SLJ Review of Colorful Minds: Tips for Managing Your Emotions
This series is like a comforting hug. For young children who might have trouble verbally expressing their feelings or controlling their emotions, this series provides interactive activities to help them understand what they are feeling and how to cope. Each emotion is associated with a color: blue is sad, purple is nervous, etc. In The Red Book, the author supplies a target page to throw paper at and a shout hole as alternative ways to release anger. Breathing and exercise are recommended in a number of the titles, and children are guided through their breathing sessions with tasks such as tracing shapes and blowing away clouds. Parents will appreciate The Yellow Book, which helps kids manage their excitement by doing a scavenger hunt or creating a calming zone. VERDICT: Highly recommended. This series finds so many ways for kids to express themselves in comforting and accepting language.