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I’ll Be This, You’ll Be That!
Mansi Sharma’s I’ll Be This, You’ll Be That! is a tender picture book about a little boy whose anger toward his mother softens through imagination, play, and the steady reassurance of love. After Grandma’s glasses break by accident and Mommy scolds him, the boy decides he won’t talk to her, hug her, or even accept her slice of cake. But when he begins pretending he’ll become grass, a cloud, a river, a rock, a flower, a shark, the wind, and finally a bird, his mother answers each transformation with one of her own. She’ll be the soil, the sky, the shore, the beetle, the hummingbird, the sea, the mountain, and the mama bird beside him. Slowly, the game carries them both back to warmth, laughter, cake, and closeness.
What I liked most is how honestly the book treats a child’s anger without making it seem silly or wrong. The boy’s feelings are big, prickly, and dramatic, exactly the way they can be at that age, especially when shame sneaks in after an accident. I found the mother’s response quietly beautiful. She doesn’t lecture him into forgiveness or rush him past his feelings. She joins him. That idea feels simple on the page, but as a parent, it landed with real weight. The writing has a soft, repeating rhythm that makes the story feel almost like a call-and-response lullaby, and some of the images are genuinely lovely.
The artwork has a sweet, hand-drawn warmth that suits the emotional arc of the story. I especially liked the way the early pictures hold the boy’s stubbornness in bright, crayon-like color, while the nature scenes open the book outward into clouds, rivers, birds, flowers, and wind. The artwork feels childlike in a way that matches the story’s imagination. The strongest image for me was the one where the mother and child are hugging at the end, because the emotion is immediate and easy to read. You can see the happiness in their faces.
By the end, I felt moved by the book’s gentle confidence in repair. It understands that children don’t always need a perfect explanation for love; they need to feel that it’s still there when they’re messy, mad, embarrassed, or trying very hard not to care. I’ll Be This, You’ll Be That! is a sweet and emotionally aware children’s book for families with preschool and early elementary children, especially kids who are learning how to name anger, accept comfort, and come back after a hard moment. I’d recommend it to parents who want a cozy story about unconditional love that also gives them a quiet little model for patience.
Pages: 38 | ASIN : B0GKY1FWFR
Robbie, The Grumpy Bumpy Rooster: Part 1 of the Rooster Series
In Robbie, the Grumpy Bumpy Rooster, little Lucy, a delicate blue pysanka chicken with a painful foot and a gentle spirit, is learning how to find her voice in a busy Ukrainian chookyard when Robbie, a vain and angry rooster, storms in and frightens the smallest chickens. The flock rallies around her, especially Sofia, Hapka, Boris, and the Babas, and the story becomes less about one rooster’s tantrum than about safety, courage, and the deep comfort of being protected by your people.
I found the heart of this children’s book tender and surprisingly intense. As a parent, I really responded to the way Lucy’s vulnerability is handled. She isn’t written as fragile in a way that evokes pity, but as a childlike creature who needs extra care, gets tired, plays tricks, struggles, and still belongs completely. The writing has a slightly old-fashioned storytelling feel, with repetition, big sounds, and emotional directness that would work well read aloud. It feels like the author is making room for a child’s fear to be taken seriously.
The ideas in the book are what stayed with me most. Robbie’s anger is frightening, but the story doesn’t pretend children can simply out-brave a bully on their own. Instead, it shows help arriving from all sides: a mother, an elder, a protector, and trusted adults. I appreciated that. The artwork adds a lot of personality, especially Robbie’s colors and expressions, Lucy’s soft yellow-blue sweetness, and the warm domestic details of the Babas, the lemon tree, the tea, and the poppyseed cake.
This is a heartfelt and emotionally honest picture book with a strong protective instinct at its center. It’s an educational story, and Robbie’s bullying has real bite. The story opens the door to meaningful conversations about fear, anger, difference, and asking for help. I’d recommend it for families with young children who are learning how to name big feelings, especially kids who’ve felt picked on, overwhelmed, or in need of reassurance that someone will come when they call.
Pages: 31 | ASIN : B0FL7KH4DG
Bella and Bird Explore Sadness
In Bella and Bird Explore Sadness, Molly arrives in the pasture feeling deeply hurt after being left out by friends, and Bella the gentle horse and Bird the playful barn swallow help her sit with that sadness instead of rushing it away. Through quiet companionship, breathing with a feather, naming feelings on an emotion wheel, drawing what’s inside, and gently questioning “foggy thinking,” Molly begins to understand what she’s feeling and what she can do next.
