‘Every now and then we have terrible, horrible, no-good , very bad days when everything seems out of kilter and our emotions get the better of us. Jasmine is having one of those days and she is feeling overwhelmed, particularly as each new frustration seems to compound the previous ones.  However, she has learned how to navigate and manage her feelings, using breathing, movement, noise and her imagination as she practises the things she has learned doing Ryoho yoga.

Everyone experiences these "big feelings" - they are a natural part of who we are as humans - but it is how we deal with them that has the most impact on those around us that is critical.  At the time of the year, particularly, when there is much excitement and expectation, as well as fear and fatigue as the familiar routines of school and friendships are changing, children can find themselves between a rock and a hard place and unable to manage.  Although there is no one silver bullet for all children and all circumstances, this book not only helps the reader realise that feelings of being overwhelmed and frustrated are common to everyone, but offers them yet another set of strategies to help them self-calm and relax.  

There is an old adage about the straw that broke the camel's back that can often explain why something as simple as being asked to tidy your room can lead to an emotional outburst of undue proportions and although our younger ones might not be able to identify these, let alone articulate them, until they are more mature, nevertheless the earlier we can help them begin to develop their emotional awareness and intelligence so they do get better at recognising how they are feeling and why, and offering ways that might help them express them appropriately the better. 

In a recent news item from the ABC, it states, "almost 40 per cent of young men today feel pressured to conform to certain rules, such as acting strong or fighting back in order to behave like a 'real man'. Thirty-four per cent feel society expects them to 'use violence to get respect if necessary' " particularly as they are exposed to some of the toxic attitudes that prevail on social media, demonstrating that every single one of us has a role to play in helping children understand what is driving their thoughts, actions and reactions.  This book provides us with yet another tool.’ 

Go to the review on The Bottom Shelf here.

Barbara Braxton

Teacher Librarian

M.Ed.(TL), M.App.Sci.(TL), M.I.S. (Children's Services)

Dromkeen Librarian's Award 2003

COOMA NSW 2630