Bad Day

by Ruby Roth, Ruby Roth (Illustrator)

Overview

Nautilus Award Winner

Popular children's book author-illustrator Ruby Roth gives us the heartening story of a little boy who's had a very bad day and just needs some quiet space to work out his feelings in his own way, on his own time

What do you do when you’re feeling overwhelmed? In Bad Day, things are not going well for Hennie. Small things loom large, going from bad to worse as the day-that-never-ends goes on. But with a deep breath and some quiet reflection, Hennie begins to make sense of his feelings and discovers the power of turning inward. Affirming and funny at wonderfully relatable moments, this timely mindfulness resource helps children process their inner lives, guiding them toward self-empowerment and resilience.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781623173517
Publisher:	North Atlantic Books
Publication date:	09/10/2019
Pages:	32
Product dimensions:	8.10(w) x 8.10(h) x 0.40(d)
Age Range:	3 - 7 Years

About the Author

Featured on Today, FOX, CNN, and other major media, Ruby Roth is a Los Angeles-based artist, author-illustrator, activist, and former teacher whose groundbreaking children's books have received international attention and have been translated into multiple languages. She holds degrees in art and American studies and speaks at conferences nationwide. Weaving art together with health, wellness, the environment, and society at large, Roth’s work connects the dots between our personal choices and the public realm, showing how our habits can change our lives—and the world we live in. Bad Day is Roth's fifth picture book and her first on issues of emotions and neuro-diversity. For more info, visit http://rubyroth.co.

Editorial Reviews

06/03/2019

Everyone’s had a day like the boy describes in this sincere story. It began with a bumpy car ride, then gave way to a lumpy sock, a touchy stomach, a “yell-y teacher,” and an embarrassing fall. So he draws a frowning face on a paper bag and puts the sack on his head. Within the serenity of the bag, the boy reflects and recuperates: “It’s some kind of magic,/ this space deep inside.” After the moment of calm, he gains perspective (“Though the day/ was all wrong,/ I’m actually/ strong.”) Roth’s characters have a gangly, exaggerated appearance; the boy’s peers laugh openly at the boy after his tumble, their looming forms giving them the look of monsters. Roth’s message about thinking positively and taking a moment for mindfulness is clear, but the concept of disappearing into a paper bag on tough days is something readers may wish to take with a grain of salt. Ages 3–7. (Sept.)

Publishers Weekly

Bad Day will become your household’s go-to book in rough moments, teaching children to reflect, monitor, and manage their feelings.”
—Dr. Jenn Mann, MFT, PsyD, author of The A to Z Guide to Raising Happy, Confident Kids

“A beautiful book that tackles a subject not only necessary, but rarely addressed. Parents are frequently frustrated by what they interpret as stubbornness when their children ‘clam up.’ Ruby’s book speaks for kids, so parents can better understand and deal appropriately with their child’s distress.“
—Lynne Bernfield, MA, MFTC, author of When You Can You Will

“A powerful message about the capacity we all have to bring awareness to inevitably tough moments and transform our story to inspire possibility and resilience.”
—Elisha Goldstein, PhD, creator of A Course in Mindful Living

“From my introvert child to my extrovert, it’s been hard to find the perfect conversation-starter about expressing feelings—until Bad Day. Ruby manages to get right what so many parents miss—the option of teaching our children to sit in a tough moment and release it on their own.”
—Chloé Jo Davis, conscious-parenting spokesmama and founder of GirlieGirlArmy.com

“For children, bad days can be confusing. This lovely, thoughtful book encourages kids to acknowledge their feelings and notice how even bad days can bring about positive outcomes.” 
—Susan Kaiser Greenland, author of Mindful Games and The Mindful Child
 
“Loved this book! It makes it okay for a kid to have a bad day and offers a template for thinking through it. Good for adults, too!”
—Ross W. Greene, PhD, author of The Explosive Child
 
“I wish I’d had Bad Day when I was growing up, although it’s helpful (and adorable) even now that I’m old.” 
—Moby

From the Publisher

01/24/2020

PreS-Gr 1—Sometimes you just get overwhelmed by the day. In the first six pages of this book, young Hennie hugs his arms tight, locks his feelings away, shuts the door, leaves his teddy bear on the floor, and hides behind a frowning paper bag face. He doesn't want comfort or understand why today was so very bad. The day started uncomfortably with a bumpy ride and lumpy socks, progressing to bad with a lost favorite spoon, lunch that sent him to the nurse, and a "yell-y" teacher, and then became downright horrible when he couldn't tie laces and fell amid the mocking, laughing faces of his classmates. Life feels better alone. But time alone also allows the opportunity to think about feelings, decide what is important, and realize "I'll be okay." Pen/ink illustrations reveal the young boy as he reproduces his round cartoon face on the paper bag and shows his frustration in a meltdown of emotions. Action stops when he feels "blue"—with pages tinted to match his mood, other colors disappear—a time to think, reflect, and verbalize his feelings. VERDICT A recommended general purchase, this title is a supportive book for dealing with emotions and the resulting growth of frustration, a helpful addition to both school and home libraries.—Mary Elam, Learning Media Services, Plano ISD, TX

School Library Journal