Skip to main content

Books to Read When... Your Toddler Is MAD!

By
The wrath of a toddler can be astounding! They can conjure full body, full volume reactions to things you and I might find insignificant. There are a lot of great books in our collection about anger (we list sixty-two in our RX Literature binder,) but I’m focusing on picture books that speak to the fury that very young children deal with as they navigate this big, tricky world. Anger can be intense, but all feelings are temporary and manageable. 

Mad at Dad
By Janie Hao
Toronto: Kids Can Press, 2024. Picture Book.

Dynamic, expressive, and universal, Mad at Dad is light on words, but heavy with truth, including the pitfalls of calming techniques and the toll anger takes on our bodies. The flaps in this book expand with the little girl's strong, uncontainable feelings. And I love her eyebrow.

Written by Nadine Brun-Cosme
Illustrated by Marion Cocklico
New York: Little Simon, 2021. Board Book.

Here's a board book for audiences with short fuses and even shorter attention spans. Little One turns into Little Mad when she has to stop playing. The chunky pages go from pale pink to bubblegum, to scarlet, then back down again to pale pink when she finds a way to feel better. 

By Polly Dunbar
London: Walker Books Ltd., 2019. Picture Book. 

My own fiery toddler loves this book. She likes to mimic the bold, angry facial expressions and she laughs when the child and his mom take a deep breath together at the climax of the story: "Phew-eeeeeeeee!" The visual language is expressed clearly through colors, scribbles, and bold lettering. Rhyming text gives a voice to the frustrated little kid and his reassuring mother. 

Written by Ame Dyckman
Illustrated by Abhi Alwar
New York: Orchard Books, 2023. Picture Book.

Little Volcano throws a temper tantrum when a coconut falls on their crater, then learns some emotional regulation skills that help Big Volcano in the end, too. This book has tropical, cartoony illustrations with big expressive onomatopoeia that will appeal to little kids. No one likes to get bonked, and we all KABOOOOM sometimes. 
Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Review: Faker

By
Faker By Gordon Korman New York: Scholastic Press, 2024. Fiction. 214 pages. 12-year-old Trey is used to starting over at a new school -- he has the routine perfectly memorized: make new friends, introduce his dad to the wealthy parents of his new friends, and "Houdini" themselves out of there before they get caught running their latest scam. Trey's dad is a master con artist, and Trey has just been promoted to full-partner. Their new scheme for the next big score brings them to the affluent suburb of Boxelder, TN where Trey's dad has cooked up a fake electric car company for investors to buy into. The only problem is that Trey is starting to grow tired of moving around and never putting down roots, especially after forming a fast friendship with Logan and developing a crush on Kaylee, a socially conscious girl in his class. As Trey longs for a normal life, is there any way he can convince his dad to get out of the family business? Gordon Korman is a perennial favorit...
Post a Comment
Read more

Review: Fresh Start

By
Fresh Start By Gale Galligan New York: Graphix, 2025. Graphic novel. 270 pages. Ollie Herisson is only in 7th grade, but she has already lived all over the world. Her father is an American diplomat, whose job has taken their family to France, Singapore, Thailand (where her mom is from), and now to Chestnut Falls, Virginia. Ollie loves that her family doesn't stay in one place very long, it allows her to have a fresh start and hide from any embarrassing moments each time they move. But Ollie's parents have big news -- they've decided to buy a house in Virginia and put down roots. Now, Ollie and her younger sister Cat have to figure out how to build lasting friendships which means resolving conflict rather than running away when things get hard.  Loosely based on the author's own childhood experiences, this graphic novel is sure to be popular with readers who like coming of age stories. Watching Ollie learn to think of others as she advocates for her sister Cat, and navig...
Post a Comment
Read more

Five Faves: New Picture Books by Black Creators

By
Every February during Black History Month, people remember the achievements, stories, and rich culture of black communities across the United States. As before, 2025 will see a new influx of quality picture books crafted by black authors and illustrators. So, here are five titles to start your year off strong, in recognition of these outstanding creators! How Sweet the Sound Written by Kwame Alexander Illustrated by Charly Palmer New York: Little, Brown & Co., 2025. Informational.  How Sweet the Sound is a celebration of black music that bebops its way through landmark styles and musicians, including: Miles Davis, Kendrick Lamar, and Billie Holiday. The lyrical verses interspersed with loud onomatopoeia pops of sound and the acrylic genius of Charly Palmer's illustrations, make this a book   sure to leave its mark of children's literature. An expansive back matter section provides detailed context and history for readers looking for more insight.   When Alexander...
Post a Comment
Read more