Emotional Acceptance – Double Bonus Feature

By Sharon Giltrow

“Emotion - a strong feeling deriving from one’s circumstances, mood, or relationships with others” Oxford Languages.

Emotions we all have them; we can’t deny them or quash them. But if we can’t deny and quash them, what can we do? Well as writers we can write about them. The books we write for children can provide a great opportunity to help them to identify and accept their feelings in a safe environment. Uber talented and emotional acceptance champion Kitty Black does just that in her emotional literacy series FOLLOW YOUR FEELINGS.

FOLLOW YOUR FEELINGS: LUCY AND SAD
Written by: Kitty Black   
Illustrated by: Jess Rose
Published by: Affirm Press, 31st August 2021
When Lucy has a hard time making friends, she’s joined by someone new: Sad.
But Sad isn’t the company Lucy had hoped for. It feels like Sad will never leave, even when Lucy tries hiding, distraction and running away! But with the help of some flowers, cookies, a bedtime story and a big hug, Lucy can say goodbye for now to Sad and hello to someone new…

FOLLOW YOUR FEELINGS: MAX AND WORRY
Written by: Kitty Black   
Illustrated by: Jess Rose
Published by: Affirm Press, 31st August 2021
When Max has a hard time starting his maths work, he’s joined by someone new: Worry. But Worry doesn’t give Max the help he needs. It feels like Worry will never leave, even when Max does what Worry tells him to! But with the help of some deep breaths and a vow to just try his best, Max can say goodbye for now to Worry, and hello to someone new …

Kitty champions emotional acceptance through the use of big doses of humour and heart. Here are some of Kitty’s favourite spread from FOLLOW YOUR FEELINGS - LUCY AND SAD.

K - I love this spread because of Sad’s almost deliberate quirky confusion about who or what biscuits are. Following up Sad’s confusion with enthusiasm for cat food is a light-hearted moment foreshadowing the mood shift within the book.   

S – This spread is a great example of using heart and humour. You can see the connection between Lucy and Sad on the left, when she is trying to make Sad, happy. Which quickly turns into humour on the right when Sad tries to eat the cat biscuits (or Tiny Floor Biscuits).

K - I love this spread because it’s the turning point for Max in emotional acceptance, and because Worry looks adorably funny in the stressed out collapsed on the bed pose. A pose which I’m sure we’ve all found ourselves in at some point or another!

S- Here Jess Rose, the amazing illustrator of both Lucy and worry,  illustrations add greatly to the story. They show how stressed-out Worry is about the possibility of getting something wrong. The heart in this spread can be seen in the way Max is talking to Worry as well as the reassuring hand he places on Worry.    

Next time you’re feeling like Sad or Worry try and remember how Lucy and Max accepted and followed their feelings.
 
See you in August with another great Aussie book.

GIVEAWAY
For a chance to win a copy of either LUCY AND SAD or MAX AND WORRY

1. Comment on this blog post
2. Share this blog post on social media
3. Follow Sharon on twitter
4. The winner will be announced on twitter on Monday 1st August
   

BIO:
Sharon Giltrow grew up in South Australia, the youngest of eight children, surrounded by pet sheep and fields of barley. She now lives in Perth, Western Australia with her husband, two children and a tiny dog. Sharon has taught for all of her career. Previously a teacher of children who are hearing impaired and Deaf-Blind, she now teaches young children with Developmental Language Disorder. Her humorous debut PB, BEDTIME DADDY! released May 2020 through EK books. Sharon’s humorous follow up PB, GET READY, MAMA! released through EK books in April, 2022. Her third PB, LET’S GO SHOPPING, GRANDMA! is due to be released through Dixi Books in 2023. SAMARA RUBIN AND THE UTILITY BELT, book one in Sharon’s early MG series – THE UTILITY BELT, will be released in 2023 through Clear Fork Publishing.  With book two TOBY KING AND THE UTILITY BELT to follow.
 
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