Sam the Snake Feels Sad

Gr 1-3–Short, illustrated stories introduce animal characters struggling with emotions in these leveled readers. They work through their problems, though the conclusions usually lack clear, practical guidance. Sally the Skunk is scared of an approaching thunderstorm. Her friend explains that “thunder is just noise” and when the storm is done, “Sally doesn’t feel afraid anymore.” Jimmy the Blue Jay’s jealousy stems from his lack of a storage space for nuts; when he finds a spot, his jealousy goes away. Mason the Moose, however, does learn that letting his anger out is an effective strategy. Generic illustrations depict the animals and their actions clearly, but without injecting much personality into the characters. A couple of the titles include other animals from the series as supporting characters. Front matter features tips for parents and educators on how to read this book. Back matter includes review questions, a picture glossary, and an index.