HOW DO YOU FEEL?

Rockwell explores a wide array of emotions.

The book’s playground setting provides an ideal backdrop for this close look at common emotions children feel every day. Beginning with a wide perspective, Rockwell shows a smattering of kids, all different races, playing on the playground. By looking at the vignettes surrounding the various play structures, readers can begin to guess how each child may be feeling. Rockwell then zooms in to focus on one emotion per spread. “Do you feel happy?” A gleeful tot cuddles a puppy. “Do you feel sad?” A youngster sees a dead bird on the ground. “Do you feel sorry?” An apologetic kid mops up a mess. By highlighting each emotion separately and giving appropriate focus to the face of the child feeling the emotion, with the corresponding circumstantial scene on the opposite page, Rockwell gives space for readers to talk about why the characters are feeling that way. Facial clues such as blushed cheeks, tears, and furrowed brows help readers learn to infer emotions from expressions.

Important work for children learning empathy and to validate their own feelings.