I appreciated how patient this children’s book is. It doesn’t treat sadness like a problem to fix in three pages, which matters to me as a parent. Molly is allowed to cry, really cry, and that small choice gives the story a surprising amount of emotional honesty. Bella’s guidance feels steady and kind, while Bird brings just enough humor to keep the book from becoming too heavy. A few of the therapeutic ideas are stated pretty directly, so it occasionally reads more like a guided conversation than a traditional story, but for this subject, I didn’t mind. I’d rather have clarity than coyness when a child is trying to understand a big feeling.
The artwork is soft, cute, and impactful. I loved the autumn palette, the wide pasture scenes, and the way Molly’s emotions are always evident. Bella’s large black-and-white presence feels protective, and Bird’s bright colors add a little lift exactly where the pages need it. The visual moments with the emotion wheel and Molly’s drawing are especially useful because they turn abstract feelings into something a child can actually point to and talk about.
I found this to be a thoughtful, tender picture book with a clear purpose and a genuinely comforting heart. It would be especially good for children ages five to ten who get overwhelmed by friendship struggles, rejection, or hard-to-name feelings, and for parents who want a calm way to begin those conversations. It’s a gentle, practical book for families who believe feelings don’t need to be feared, only understood.
Pages: 32 | ASIN : B0GW9JXL7G
The Kids’ Book of Brave: A Gentle Guide to Finding Your Yet
The Kids’ Book of Brave, by Catherine Stephenson, is a gentle picture book about confidence, nervousness, and the small, ordinary moments when children learn to keep going. Through classroom worries, playground rejection, spilled cupcake batter, jealousy, shyness, and trying something new, the book shows bravery as something quiet and practical rather than loud or showy. Its central idea is simple but lovely: children don’t have to feel fearless to be brave; they just need one small step.
I really appreciated how tenderly the writing handles big feelings. As a parent, I’m always drawn to books that don’t rush children out of discomfort, and this one sits beside them for a moment instead. The repeated ideas, such as adding “yet” to “I can’t do this,” taking a slow breath, and noticing the thump-thump in your body, feel reassuring without becoming preachy. The phrasing is especially warm, and Stephenson gives children language for feelings that can otherwise seem huge and shapeless.
The artwork has a soft, handmade sweetness that fits the subject beautifully. The pencil and watercolor illustrations feel light and convey emotions well, with children who look uncertain, proud, jealous, shy, or relieved in ways that are easy to recognize. I especially liked that bravery is shown in such modest scenes: raising a hand, tapping a soccer ball, asking for help, and walking into a classroom. The ideas are familiar, but they’re handled with care, and the book’s rhythm gives those little moments real weight.
The Kids’ Book of Brave is a thoughtful and comforting children’s book with a clear sense of purpose. It doesn’t make confidence seem magical or instant, which I value; it presents it as something children can build, breath by breath and choice by choice. I’d recommend it for preschool and early elementary kids, especially those who are anxious, perfectionistic, shy, or easily discouraged, and for parents who want a calm way to talk about courage without making feelings sound like a problem to fix.
Pages: 42 | ISBN : 978-1917442091
YOU ARE MY YELLOW
You Are My Yellow follows Tony, a yellow monster living in the very green Land Green, where being different makes him feel lonely and unwanted. After trying to hide who he is, Tony meets Penny, a small red dragon who also feels out of place because she can’t fly or breathe fire like the others. Their friendship becomes the heart of the story, and when danger strikes Tony’s school, Penny discovers that the very thing she thought made her “bad” at being a dragon is actually what helps her save the day.
I found the emotional core of this book genuinely touching. I’m like stories that give children language for that awful little ache of feeling excluded, and Tony’s sadness felt easy to understand without being too heavy. The message is clear, and I appreciated that the book doesn’t just say “be yourself” and leave it there. It shows how hard that can be when everyone around you seems to agree that different means wrong.
The writing has a bouncy, rhyming rhythm that gives the story a playful read-aloud quality, though there are moments when the rhyme takes over and makes the wording feel a bit crowded. Still, there’s warmth in the repetition, especially in phrases like “You are my yellow,” which becomes tender rather than cute. The ideas are simple but sincere: belonging, courage, friendship, and the painful little compromises children sometimes make to fit in. The artwork supports those ideas beautifully. I liked the strong color worlds, the green sameness of Tony’s home, the red warmth of Penny, and the way the illustrations make difference visible before the story even explains it.
