We have a whole zoo of feelings inside of us—an angry lion, a happy puppy, a calm sloth. Some days we feel like just one animal and some days we feel like them all. My Zoo helps kids to identify and accept different emotions. Hear My Zoo: A Book of Feelings read aloud.
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What’s better than a book about a band that welcomes a new member? A sequel about working out the challenges of growing and changing friendships! We interviewed author and illustrator Chloe Douglass about her new book, Better Together, the follow-up to Band Together. Here’s what she had to say: APA: After writing Band Together, why did you decide to write this story about the members of the Band? Cover idea Cover idea Chloe Douglass: I was interested to see what would happen to the band after Duck joined and they welcomed a new friend to the group and how that might change the dynamics within the band. I think we’ve all experienced this at some point. APA: You explore some really powerful feelings with Seagull. She feels envy, ignored, pushed aside, sad, angry, lonely, and jealous. Why do you think it’s important for kids to explore these feelings? CD: They’re powerful feelings, and it’s ok to feel all of them and see how they might affect your own and others. I hope the book can be a starting point for conversations about an experience readers might have with these emotions, or help them be better able to put themselves in other people’s shoes. They’re all feelings a reader is bound to experience sooner or later, like someone new at school joining your friendship group, or you’re the new person. Either way, I hope the book can help discussions from both viewpoints. Seagull boils over APA: You describe how Seagull’s body felt when the band played Duck’s song instead of hers: “Seagull’s insides began to flutter, then rumbled, and finally boiled over.” Why was it important to include a description of how Seagull’s body reacted to big emotions? CD: Feelings can manifest in so many ways, and that includes physical sensations. Again, it could be a conversation starter, learning to recognize how certain situations or things make us feel before you might lose your temper, or get control on rising anxiety before it takes over. APA: Some readers might find they have more in common with Bear, Duck, and Fox. How did they not notice how Seagull felt? Were they just not paying attention? Were they carried away with someone and something new? Were they taking Seagull for granted? CD: Absolutely this! We’ve all been there at some point. It's really exciting when someone new joins a group of friends, or a new baby becomes part of the family. But it can be easy to overlook those who might feel a bit left out, or those who don’t want the status quo to change. It’s not always intentional, from both sides, but when you realize that you’ve overlooked someone's feelings, you can make amends and be more aware going forward. Seagull's Song APA: Tell me about writing the songs in the story: Work It Out, Better Together (Birds of a Feather), and Super Duper
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In honor of Hispanic Heritage Month, we highlight APA children’s books featuring Latinx families. Each of these books celebrates family and highlights the richness of culture and the strength of community and love. Explore them with your child. Something Happened to My Dad: A Story About Immigration and Family Separation by Ann Hazzard, PhD, ABPP, and Vivianne Aponte Rivera, MD Algo Le Pasó a Mi Papá: Una Historia Sobre Inmigración y la Separación Familiar by Vivianne Aponte Rivera, MD and Ann Hazzard, PhD, ABPP “A well-researched, deeply affecting picture book examines deportation and its effects on communities and immigrant families. ...An important, empathetic, and well-told immigration story that strikes a hopeful note of resilience. (glossary of immigration terms, illustrator’s note, further reading, Spanish edition).” –Kirkus Carmen loves doing magic with her Papi. She is sad and scared when she learns he has been detained because he is an undocumented immigrant from Mexico. Carmen learns she can find strength in herself and maintain her connection with Papi, no matter what happens. Accordionly: Abuelo and Opa Make Music by Michael Genhart, PhD “This is a reassuring story, emphasizing that though we may be different we can find common ground, an especially important message for multiracial/multiethnic children who can often feel pulled between competing identities… "—Kirkus Reviews Abuelo speaks Spanish. Opa speaks German. Both play the accordion. The little boy in Accordionly: Abuelo and Opa Make Music, shows great creativity and wisdom as he finds a way to help his grandfathers connect through music. Marvelous Maravilloso: Me and My Beautiful Family by Carrie Lara, PsyD “A wonderfully presented picture book story from the point of view of a young interracial child about what color means within the dynamics of race, ethnicity, and culture." —Midwest Book Review Our colors make us beautiful and unique. Explore the colors of the world, including the peoples’ beautiful and unique colors, with a little girl and her family. The Heart of Mi Familia by Carrie Lara, PsyD “A child explores what being bicultural means to them in ways that feel familiar to young readers… Bicultural kids will feel seen in this sweet family story. " —Kirkus Review Follow a young girl as she works with her abuela and her grandma to create a wonderful birthday present for her brother. She creates a gift that celebrates her multicultural family and honors both sides and generations of her family. This follow up to the award-winning Marvelous Maravilliso: Me and My Beautiful Family is a must-read for all families. My Singing Nana by Pat Mora “A winning story that also serves as a useful family resource." —Publishers Weekly Billy and his Nana are very close. They love to sing together. When Billy notices that his Nana is forgetting things, his mom explains that she sometimes needs help. When Nana is having a hard day, Billy draws on his special connection with her to include her in family events.
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