Little Feelings
By: Judy Spain Barton
Reviewed By: Jon Henshaw, M.A.
Even though feelings are the essence of our being, children are usually not able to identify, articulate, sort, and understand the vast spectrum of feelings and emotions they experience each day.
In Little Feelings, a book of richly descriptive and perceptive poetry for children ages three to eight, Judy Spain Barton has created an entertaining guide to help youngsters be more comfortable expressing the wide range of feelings they encounter in their early years and as they grow. The book encourages children to share these feelings, and, in doing so, acknowledge their existence. Understanding and accepting what it means to be happy, mad, scared, sad, loved, guilty, frustrated, curious, anxious, bored, and just plain alive are essential elements in every child’s development.
Designed to be read to children by adults, as well as for children to read on their own, Little Feelings provides a nonthreatening means to address the importance of feelings in a child’s voyage of self-discovery.
Inviting and often quite funny, Little Feelings covers a broad range of emotions. Barton’s family-oriented verses accompanied by delightful illustrations by noted artist Benjamin Hummel will be treasured by young and old alike.
The perfect gift for parent and child, Little Feelings will stand the test of time and pass through the generations of each caring family.