feelings | Magination Press Family

Better Together: Interview With the Author

Friendship September 27, 2022 10:00 am

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

Moody, Moody Cars

Exploring emotions August 11, 2022 8:12 pm By Eileen Kennedy-Moore, PhD

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Freewheeling! Full of feelings! Traveling near and far. HONK if you see me. I'm a moody moody car! Hop in and ride along as our auto-friends personify the twists and turns of feelings. This rhyming picture book shares various expressive classic cars and invites readers to figure out the emotions, from excited to angry and more, behind the facial expressions. This is a playful, approachable way to teach kids about feelings and emotions and to develop an essential skill as kids travel along in their social world. Hear Dr. Eileen Kennedy-Moore read her book, Moody, Moody Cars aloud and try finding moody cars here! Read an excerpt from the Reader's Note here.

Week of the Young Child: Books to Share

Child Development April 6, 2022 5:05 pm

Celebrate little kids! April 2-8 is the Week of the Young Child. The Week of the Young Child® was established in 1971 by the National Association for the Education of Young Children. It recognizes that the early childhood years, from birth through age 8, lay the foundation for children's success in school and later life. The purpose of the Week of the Young Child® is to focus public attention on the needs of young children, ages birth to 8, and their families and to recognize the early childhood programs and services that meet those needs. 1 Magination Press has published a number of books specifically for young children. Here are some of our series that explore developmental stages, experiences, and emotions from the young child's world. Share them with your young child! Big Little Talks Series The Big Little Talks books are fun stories to ease both parents and children through typical and common life stages using empathic listening and encouraging an understanding of age-appropriate behavior and emotions. Feel Better Books Series This acclaimed series of books for kids ages 4-8 that explores young children's common feelings and experiences. Written in light, rhyming verse, The Feel Better Books identify emotions or challenging situations and provide kid-friendly coping strategies. Get Ready Board Books Series This series of cleverly wordless board books with bright illustrations will delight little ones and their parents and provides an endless opportunity to engage toddlers in their own storytelling and interpretation of what they see in the book. Super cute and appealing, little kids will see themselves in the stories as the books capture a family's experience. Once Upon a Garden Series “The series is perfect for young children who are working with issues of shyness, self-acceptance, and courage, and discovering new talents, skills and hard work. There is simplicity in the text and the illustrations are happy and bright and compliment the emotions and themes in each book. This series is sure to boost the self-confidence of children.” —Children’s Books Heal Terrific Toddlers Series Written with simple language and reflective of children's realities, the Terrific Toddlers series is based on understanding of the developmental level of young toddlers. Books for Nourishing Friendships Series “Children will relate to strong and memorable characters that jump off the pages, identify with their friendship problems and learn some new strategies for coping. The characters deal with their own issues and do their own problem solving in all three stories — no adults involved...This series will be a winning one with children.” —Children's Books Heal Check out other books feelings, family, and friendship to read with your young child.

feelings: 11 Articles

Better Together: Interview With the Author

Moody, Moody Cars

Week of the Young Child: Books to Share