Goldie Is Mad

Goldie's baby brother, Nicholas, has chewed the hair off her favorite doll. Goldie is furious and is sent to a time-out to cool off. The narrative follows her internal process as she sits on the stairs, initially fueling her own anger before eventually softening as she realizes her brother's intent wasn't malicious and she actually misses playing. SENSITIVE TOPICS: The book deals with sibling rivalry and anger in a secular, realistic way. The resolution is hopeful and focuses on emotional self-regulation. EMOTIONAL ARC: The story starts with high intensity (the 'roar' of anger) and maintains a prickly, indignant tone through the middle. It ends with a gentle softening and a return to familial affection. IDEAL READER: A preschooler or early elementary student who struggles with 'slow-fusing' anger: children who tend to hold onto a grudge after a conflict and need a roadmap for how to let go and rejoin the family circle. PARENT TRIGGER: This is for the parent who has just heard a scream from the playroom and had to separate two fighting siblings, or the parent whose child is currently sitting in a huff, refusing to apologize. PARENT PREP: The book is safe to read cold. Parents might want to highlight the 'thinking' Goldie does on the stairs to emphasize that a time-out is a tool for the child's benefit, not just a punishment. AGE EXPERIENCE: Younger children (3-4) will relate to the physical sensation of being mad and the 'yucky' feeling of a ruined toy. Older children (6-7) will better appreciate Goldie's transition from blame to empathy as she considers her brother's perspective. DIFFERENTIATOR: Unlike many 'anger' books that use monsters or metaphors, Goldie uses a very specific, realistic domestic trigger (a ruined toy) and focuses on the internal monologue of a time-out, making the abstract concept of 'cooling down' concrete.

This overview was generated by AI based on the book's content and reviews, and may not capture every nuance.