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Emotions are Natural
The Emotions Volcano: Sid the Super Happy Kid and Laura the Emotions Explorer follow sibling superheroes as they help the children in a small mountain village who are nervous about an upcoming math test deal with their big emotions. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
I thought that a story about emotions as a volcano and that they build up and can overflow just like a volcano would be fun and exciting. I thought it would be really nice if the volcanoes could be different colors representing the different zones of behavioral regulations. I also like talking about problems and stress that kids face as well as ways to help calm our emotions.
Laura and Sid are wonderful characters that children can relate to. Was there anything from your own life that you put into the characters in your novel?
I was learning things like yoga, meditation, mindfulness, emotional intelligence and I thought it would be great that Sid and Laura also teach these things to children.
What were some ideas that were important for you to share in this book?
One of the biggest ideas that I like to share with my books for young kids like myself is that we feel better when we learn to manage our emotions. I also like to share that emotions are natural so being angry, sad, happy, worried, are all normal.
I hope the series continues in other books. If so, where will the story take readers?
I am working on The Critical Critters as the next book in the emotional intelligence series with Sid and Laura. I think the readers will like that book because it will be a futuristic space and rodeo adventure and involve cowboys and cowgirls. My dad is working on the illustrations but I completed the story.
Author Links: GoodReads | Website
2024 Readers’ Favorite Five Stars Seal
Emotional intelligence isn’t just a vital skill: It’s a superpower!
For many children and their families, it’s the difference between a life of reactive stress, versus calm contentment.
Laura and Sid are superheroes with a twist. Their special powers allow them to find, name, transform, and manage BIG emotions and Big Feelings. But when a new hotspot flashes on their map, the brother-sister team face a fiery emergency. In a small mountain village, kids are going back to school and have a math test that has left a classroom of kids simmering with nerves and frustration. Nearby, the Rage Peaks begin to sputter and rumble…Can our heroes gain control of the eruption—and their own fears, anger, anxiety, and frustration—before the situation turns molten?
The Emotions Volcano is an adventurous picture book for kids aged 3 to 7. Written by seven-year-old Jomo Jesus, a multi-published author, the story includes English and Spanish references, plus useful tools to recognize and cope with emotions in useful ways.
The Angry Vacuum
The Angry Vacuum takes readers on a thrilling space adventure with sibling superheroes Laura and Sid, who are back to save the day but this time from an out-of-control AI vacuum! In this second book of the emotional intelligence series, the stakes are higher as the vacuum isn’t just cleaning up dust, it’s sucking up all the positive emotions. As it grows stronger with each joyful feeling it consumes, Laura and Sid must act quickly before their world is drained of all happiness.
Authors Jomo Jesus Thomas Suriel and Jomo Gamal Thomas seamlessly blend action and emotion in the story. The concept of an AI vacuum feeding on good emotions is creative and fun, but it also cleverly highlights how negative emotions can feel overwhelming when all the positive ones are gone. The urgency of the situation keeps readers hooked, while the deeper lesson that emotional intelligence is the key to overcoming big problems runs throughout the story. It’s a fun way to teach kids that emotions are powerful, but with the right tools, they can manage them. I enjoyed how Laura and Sid use their emotional intelligence to solve the problem, rather than brute force. The siblings don’t just fight the vacuum—they understand that to defeat it, they need to regulate their own feelings and use teamwork. The message is simple but effective: even in the face of a “supervillain,” understanding your emotions can save the day. This makes the story not just entertaining but educational, giving kids valuable lessons in emotional self-regulation.
The Angry Vacuum is a delightful follow-up to the first book in this series. It’s filled with action, humor, and heart, and it teaches important life skills in a way that feels fresh and engaging. Perfect for kids who love superheroes and parents who want to introduce emotional intelligence in a fun, accessible way. Whether read at bedtime or in the classroom, this is a story that empowers young readers to face their emotions with confidence.
Pages: 36 | ASIN : B0DFWXZ5Q4
The Emotions Volcano
The Emotions Volcano is an exciting and heartfelt picture book that tackles the big subject of emotional intelligence, turning it into a superpower for young readers. Laura and Sid, the story’s superhero siblings, use their special powers to help others (and themselves) navigate strong emotions. In this adventure, they face a real challenge—a classroom full of kids stressed out by a math test, and the nearby Rage Peaks threatening to erupt. Can Laura and Sid stop the volcanic explosion of feelings before it’s too late?
What makes this book stand out is how it takes a complex idea like emotional intelligence and turns it into a thrilling story. The metaphor of emotions as a volcano works brilliantly for young children, showing how feelings can build up and eventually explode if not managed. I loved how the authors Jomo Jesus Thomas Suriel and Jomo Gamal Thomas used relatable scenarios like a math test to show kids that everyone faces emotional challenges, and there are ways to deal with them. The adventure is engaging, and the superhero twist adds excitement that keeps young readers invested. The illustrations are an added bonus as it brings the story to life. I felt like I was watching a cartoon about superheroes. The authors include practical tools and tips for identifying and handling emotions, which is incredibly helpful for parents and teachers looking to make emotional regulation part of daily life. The exercises are simple but powerful, making emotional intelligence approachable for both kids and their families.
