Sometimes I Feel Surprised

Young children need to learn how to understand and manage their emotions. This series describes emotions, how to identify them, and examples of what might cause them. Readers are also encouraged to recognize how their senses might influence their mood; smelling flowers might make them happy, but hearing the word "no" might make them grumpy. There are suggestions for handling emotions, such as listening to music or journaling. Directions for a mindfulness activity like deep breathing or making a gratitude list are included at the end of each book. The simple prose uses age-appropriate examples, and photos of children from diverse racial and ethnic backgrounds support each section. Further reading and websites are featured in the back matter. VERDICT A useful purchase for guidance lessons or general classroom discussions on handling emotions.--Suzanne Costner, Fairview Elementary, Maryville, TN "School Library Journal"