BRODY THE LION

A lion cub learns to calmly handle unexpected situations in this debut picture book.

For his third birthday, Brody the Lion is planning a party, inviting all his friends: Snake, Hippo, Bear, and Monkey. When the guests don’t arrive precisely on time, Brody gets upset, roaring “NO! THIS IS NOT RIGHT!” But his mother reminds him to practice his relaxation technique: Take a deep breath, count to two, and blow it out. Then he’s able to wait patiently for his friends. During the party, several situations test Brody’s serenity, such as a present he doesn’t want, overly noisy guests, and losing a game. Each time, his mother or father coaches him to breathe and count, and by the party’s end, Brody can practice the technique himself without prompting. In her work, Wegner—a therapist for special needs children—offers a simple method to help kids cope with surprises or disappointments. The situations that challenge Brody are ones every child can understand, and repetition helps drive the message home. An appendix includes helpful information for parents on utilizing the book and expanding the concepts. Debut illustrator Garcia provides amusing pictures that help illuminate the technique.

A useful and approachable primer on emotional regulation for kids.