Theo's Mood: A Book of Feelings
(Libby/OverDrive eBook)

It's Mood Monday at Theo's school, but when his teacher asks him how he's feeling, especially now that he has a new baby sister, he isn't sure. Six of his classmates offer possibilities: "Maybe you feel happy like me," says a boy named Eric ("I got a new bike!" he says on the facing page, revealing the reason for his joy). Additional classmates are jealous, afraid, sad, mad, and proud, and Theo eventually realizes that his new sibling inspires all of these emotions in him. Cocca-Leffler's friendly mixed-media illustrations telegraph each child's emotions clearly, and her story underscores the idea that good and bad moods aren't mutually exclusive. Ages 4-7. (Sept.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.

PreS-Gr 1-Although there are many books about adjusting to the arrival of a new sibling, this one offers a fresh approach. It's "Mood Monday" in Miss Cady's class, a day when the children describe both how they are feeling and why. Theo announces that his mother had a baby over the weekend. When asked how that makes him feel, he can only respond, "I don't know." The other youngsters describe their experiences. Eric is happy because he got a new bike; Lily is jealous because her sister won another trophy; Ameen is afraid because he got lost in the mall; and other children are sad, mad, and proud. Theo finally realizes that he has all of those emotions: he is happy because Grandma is staying for a week, jealous because now Mommy has no time to play, afraid because he doesn't want to drop the baby, and so on-but most of all he is proud to have a sister. It's refreshing to see that his classmates are supportive and help him to understand that mixed emotions are part of being a big brother. It's also refreshing that the children are encouraged to express their feelings, both positive and negative. The illustrations feature clean white space and simple lines and capture each child's emotion perfectly. With his argyle vest and cowlick, Theo is a charmer. This picture book could be used as a springboard for a discussion of emotions in general.-Grace Oliff, Ann Blanche Smith School, Hillsdale, NJ (c) Copyright 2013. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

It's Mood Monday in class, but Theo can't articulate how he's feeling. Other students try to help by sharing their moods: happy (a new bike), mad (brother ripped a book), etc. Finally, Theo expresses his many mixed feelings about becoming a new big brother. The text is light and insightful; the vibrant illustrations are fittingly emotive. (c) Copyright 2014. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

"It was Mood Monday and Theo was the first to share his mood news. Are you in a good mood or a bad mood?' asked Miss Cady. I don't know,' said Theo." So begins the complicated task of naming Theo's mood after he's just met his new baby sister. Miss Cady's classroom begins to explore all types of feelings that Theo might be having about being a big brother. Each child takes a turn giving clear examples of many emotions. "Maybe you feel AFRAID like me," says Ameen. "I got lost in the mall." Both the text and the bright, expressive illustrations focus squarely on Theo and his friends, with a developmentally appropriate, low priority on the baby. When it is Theo's turn to speak, he states that he is HAPPY. But he is also jealous and mad and even sad. Cocca-Leffler once again demonstrates her understanding of small children and the complexities of their emotions. Her illustrations depict a convincingly ethnically mixed classroom, with children holding vocabulary-word placards; torn-paper frames against chalkboard-black backgrounds depict their imagined scenarios. "How can you feel all those feelings at the same time?" ask Theo's classmates. "Because," he replies, "I FEEL LIKE A BIG BROTHER!" That truly honest conclusion will resonate with older siblings while portraying classmates and teachers as a source of comfort during this transitional time. Doesn't it make Mood Monday sound like a good idea? (Picture book. 4-7)]] Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

It's Mood Monday at Theo's school, but when his teacher asks him how he's feeling, especially now that he has a new baby sister, he isn't sure. Six of his classmates offer possibilities: "Maybe you feel happy like me," says a boy named Eric ("I got a new bike!" he says on the facing page, revealing the reason for his joy). Additional classmates are jealous, afraid, sad, mad, and proud, and Theo eventually realizes that his new sibling inspires all of these emotions in him. Cocca-Leffler's friendly mixed-media illustrations telegraph each child's emotions clearly, and her story underscores the idea that good and bad moods aren't mutually exclusive. Ages 4–7. (Sept.)

PreS-Gr 1—Although there are many books about adjusting to the arrival of a new sibling, this one offers a fresh approach. It's "Mood Monday" in Miss Cady's class, a day when the children describe both how they are feeling and why. Theo announces that his mother had a baby over the weekend. When asked how that makes him feel, he can only respond, "I don't know." The other youngsters describe their experiences. Eric is happy because he got a new bike; Lily is jealous because her sister won another trophy; Ameen is afraid because he got lost in the mall; and other children are sad, mad, and proud. Theo finally realizes that he has all of those emotions: he is happy because Grandma is staying for a week, jealous because now Mommy has no time to play, afraid because he doesn't want to drop the baby, and so on-but most of all he is proud to have a sister. It's refreshing to see that his classmates are supportive and help him to understand that mixed emotions are part of being a big brother. It's also refreshing that the children are encouraged to express their feelings, both positive and negative. The illustrations feature clean white space and simple lines and capture each child's emotion perfectly. With his argyle vest and cowlick, Theo is a charmer. This picture book could be used as a springboard for a discussion of emotions in general.—Grace Oliff, Ann Blanche Smith School, Hillsdale, NJ