Feelings: Inside My Heart and in My Head… by Libby Walden – Book Review

What you feel is who you are…

Explore a world of emotions with this stunning peep-through picture book. Richard Jones’ enchanting illustrations and the lyrical text make each and every feeling come to life to help children understand the emotions they experience.

Description:

“Inside my heart and my head… Feelings” is a stunning exploration into emotional literacy for young children. Full to the brim of delightful illustrations and with a brilliant use of colour, this book is a beautifully poetic look into a wide range of emotions ranging from ‘happy’ to ‘angry’ to ‘alone’ and ‘calm’. Centring on a little boy wearing a blue coat and a red hat, who, in fact, is only illustrated on the final page with a die-cut out showing him experiencing emotions on each page, stands still and firm as the background illustrations change around him to represent his changing feelings. Each beautiful illustration is accompanied by an enchanting poetic couplet introducing children to how that emotion might feel inside you. It is truly magical to read.

My Experience:

     Likes:

This book is aimed at readers older than my daughter but I nonetheless I have encouraged her to explore its pages and talk about the feelings represented on each page. As a teacher, and a new parent, I have seen an increase in how our society has begun to appreciate that the children can and do respond to a wide range of emotions and that as adults we should support them in doing so. This book is a perfect tool (though believe me it is more than a simple learning ‘tool’: it is a work of art) for introducing young children to the range of emotions they experience and opens the doors to conversations where they can truly discuss their feelings. I think we can all agree that the recent political climate has led to a quagmire of emotions for us adults and perhaps this beautiful picture book could support us in exploring those emotions too. At worst, it is a beautiful work of art that younger and older readers can appreciate. 

     Dislikes:

It’s hard to find much to dislike about this book other than I wish my daughter was old enough to enjoy it already! I would love it if they could produce a simpler board book edition of this book for much younger readers.

Why/How Use it with kids:

This is not really a book to be ‘used’ with kids, as such. It is a book to be explored and discussed. Simply open it and read. And you will, no doubt, be surprised by the things your children have to say in response to this book. It would also be a great inspiration for artwork exploring different emotions.

About the Author/Illustrator:

Libby Walden studied English Literature in Wales before setting off to London to find her fortune in the wondrous world of children’s books. Now an editor at caterpillar Books and a book review blogger at Through the Wardrobe, her days are filled with writing, reading and dreaming up new books.

Richard Jones is a British illustrator with over 15 years experience in creative arts, including spending most of his career within the library sector. Richard is now channelling his passion for books into illustration.

 

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