This Makes Me Happy: Dealing with Feelings: 1 (Rodale Kids Curious Readers/Level 2) - Softcover

"An elementary-age child recounts what she doesand feels during a school field trip to a county fair. Clean, colorful graphicdesign, first-person narration, and short declarative sentences bode well forthe inaugural entry in the Dealing with Feelings series. The narrator is awide-eyed girl with brown skin and textured, black hair, and her fellowstudents represent every possible complexion. The teacher is also brown, withstraight hair....A mindfulness activity on the bus and a review of whatproduced the child's positive feelings makes it clear that teaching emotionalvocabulary is the book's primary mission...The book is potentially useful as adiscussion starter about feelings." - Kirkus Reviews

"In this addition to the Dealing with Feelings series, anAfrican-American child describes her class field trip to the county fair, illustrated in Kushnir's cozy, upbeat art. At the fair, she goes on a rollercoaster, has her face painted, and visits the petting zoo. Even a happy day hasminor setbacks--the girl can't have any bake sale treats because she is allergicto nuts: "I feel left out. My teacher sits down next to me. She has allergies, too." On the bus ride back, she reflects on her busy day: "Many thoughts bouncearound in my head. I focus on them one at a time. What am I feeling? I amfeeling happy." Carbone models being mindful of all emotions, while suggestingthat happiness is not always about what occurs but how one chooses to look atcircumstances. Ages 4-6. (Apr.)" - Publishers Weekly

"Children will understand that happiness can come in a ball of other emotions, like excitement, feeling part of a team, and helping. This bright, appealing offering could be used as a discussion starter with primary-grade students."-- Booklist