Each page has a full-color illustration of an animal who represents a size, feeling or attribute. Pictorial and verbal roots are skillfully planted amid rhymes and rhythms. The Woods are consistent and conscientious about the messages they present. This pre-school boy's rounded dynamic face is a myriad of expressions as he models such sentiments as embarrassment, disappointment and anger. Each is represented in response to a situation, giving children time to guess at what he might feel before the articulate black and white photographs show them.
Situations are well-chosen, typical to a child's experience and the range is excellent.
Many children will respond that they feel bad or good in a given circumstance, but very often can go no further emotionally. She presents tears in a variety of contexts as varied as physical pain, anger, and hearing parents fight. Simon also explains the emotions that accompany crying as she validates a child's right to sob. After reading this book, I found I enjoyed holding my daughter tight when she cried those deep mournful tears. She healed a bit of my young self who was never permitted this necessary relief.