I would like to share a children’s feel-good book with you The Way I Feel Two by Janan Cain. I can’t wait for you to check out the book especially the cover. Let me know what you think of the person on it which reminds me of a Clown with her nose that looks like a red rubber ball but isn’t. The book made me want to run right out to the Circus. Would you like to go with me?
I must tell you this morning I was feeling down as I’ve been letting myself down in so many ways and I knew I needed to change things as its affecting David, Charlie, my work and also my personal life. The more I felt myself drowning the more I wanted to climb on the couch and hide under my blanket.
The LORD knew this and as I was picking up the house for Father’s Day and getting out the ingredients, I needed to prepare dinner I came upon The Way I Feel. Which was almost like getting a hug from my dad who loved to read just as much as I do. I loved the light purple background which is my favorite color of all times. How about you. Do you like purple?
I opened the book and could feel myself being drawn into the pictures and couldn’t wait to read the story. I couldn’t wait to share the book with Charlie and the cute little puppy the boy was surprised with. Which is an emotion we’ve all felt at times. The book touches on being lonely which I’ve noticed Charlie has been since moving from our old neighborhood and none of the children ever contacting Charlie to come and play. Which is horrible since we used to let them live with us and always feed and took them places.
I love how all the words they are talking about is at the top of the page in bold letters which Charlie and I can use in our Language Arts Class for our Spelling Test teaching Charlie new words we can discuss as a family allowing us to get to know each other better. Would you like to join us for snacks and a discussion.
it was funny that with the word disgusted they used a smelly stinky sock which is exactly how we feel when David takes his socks off after work. Infact there has been times Charlie and I’ve put both David’s shoes and socks outside on the front porch because they made our house stink which we didn’t like. have you ever had deal with this?
Then there is grumpy and that is David’s nickname because even though David is a Teddy Bear most of the time there is times when he can become a grouchy Bear just like me. Do you do this as well? Charlie and my favorite page in the book was loved and all the beautiful purple hearts on the page and the mom hugging the child. Remember no, matter what your feelings are at this moment that they can change at the drop of a hat which is nice because if your sad in a few minutes you might find your happy.
Children experience complex emotions just like adults.
Helping children identify and express their feelings in a positive manner is important for their social-emotional learning, developing empathy, and building resilience. Feelings are neither good nor bad, they simply are. Kids need words to name their feelings, just as they need words to name all things in their world.
Building on the phenomenal success of author and illustrator Janan Cain’s original title, The Way I Feel Too features more feelings with the same strong, colorful, and expressive images and simple verses to help children connect the word and the emotion. Children learn useful words, giving parents, teachers, and caregivers many chances to open conversations about what’s going on in their child’s life.
Recommended by parents, teachers, and mental health professionals, The Way I Feel Too is a valuable addition to anyone’s library.
About the Author: Janan Cain
Janan (Koutny) Cain grew up in Darien, Illinois, a suburb of Chicago. As a young girl, she loved going to her dad’s office (he had a display graphics business) and drawing with the professional tools found there: artist’s markers and huge paper tablets. Her mother was always involved in various craft projects, such as ceramics, decoupage and toll painting. There was never a question in Janan’s mind as to the career she’d pursue. After high school she earned an Associate of Arts degree in Visual Communications at the Art Institute of Colorado in Denver.
Janan started out as a graphic designer in 1982 doing keyline and paste-up. She was employed by various design studios around Chicago and Colorado Springs before getting seriously interested in illustration as a career. Eventually she landed at Tom Cain Design (who was to become her future father-law), a package design studio outside Chicago.
Tom encouraged Janan to hone her illustration skills in her spare time on the job, and ultimately she became a full-time illustrator. Janan’s artwork spans a broad range of projects, from corporate campaigns and consumer packaging, to branding and communication design for Fortune 500 companies. Janan worked with many different techniques, including pen and ink, pastels, gouache, acrylics, airbrush, colored pencil, scratchboard and computer illustration.
In 1993, Janan had her first daughter, Emily, and stopped working full-time. Around the time her second daughter, Isabella, was two years old, Janan wanted to teach them words for their emotions but couldn’t find any good books for young children dealing with that topic. Being an illustrator, she decided to create her own book and the idea for The Way I Feel was born. The Way I Feel is among the best-selling children’s picture books of all time winning numerous awards and accolades.
Janan has since focused her energies on drawing and illustration, and currently practices freelance design and illustration from her studio overlooking her garden in Riverside, Illinois. Janan loves to garden and spend time with her family which includes her spoiled cocker spaniel, Oliver. Her true passion (or obsession) is riding her horse, Finn. She and Finn have begun showing dressage and hope to have many years together riding trails and winning ribbons.
Check out the other books in this series:
The Way I Feel, Perdido y solo (Spanish Editions), Asi me siento yo (Spanish Edition), Lost and Alone
Thank you,
Glenda, Charlie and David Cates