The Emotions Volcano is a wonderful tool for teaching emotional intelligence to young readers. It’s fun, it’s educational, and it leaves kids with a real sense of how to handle their big emotions in healthy ways. The fact that it’s written by a child makes it even more special. The Emotions Volcano is a perfect pick for parents who want to spark conversations about feelings.
Pages: 35 | ASIN : B0DF32MB3Z
Personal Power
Along Came Spider: The Making of a Superhero follows an elementary school boy who, along with his friends, is being bullied by two boys who terrorize students. What was the inspiration for your story?
There were several factors that inspired me:
1) I grew up with comics, but they were always on a higher level than I probably should have been reading at the time. I really wanted to write a comic for kids that was age-appropriate.
2) I was bullied several times when I was kid, so that was a factor in writing this book because I often was a little bit different than some of my classmates.
3) As a child, it’s very easy to feel like no one notices you. I thought I’d take that inadequate emotion of feeling invisible and turn it into a superpower instead.
Spider has to learn to stand up for himself and his friends, and that is a hard thing to do, especially with bullies. What were the morals you were trying to capture while creating your characters?
When you’re bullied, you lose some of your personal power. I wanted to give power back to the main character Spider. I also know, from my own experience, that it can be hard to do the right thing – to stand up for one’s self and others, that requires all of us to find courage and personal power to stand out and stand up for what matters.
What were some educational aspects that were important for you to include in this children’s book?
I think a lot of bullying occurs because 1) teachers either don’t know what to look for or they, too, have a tendency to not see some things that are right in front of their eyes. 2) There is often a herd mentality going on in schools – especially when we are young and are trying to find a sense of ourselves. Anything different is to be avoided because it can often draw negative attention to us. We all want to stand out in a positive way, not a negative way. I wanted this book to give a sense of empowerment to all kids.
Is this the first book in the series? If so, when is the next book coming out, and what can your fans expect in the next story?
This is the first book in the Web Society series. There will be 11 books total. The next book is actually about Lacey’s superpower. It will probably be next year before that book comes out. I currently work a full-time job and write in my free time, and Alex, my illustrator, is in the same boat as I am, so we can’t devote all our time to just working on this one book. Plus, I do work on other genres as well. The more heavily illustrated a book is, the longer it takes to finish it, but, I assure you, that when it does get finished, the next book in the series has a little more action and danger and Spider will be in that one as well.
Author Links: GoodReads | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook | Amazon
Bullies exist everywhere! Everyone has met one. It’s hard not to – there are so many of them in the world. Even with that being the case, it doesn’t mean they should always get to win.
But if you don’t step up to stop them, then who will?
It doesn’t matter how small we think we are or how unimportant. When you stand up for what is right, that’s when you find out what you’re truly made up of inside – in Spider Monroe’s case, he finds out he can be a superhero for his blind best friend Lacey.
What’s his superpower, you ask? Invisibility. How does he use it? In every way that stops two bullies in their tracks and restores the world to order.
Bullies beware – heroes exist everywhere . . . but only if we are brave enough to look inside ourselves to find them!
Along Came Spider – The Making of a Superhero (The Web Society)
Along Came Spider: The Making of a Superhero is a children’s graphic novel that delivers a heartwarming message of inner courage. The story centers around Spider Monroe, a student at the local elementary school, and his best friend, Lacey Daniels, who has been blind from birth. Their close bond is tested when they encounter two relentless bullies, Chuck and Elroy, who wreak havoc on the school, terrorizing students and disrupting charity events. With the teachers unaware of the chaos, Spider must summon his inner hero to protect Lacey and their friends.
Despite the title’s potential to be mistaken for a biography about Stan Lee or the origins of Spider-Man, the characters and concepts in this book are entirely original to the author, Michele L. Sayre. Drawing inspiration from popular comic book themes, Spider Monroe and his friends stand out as unique and captivating characters. The low-key superpowers and straightforward narrative style make the comic accessible even for beginners. The text is primarily narrated by Spider through easy-to-follow text boxes, reminiscent of the classic style of Prince Valiant, which adds to the readability.
The diversity of the characters and the deep friendship between Spider and Lacey are particularly commendable. A.P. Perez’s bright illustrations, influenced by popular comic book art, add a gentle twist suitable for young readers. The story’s setup effectively introduces the world and the antagonists, with Chuck and Elroy being memorable villains. Spider’s journey to thwart the bullies is a perfect blend of heroics and vigilantism, delivering justice in a satisfying manner. The narrative wraps up well while leaving plenty of room for future adventures.
Along Came Spider, Michele L. Sayre’s debut comic book, is a high-quality addition to her previous works, suitable for readers aged 7 and up. It offers positive messages about inner strength, friendship, courage, and justice. I eagerly look forward to more adventures in this incredible world.
Pages: 38 | ASIN : B0D2M2Y78Q
LITERARY TITAN 