A Whole Bunch of Feelings: What Do They Mean?

Moore-Mallinos explores 44 different emotions through scenarios involving a multiracial cast of cartoonlike characters. A boy looks solemnly out the window at the rain: “I was so disappointed when my best friend and I planned to go to the park but we couldn’t go because a big thunderstorm came”; he and his friend find a fun, indoor activity to do instead. For each emotion, Moore-Mallinos encourages readers to reflect on their own experiences. Part of understanding emotions is also recognizing them in others, she suggests. An older sister watches her baby brother sleeping: “Warm clothes and a full belly make my brother feel content. He has everything he needs, plus a lot of love. What makes you feel content?” It’s a constructive toolbox for recognizing and articulating emotions. Ages 5–8. [em](Apr.) [/em]