A Heartfelt Journey Through Emotions: Review of Emotions and Feelings, How Do You Feel Today? by Jenny River

Introduction: Why This Book Matters

Navigating emotions can be challenging for children—and even for adults. Jenny River’s Emotions and Feelings, How Do You Feel Today? is a beautifully crafted children’s book that serves as both a mirror and a guide, helping young readers understand and articulate their feelings. With its vibrant illustrations, relatable scenarios, and gentle storytelling, this book stands out as an essential tool for emotional literacy.

Whether you’re a parent, teacher, or caregiver, this book offers more than just a story—it provides a framework for meaningful conversations about emotions. Let’s dive into why this book is a must-have for any child’s bookshelf.

Plot Summary: A Day in the Life of Feelings

Emotions and Feelings doesn’t follow a traditional narrative but instead takes young readers on a journey through different emotional states. Each page introduces a new feeling—happiness, sadness, anger, excitement, fear, and more—through simple yet evocative scenarios.

For example:

  • A child jumping in puddles illustrates joy.
  • A rainy day spent indoors captures loneliness.
  • A first day of school brings nervousness and excitement.

The book avoids heavy-handed lessons, instead allowing children to see emotions as natural and valid experiences. The absence of a rigid plot makes it highly accessible, letting kids flip to the emotion they resonate with most at any given moment.

Character Analysis: Relatable and Universal

While the book doesn’t focus on a single protagonist, the children depicted are diverse in appearance and experience, ensuring every reader can see themselves in the pages. The characters are expressive, their body language and facial cues reinforcing the emotions being described.

What makes these “characters” so effective is their authenticity. They don’t just tell kids how they might feel—they show it. A child hiding behind a parent’s leg at a birthday party perfectly captures shyness, while another grinning over an ice cream cone radiates pure delight.

Writing Style & Narrative Technique: Simple Yet Profound

Jenny River’s writing is clear, concise, and age-appropriate, making complex emotions digestible for young minds. The text is rhythmic, almost poetic, with short sentences that hold a child’s attention. For example:

“Sometimes I feel brave, like a lion roaring loud.
Other times I feel small, like a mouse hiding in a crowd.”

The book’s interactive approach encourages kids to pause and reflect. Questions like “How do you feel today?” invite discussion, turning reading time into an emotional check-in.

The illustrations deserve special praise—bright, engaging, and full of warmth, they complement the text beautifully. The art style is playful yet detailed, ensuring even pre-readers can follow along.

Thematic Exploration: More Than Just Feelings

At its core, Emotions and Feelings teaches:

  1. Emotional Vocabulary – Kids learn to name their emotions, a crucial step in emotional intelligence.
  2. Validation – Every feeling is presented as normal, reducing shame around “negative” emotions.
  3. Empathy – By seeing others experience emotions, children learn to recognize them in peers.

The book subtly introduces coping mechanisms, too. A child taking deep breaths when frustrated or hugging a stuffed animal when sad models healthy emotional regulation.

Personal Reading Experience: Why It Resonated

As someone who reads a lot of children’s books (both as a reviewer and a parent), I was struck by how universally relatable this book feels. My own child paused at the page about feeling “left out” and said, “That’s how I felt when my friend didn’t share the crayons.” That moment of connection was powerful.

The book’s gentle tone makes it perfect for bedtime or classroom discussions. It doesn’t preach but instead opens doors for kids to share their own stories.

Comparison to Similar Books

Compared to other emotion-focused children’s books:

  • The Color Monster by Anna Llenas uses colors to represent feelings but is more abstract.
  • In My Heart: A Book of Feelings by Jo Witek is lyrical but slightly more poetic, making it better for slightly older kids.

Emotions and Feelings strikes a perfect balance—simple enough for toddlers but deep enough for early graders.

Strengths & Minor Weaknesses

Strengths:

✅ Diverse Representation – Kids of different ethnicities, abilities, and family structures are included.
✅ Interactive – Encourages dialogue between adults and children.
✅ Visually Engaging – The illustrations are expressive and full of life.

Minor Weaknesses:

❌ Limited Plot – Some kids who prefer story-driven books might want more narrative.
❌ Repetitive for Older Kids – While great for ages 2-6, older children might need more depth.

Target Audience: Who Should Read This?

  • Ages 2-6 – Perfect for toddlers and early readers.
  • Parents & Educators – A great tool for teaching emotional intelligence.
  • Therapists & Counselors – Useful in child therapy sessions.

Memorable Quotes & Passages

“Feelings come and feelings go,
like waves upon the shore.
Some are big, and some are small,
but all are worth exploring.”

This stanza perfectly encapsulates the book’s message—emotions are temporary, natural, and worth understanding.

Cultural & Historical Context

While not historical, the book reflects modern parenting trends emphasizing emotional well-being. In a world where mental health awareness is growing, teaching kids about emotions early is more important than ever.

Final Verdict: A Must-Have for Emotional Growth

Emotions and Feelings, How Do You Feel Today? is more than a book—it’s a conversation starter, a comfort, and a guide. Jenny River has created a timeless resource that belongs in every child’s library.

🔗 Get the Book: Amazon

Discussion Questions for Readers

  • What emotion did your child relate to most?
  • How do you usually talk about feelings with your kids?
  • Do you think books like this help reduce tantrums or emotional outbursts?

Let me know your thoughts in the comments! 📚💬

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