THAT'S MY TRUCK!

Charlie is all set for a day of fun, but when he notices his little sister, Pia, playing with his new fire truck, he sees red.

In an attempt to get his favorite toy back, Charlie hits Pia. Mom defuses the situation by speaking gently to him about his emotions: “You’re a good kid having a hard time. And I’m here. I’m right here with you.” There’s no mention of a timeout, no yelling. Instead, Mom takes a more empathetic approach, one espoused by Kennedy, a clinical psychologist, online parenting coach, and founder of the Good Inside website and app. Now branching out into the realm of children’s books, the author seeks to help youngsters effectively deal with their feelings. This story seems targeted more to parents than to kids, however. The narration and dialogue are didactic and clunky, and the story lacks tension, humor, or other elements likely to appeal to children. The backmatter, which includes questions and answers that flesh out the Good Inside philosophy, will be useful to caregivers, but ultimately the book feels like a marketing tool to extend Kennedy’s reach. In the simple, somewhat static illustrations, Pia and Charlie have light-tan skin, while Mom is lighter-skinned.

A purpose-driven tale about grappling with big emotions; unlikely to entice kids, but potentially useful to caregivers.