I loved the premise of this book, comparing feelings and emotions to the changing seasons. The prose written was lyrical and lovely, but unfortunately, I was left wanting more! It seemed like there should be several more pages or illustrations to match the text. Because the text is filled with metaphors I'd definitely recommend this for readers on the higher end of the 6-10 year old spectrum. Overall, it was good but needs more to lead the reader satisfied. It feels incomplete as is.

This short and sweet children's book on understanding one's emotions is beautifully poetic and full of soothing imagery! It reminds me of "Breathe like a Bear" by Kira Wiley! This book is sweet, straightforward, and sure to help little ones visualize their emotions and better understand the nature of them! My son related to Aurora, the main character who is being read to by her parents in this story. I would rate this book 4 out of 5 stars, only because it's so short, and I think there is a lot of potential for more to be written! Our favorite part of the book was when Aurora described how she would like to get her emotions out in a physical way that related to the nature of her emotions, like; "...stomp my feet like the rain pounding the ground or shout into the wind." I hope the author adds more ro this story someday, as we would certainly read it!

‘The Seasons of Me’ by Bonnie Cantarutti presents a great concept centred around embracing one’s feelings through the metaphor of nature and seasons. However, while the idea is promising, the execution leaves something to be desired, resulting in a mixed reading experience.

Plot: ★★★☆☆
The plot of ‘The Seasons of Me’ revolves around the concept of comparing emotions to nature and the changing seasons. While this is a really great concept, the plot unfortunately falls short. It feels more like a framework rather than a fully fleshed-out story, leaving readers wanting more depth and cohesion.

Characters: ★★★☆☆
The characters in this book are not very well developed. For an older children's book, this is a significant drawback as character development becomes crucial at this stage. The lack of depth in the characters makes it difficult for readers to connect with them or become invested in their emotional journeys.

Setting: ★★★☆☆
The setting in ‘The Seasons of Me’ is minimal and primarily serves as a backdrop for the comparison of emotions to nature. While this approach is conceptually interesting, the lack of a well-defined setting detracts from the immersive experience that older children might expect from a book recommended for their age group.

Engagement: ★★★☆☆
The book isn’t particularly engaging. The concept is intriguing, but the execution doesn’t captivate the reader's attention as much as it could. The narrative lacks the dynamic elements that keep children hooked, making it a less compelling read overall.

Readability: ★★★☆☆
Although ‘The Seasons of Me’ claims to be recommended for ages 6-10, it feels more appropriate for the higher end of this range. The language and themes are better suited for older children, which could make it less accessible for younger readers within the recommended age group.

Enjoyment: ★★★☆☆
In terms of enjoyment, ‘The Seasons of Me’ isn’t particularly enjoyable, but it isn’t unenjoyable either. It has its merits, especially as a potential therapy tool for children learning to navigate their emotions. However, as a purely recreational read, it falls short of delivering a truly satisfying experience.

‘The Seasons of Me’ by Bonnie Cantarutti is a book with a promising concept that doesn’t fully deliver on its potential. While it offers valuable lessons about embracing one’s feelings, the lack of plot depth, character development, and engagement makes it a less compelling read. It might be worth recommending for specific purposes, such as emotional learning, but it doesn’t quite stand out as a must-read for older children.

This short verse was about a young girl named Aurora, her connection with nature, and her connection with her big feelings. As a parent I related to this a lot and appreciated the writing, but I feel like the lyrical and poetic writing style may be advanced for young readers. It is noted that it is best for readers aged 6-10 but I think it leans more towards the older side of that range based on the writing.