Footprint

This gentle, beautifully illustrated picture book invites the reader to take a walk through the wonders of nature, taking time to appreciate the world around them whilst taking care of it, leaving only footprints behind. The language is carefully chosen, offering a lyrical read which is a joy to share.

Encouraging exploration and discovery, the text reflects the fact that the way ahead might not always be level, but with determination and resilience, difficulties can be overcome. The journey might include darkness and danger, but pausing and breathing, continuing with hope, the way ahead is full of possibilities and wonder. There is so much to reflect upon here- how nature affects us, the negative (and positive) impacts humans can have on the world, the importance of caring for nature- making the book a joy to return to again and again.

The illustrations are wonderful! Soft colours glow with the beauty of different landscapes and children will enjoy identifying the many creatures, birds, plants and insects which appear on every spread. The endpapers are a riot of colourful footprints and starry footprints made of stars line the night’s sky, recalling the importance of the book’s title and the meaning it carries.

‘Footprint’ could easily be used in school with classes, as the basis for an assembly, to celebrate Earth Day on the 22nd April or World Environment Day on the 5th June. However, it is an important book to share not only for its message about looking after the world, but for its focus on self care, reminding children to breathe through difficult moments and be optimistic about the future.

Footprint

Phil Cummings and Sally Soweol Han

Allen and Unwin ISBN: 978-1761180323

Big Feelings and what they tell us

Emotions are messages from your heart,

they tell you what you need.

Some of them are BIG feelings

and some are very small indeed.

Told in rhyme, ‘Big Feelings and what they tell us’ explores different emotions, designed to help children learn how to identify and cope with a range of feelings. Different children are pictured experiencing reactions to a range of situations. These reactions are validated by the text which is reassuring -’It’s okay to feel disappointed when everything goes wrong’…’But it’s normal to notice things like that when you’re feeling worried’- before offering suggestions for how to cope with these feelings.

At the end of the book, there is a section of practical advice designed to support parents, carers and teachers. Many of the strategies suggested will be familiar to adults working in schools, but might be invaluable for use at home where adults might be struggling to cope with their children’s emotions or understand how to support them. The author has a background in counselling and the ideas offered are practical and fun.

A great deal is packed into this book and so it would be best used by selecting relevant pages as the need arises rather than reading this in one go. This would enable adults to focus on one feeling at a time, making it meaningful and relevant rather than overwhelming. The feelings wheel and feelings thermometers are particularly useful in supporting children with identifying their emotions, understanding them and coping with them.

A useful text not just for Children’s Mental Health Week, but all year round!

Big Feelings and what they tell us

Rebekah Ballagh

Allen and Unwin ISBN: 978-1761069482