Simon and the Big, Bad, Angry Beasts: A Book about Anger

by Ian De Haes

Overview

When Simon gets mad, he gets REALLY mad. So mad that big, bad, angry beasts appear. At first Simon loves having the beasts around to help scare off anyone who upsets him, but over time he realizes that no one wants to be around him or the beasts. This makes Simon sad, so he decides to try to still his mind and practice being calm. And the beasts disappear!

Featuring colorful and expressive illustrations, this insightful book helps children ages 4-8 learn how to handle their anger. A guide for parents and teachers in the back of the book features strategies for talking to children about their emotions along with various exercises they can use to cope with anger.

Simon and the Big, Bad, Angry Beasts is a 2018 Foreword INDIES Book of the Year Awards Finalist.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780664263553
Publisher:	Westminster John Knox Press
Publication date:	04/26/2018
Pages:	48
Product dimensions:	9.40(w) x 9.80(h) x 0.30(d)
Age Range:	4 - 8 Years

About the Author

Ian De Haes is a Belgian artist and painter who illustrates picture books. Learn more at his website http://iandehaes.com/.

Editorial Reviews

"A warm and up-to-date book on emotions for most picture book and [Social and Emotional Learning] collections." —School Library Journal

"The anger-management shelves are well-stocked, but this makes a serviceable addition, with value added for caregivers seeking advice." —Kirkus Reviews

From the Publisher

2018-03-04
Young Simon is thrilled to discover that his tantrums create a series of raging, scary beasts in this Belgian import.Simon understandably loves the feeling that it "was great, it was marvelous, it was magical" to have, for instance, an alligator to chase playmates away after he loses a game, a rhino to menace his mom for ordering him to finish his soup, and a charging ram to knock his dad down after being sent to his room. These feelings undergo a change at last after he realizes that no one wants to interact with him anymore. Worse yet, the fiery dragon that appears for no particular reason won't go away—until he turns it into butterflies by just sitting quietly and calming down. The book's instructive mission should be clear enough from the context and subtitle, but to drive it home there's a hefty appendix with advice for caregivers. Views of Simon dishing out physical abuse to his parents, even if by proxy, skate close to the edge of the comfort zone, but De Haes gives the beasts comical as well as choleric looks that should allow readers to maintain a certain distance. Some dark-skinned members of Simon's peer group add diversity to the otherwise all-white cast.The anger-management shelves are well-stocked, but this makes a serviceable addition, with value added for caregivers seeking advice. (Picture book. 5-8)

Kirkus Reviews