting school. Another child needs to remember a musical instrument and to get to class on time. A fun visual reference depicts one child in the library reading See the Cat, also illustrated by Wohnoutka. The text, primarily a series of descriptive, somewhat sophisticated single words, is expanded by gouache illustrations that humorously and thoughtfully convey the story. In a satisfying conclusion, the pictures show that the kids have separate experiences of the first day of school, but that they actually all live in the same neighborhood and play together in the afternoon. The list of featured emotions, including jealous, pleased, flattered, awkward, annoyed, apologetic, regretful, and confident, may require explanation for younger readers, but the situations will be widely understood.
