Some feelings are big
Some are small
Some are loud
Some are quiet
Some are fleeting
Some last long
There are lots of ways that we can feel
So many emotions big and small
They can be entirely overwhelming as an adult
How must new, big, strange, ongoing emotions impact upon our children?
Feelings are complex
The language around emotions can be confusing
So where do we as parents, teachers and carers begin?
With books
With beautiful books
And this might just be one of the most beautiful books about feelings
I have ever seen
Sometimes I Feel … A Menagerie of Feelings Big and Small
Written and illustrated by Sarah Maycock
Published by Big Picture Press
Sometimes I Feel … is a breathtaking work of art
From the stunning cave painting style endpapers
To every animal portrait
Each one is stunning
Sarah explains in her authors note that she spent time drawing at London Zoo
Watching how the animals moved
In each animal she says that she
“… saw a feeling that at face value seemed simple … In looking closer, there is empathy, and in relating, there is self awareness.”
This is a book that with few words says so very much
The book uses animal similies
To explore human emotions
It shows the big feeling
And the underlying or contrasting emotion or thought that comes with it
“Sometimes I feel as big as a bear
But there will always be someone bigger than me
And sometimes I will feel small”
This is a brilliant book
For talking to children about feelings
Big feelings and small
Good feelings and bad
And how it is possible to feel strong and weak at the same time
How it is good to be busy but it is also good to slow down
How you can feel scared and brave at the same time
How we can convince ourselves to stand tall and be brave when we are feeling tiny and timid
This is a book to encourage conversation around feelings
To support children’s emotional literacy
To help them on their journey to become self aware
This book introduces a whole host of emotions
And shows us all that no one feeling stands alone
It is part of a complicated web of being
That makes us human
This book shows children that all feelings are valid
And is a wonderful way to open up discussions with our little people
That are so so so important
This week is Mental Health Awareness Week
The theme for this year is Nature
Over the coming week the children and I are going to be reading books
About feelings, mindfulness and mental health
We are also going to be spending as much time as possible
Together
Outside
In nature
We are going to begin by exploring this incredible book
And writing and illustrating our own animal similes
Sometimes I feel … inspired
Thank you Sarah Maycock