You Are My Yellow is a gentle and heartfelt story about self-acceptance, but what stayed with me most was the friendship between two children who recognize each other’s hurt and make room for each other. I’d recommend it for young readers who are navigating friendship, confidence, or feeling different, and especially for parents who want a story that opens the door to a tender conversation afterward.
Pages: 36 | ISBN : 978-1037117695
Pressure-Reduced Outlets
Kyle and His Pal Jake: What a Duo These Two Make! follows a young boy into adulthood as he rediscovers the joy of ventriloquism and uses it to reach his students. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
This story is semi-autobiographical. When I was ten, I received a ventriloquist puppet that looked like Paul Winchell’s dummy, Jerry Mahoney (which I still have to this day). It came with an LP record that taught me ventriloquism. And, yes, I put on shows for my friends in my garage with a stage my Papa had made for me.
As an elementary school teacher, I would have the kids make their own puppets based on characters in the stories we had been reading. Then, in groups, they presented the stories to the class. I also taught them ventriloquism.
Kyle’s embarrassment in middle school feels very relatable. Was it important to show how quickly children can hide something they love when they feel judged?
Oh, yes. Young people don’t like to be ridiculed and judged for having unique hobbies or interests. As a teacher, we celebrated our varying interests in my classroom.
What role do you think creativity plays in helping children feel emotionally safe?
It is my belief that creative activities provide relaxed, pressure-reduced outlets where children can process and express their feelings.
If a child reading the book sees something of themselves in Kyle, what do you hope they feel by the last page?
It’s okay to have interests and talents that differ from others, whether it is academically or intellectually, athletically, or theatrically.
Author Links: GoodReads | Facebook | Instagram | Amazon
Now a third-grade teacher, Kyle is always looking for ways to reach his students, especially Wendy, a shy, silent girl. An answer arrives in a package from his mom. In it are items from his youth, his baseball glove, his favorite chapter books, a model airplane, and Jake.
As he removes Jake from the box, Kyle comes up with a plan on how he can use Jake in his classroom and help Wendy come out of her shell.
Quiet Recognition
The Worry Whisper follows a young girl who is anxious about reading aloud in class, and with the help of her little brother and grandmother, she learns how to manage her feelings. When did you first imagine the “worry whisper” as a bird?
The idea of the “worry whisper” as a bird came to me quite naturally—and, in many ways, from my own childhood.
I was an anxious child. I didn’t have the language for it then, but I remember how it showed up in small, everyday moments. I would overcompensate in ways that felt automatic—talking really fast when I was nervous, or doodling when what I actually wanted was to be quiet and still. There was always this subtle hum in the background, something I couldn’t quite name but could definitely feel.
When I began shaping the story, I wanted to give that feeling a form—something a child could see and relate to without fear. A bird felt right. It can appear unexpectedly, perch close by, and make itself heard in different ways—sometimes softly, sometimes more insistently. That’s what worry felt like to me. Present, persistent, but not something that needed to be chased away.
More than anything, I wanted children to understand that worry isn’t something to silence or fight. It’s something to notice, to understand, and to gently learn how to live alongside. The “worry whisper” as a bird wasn’t a single moment of invention—it was a quiet recognition of something I had known all along.
What inspired you to reframe worry as something to listen to rather than fight?
That shift came from both lived experience and reflection over time.
For a long time, I treated worry as something to get rid of—as if the goal was to silence it completely. But the more I paid attention, the more I realized that fighting it often made it louder. It would show up in different ways—restlessness, overthinking, that urge to rush through things or fill the silence. The resistance didn’t quiet it; it amplified it.
Over time, I began to see worry differently—not as an enemy, but as a signal. Something in me was asking for attention, for care, for a pause. When I stopped trying to push it away and instead listened, even briefly, it softened. Not because it disappeared, but because it felt acknowledged.
That perspective is what shaped The Worry Whisper. I wanted children to learn early what many of us figure out much later—that emotions don’t need to be battled to be managed. When we listen, we create space. And in that space, we regain a sense of steadiness and choice.
Why was it important that Aarya didn’t “defeat” her fear by the end?
It was important to me that Aarya didn’t “defeat” her fear because that’s not how emotions actually work—especially not for children.
Fear doesn’t disappear in a single moment of courage. It comes and goes. It changes shape. And sometimes, it shows up again right when we think we’ve moved past it. I wanted the story to reflect that reality in a gentle, honest way.
Growing up, I often felt like I was supposed to “get over” my anxiety—to be braver, quieter, more in control. But what I really needed wasn’t to defeat those feelings; it was to understand them. To know that I could feel nervous and still move forward. That both could exist at the same time.
