As you journey with Sam through his day at school, each friend shares about an emotion they feel as a result of the normal experiences of their day.

I loved the way the Straubs encourage the child to name the emotion they are feeling and then go to God to help them with the feeling. The book was not shaming or condemning. Rather it acknowledged that we all feel different emotions through our day and reminded us that we don't have to react to others based on those feelings. It was honestly a good reminder to me too.What am I feeling? has stayed on our coffee table since we opened the package a few weeks ago. We've picked it up and read through it several times. My daughter has begun to find names for emotions. And it seems like she's actually better able to label different emotions when she feels a few at the same time.

Though we haven't found a home for it yet, there's a fun emotions chart that comes with the book. My daughter likes to review the emotions and now often tells me what they feel like in her body when she names those emotions.

What I appreciate most about the Straubs approach to feelings in What am I Feeling? is that it's opened a conversation. It has reminded us all that our feelings are not in charge of us. And that we can always reach out to God and ask for his help no matter what we're feeling.

I just asked my daughter what she thought about the book and she said, "it's awesome!" Why is it awesome? "Because it has feelings in it!"

What am I Feeling? has been a helpful and fun way to navigate conversations about those feelings that cause us to feel out of control.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher. This review is my own, honest opinion.

Unfortunately kids aren't born with the ability to understand and express each of their emotions in appropriate ways. Discovering emotions and how to deal with them is a natural part of life. What Am I Feeling? Is a wonderful story that takes little minds on a journey into a classroom (on a dress-up day for added fun), to see what happens when Sam interacts with friends who are all experiencing (and expressing) different emotions. What I love is that it's not just about the facial expressions but the behavior as well. Yes, a frown can tell you that someone is sad, but how can you tell by their actions? This story can be read straight through but there is plenty of opportunity for discussion and interaction with your child. The fact that the children are all dressed up as different careers make the story more fun and imaginative for them as well.

I would highly recommend this as a must-read with young kids! It would be a perfect addition to any home or church library. While I would see it as a great read for a Kindergarten classroom, thereis mention of asking God for His help when struggling to deal with tough emotions so it depends on the school district if they would allow it.

*I received a copy of this book from B&H Kids Publishing. Thoughts and opinions expressed are mine alone.

Sam and his friends are all experiencing feelings that threaten to ruin a fun day but they eventually learn to how name the emotions and ask God to help them through their difficult feelings. The phrase "a feeling is just a feeling -- it's not in charge of you" is repeated to Sam and his classmates from different adult figures and is a great take-away message for kids and adults alike. Children deal with all kinds of scary emotions -- from fear, worry, nervousness, anger, etc -- and it is important for them to hear the truth that those emotions do not have to control them. As Christians, the added message in this book, that we can ask God to help us with the hard feelings we experience, is a comfort that I experience often with my own anxiety and want to pass on to my children when they walk through difficult circumstances. Through this book, children can discuss emotional health topics with parents in a safe and constructive way through a sweet story and easy-to-understand language appropriate for preschoolers to school-age kids.

This is a great book for kids on identifying their feelings and realizing that their feelings don't need to control them. It includes a pull-out feelings chart. Sam has butterflies in his stomach and is afraid to go to school. His dad helps him by saying, "Sam, what you feel matters, but it doesn't have to control you. Giving each feeling a name helps you know what to do with it." He then tells him "a feeling is just a feeling. It's not in charge of you. If you feel afraid, take a deep breath, name your feeling, and ask God to help you with it." Sam then goes to school where he sees other kids dealing with feelings. He helps them and they all end up working on their feelings and not letting them control them. In the end, Sam tells his parents about his day and how he asked God to help him.

It is recommended for ages four through eight, but it has a message older children and even adults could learn from too. It is a scientifically and biblically based message. I highly recommend this book.

(Please Note: Although this book was given to me to review by B&H and Lifeway, the opinions expressed are my own.)

Such a great book for little people to help identify what they are felling when they may not know the words