How Do You Feel?

PreS-Gr 1–Rockwell’s latest picture book is set in a place that many young children will recognize—a park—and in that environment, she depicts children experiencing an array of emotions. The acrylic illustrations show families and children throughout the park, and Rockwell starts by asking the titular question. The left side of each spread is a close-up look at a child’s face, expressing emotions such as happiness, sadness, silliness, and frustration, and a question asking readers if they feel each emotion. The right-hand page depicts what is prompting the child to feel each emotion, such as a spider, a butterfly, or spilled juice. Rockwell’s book is not plot driven, but the story is set up in a logical way. Happiness is followed by sadness, and calmness is followed by bravery. Each illustration is focused on the child’s face while still providing context. This is a strong addition to the compendium of picture books about feelings because of its versatility. The short sentences and clear depictions of facial expressions make this suitable for toddlers who are beginning to understand emotions. Whether it’s used for storytime or one-on-one sharing, there is ample opportunity for discussion and reflection.