With Aarya, the goal wasn’t to eliminate fear, but to change her relationship with it. She learns to notice it, to listen to it, and to not let it decide what she can or cannot do. That felt like a more meaningful kind of strength—one that children can return to again and again, long after the story ends.
What conversations do you hope this book sparks between children and adults?
I hope The Worry Whisper opens the door to quieter, more honest conversations—ones that don’t rush to fix, but instead make space to understand.
For children, I hope it gives them language for what they’re feeling. That they can say, “I think my worry whisper is talking,” instead of shutting down or acting out. And for adults, I hope it’s a gentle reminder to pause and listen—not just to the words, but to what sits underneath them.
I also hope it shifts the dynamic from problem-solving to connection. Instead of “How do we make this go away?” the conversation becomes “What is this feeling trying to tell us?” or “What might help you feel a little steadier right now?” Those are very different starting points.
And perhaps most importantly, I hope it normalizes these experiences. That a child sees they’re not alone in feeling this way, and an adult recognizes that what looks like resistance or avoidance might actually be a child asking for support—just not in words they’ve learned yet.
If the book can help even one family move from reacting to understanding, from fixing to listening, it has done what I hoped it would do.
Author Links: GoodReads | Facebook | Website | Unscripted Growth | Instagram | Amazon
In The Worry Whisper, eight-year-old Aarya Bloom feels a quiet flutter in her chest — like a small bird tapping gently from inside. Tomorrow, she must read aloud in class. She loves stories. She loves words. But what if she makes a mistake? What if her voice disappears?
With the help of her playful little brother Kiyan and the gentle wisdom of Grandma Bloom, Aarya learns that worries aren’t enemies to fight — they are whispers reminding us that something matters.
Through lyrical storytelling, warm family moments, and beautifully relatable emotions, this heartfelt picture book helps children:
Understand what anxiety feels like in their bodies
Develop emotional awareness and self-compassion
Build confidence in speaking and trying new things
Practice calming techniques through reflection and imagination
Perfect for children ages 4–8, The Worry Whisper is ideal for:
Kids who struggle with performance anxiety or school fears
Parents looking to support emotional regulation
Classrooms teaching social-emotional learning (SEL)
Bedtime conversations about courage and resilience
Part of The Bloom Series, this story gently reminds young readers — and the adults who love them — that bravery isn’t the absence of fear. It’s learning to listen kindly… and still fly.
Includes reflective questions for children and a thoughtful message for adults to continue the conversation beyond the final page.
Because sometimes, a whisper can’t outshout a good laugh.
It’s Okay to Show Emotions
Captain Smiley: The Adventure of the Bouncy Frisbee follows a young boy who learns to solve his problems with the help of a police officer pal. What first inspired you to create Captain Smiley as a superhero for young readers?
In creating Captain Smiley, I envisioned a small community where the police officer knew everyone in the neighborhood. He knew how to handle easy to difficult situations. He handled these situations by using his words. I felt it was important to create a character who teaches children how to use their words when they feel upset, angry, or frustrated. After sharing my idea with a group of elementary school teachers, I realized the importance of creating an awesome hero like Captain Smiley. He motivates and encourages children to use their voices. Also, to teach them the importance of controlling their emotions while helping them understand that it’s okay to show emotions.
Why do you think it’s important for young readers to name their feelings while learning how to handle their emotions?
Expressing how you feel isn’t easy. Getting a young person to express how they feel can be very difficult. However, I feel it is important to identify the exact emotion to find a solution to the problem. When a person feels frustrated, it is not the same as being angry. Ace was angry about his frisbee. Once Ace expressed his feelings, it made it easier for him to calm down and focus on fixing the problem. It is important to identify the right feelings to help control the emotion being felt at the time. I think it is essential for children to feel free to express their emotions.
What is the most challenging aspect of creating a graphic novel? The most rewarding?
The most challenging is finding an illustrator to bring your vision to life. As a writer, I can visualize the story I would like to tell. Once you find a connection with the right illustrator, it is an amazing feeling to see what they can do. The most rewarding is a combination of telling the story and watching the illustrations tell the story without words. To answer the question, the illustrations are the most challenging and the most rewarding, from my point of view.
Can readers look forward to more adventures featuring Captain Smiley?
Yes! The second book is completed and waiting to be illustrated. I am hopeful it will be released this spring/early summer. . I will be releasing five books in the Captain Smiley’s series. I am super excited to share and introduce Captain Smiley to the world. Go Captain, Go!
Author Links: Website
