SOMETIMES I AM FURIOUS

A child explores feelings of rage.

“Sometimes I’m a princess who is thoughtful, brave, and sweet,” says the narrator, an orange-haired, tan-skinned moppet. “Sometimes I’m the kindest fairy you could hope to meet,” the protagonist continues, helping their parents wash dishes. “And sometimes I am furious.” As the book progresses, readers witness the things that provoke the child’s ire—when someone accidentally ruins their sand castle, when other kids get more ice cream, when the bakery runs out of chocolate cake. After a double-page spread depicting a tantrum that leads to tears, the child’s kindly grandmother gives them a hug and some whispered advice. Children will enjoy the repetition of furious and will hopefully learn something from the narrator, whose coping methods now include breathing deeply, counting, and singing a “happy song.” Humorous art supports the rhyming verse with bold, eye-catching, thick-lined graphics. Kudos to Knapman and Berger for making it clear that feeling anger—especially at perceived unfairness—is fine; what’s important is finding ways to calm down before a meltdown. One of the child’s parents is brown-skinned while the other is tan-skinned; Grandma is brown-skinned; the supporting cast is diverse. (This book was reviewed digitally.)

A simple and entertaining introduction to anger management.