
A parent might reach for this book when their child's big, energetic feelings become overwhelming for them both. 'Sometimes I Feel Excited' is a perfect tool for helping young children identify and name the physical sensations of excitement, like a bubbly tummy or the urge to wiggle. Through simple, relatable scenarios such as a birthday party or seeing a friend, the book normalizes this powerful emotion and offers a gentle, actionable strategy (deep breathing) to manage the energy. It's an excellent choice for preschoolers and early elementary kids as it provides a shared vocabulary for discussing feelings, building emotional intelligence and self-awareness in a positive, supportive way.
There are no sensitive topics in this book. Its approach is direct, secular, and focused on normalizing a common childhood emotion.
A 4 or 5-year-old who has difficulty labeling their big, energetic feelings. This book is for the child who gets so physically wound up before a fun event that they verge on a meltdown, or the child who mixes up the physical sensations of excitement and anxiety. It gives them a name for the feeling and a tool to manage it.
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Sign in to write a reviewNo preparation is needed. The book is straightforward and can be read cold. The text and illustrations are simple, direct, and work together to convey the core concept clearly. The parent just told their child about a fun plan for the weekend, and the child is now literally bouncing off the furniture. Or, a parent is trying to help their child differentiate between feeling nervous-sick and excited-bubbly before a performance or party.
A younger child (4-5) will strongly connect with the descriptions of physical sensations ('wiggles' and 'bubbles') and the concrete examples. An older child (6-7) can use the book as a springboard to discuss more nuanced feelings, such as the line between excitement and nervousness, and can more consciously practice the breathing technique as a self-regulation tool.
Compared to other feelings books, this one's uniqueness lies in its specific focus on the somatic experience of a single emotion. Instead of telling a story where excitement is a plot point, the book isolates the feeling itself, making it very accessible for young children. By connecting the abstract emotion to concrete physical sensations, it provides a powerful and easy-to-grasp lesson in emotional literacy.
This concept book uses a first-person narrative to explore the emotion of excitement. A young girl describes the physical sensations she experiences when excited, such as a fast heartbeat, a bubbly stomach, and feeling wiggly. The book presents various relatable scenarios that elicit excitement: an upcoming birthday party, getting a new pet, and seeing a friend at school. It concludes by modeling a simple self-regulation technique: taking a few deep breaths to calm the body's energy.
This overview was generated by AI based on the book's content and reviews, and may not capture every nuance.