For someone with two young children, I can relate to the – sometimes! – grumpy mornings of little ones. In this book, Grumpy Pants by Claire Messer, Penguin is in “a very bad mood.” The rain is falling on Penguin’s yellow hat and jacket. Penguin stomps all the way home and takes off his grumpy coat, grumpy boots, and grumpy socks. He’s still grumpy! In the midst of all his grumpiness, he pauses to take a deep breath and counts – 1, 2, 3. Then he dives into a splashy bathtub.
I love that, within the simplicity of the text, there is the opportunity for Penguin to model – and kids to practice – counting to help reset. Penguin splashes in the water, plays with his rubber duck, makes himself a “bubble beard”. Penguin shows how he’s slowing himself down, enjoying the water, and having fun playing. In the midst of all of this – “Little by little” he starts to feel “much better”. The minimal colors and simple lines create natural quiet within the story. After finding some cozy pajamas, reading a favorite book, and finding his “favorite teddy,” Penguin is ready for sleep. This book is a great one for little ones working through emotions – and finding strategies to help with those BIG feelings.
For other books on using counting, calm, and breath to reset, try: Saturday by Oge Mora, Listening to My Body by Gabi Garcia, I Am Peace by Susan Verde, and Charlotte and the Quiet Place by Deborah Sosin.