Animals Feeling Like Us is a cute picture book that helps to identify feels through silly animals. I liked that each emotion had an image, example, and follow up questions. This would be a great resource with young kids who sometimes struggle to identify secondary emotions. I enjoyed the illustrations and the information was presented in a way that will keep kiddos engaged.

Thanks to BooksGoSocial and NetGalley for an eARC of this book for an honest review.

This was a really cute book teaching little ones about feelings. I don't remember how I learnt what feelings were when I was younger but I know they're not talked about enough and sometimes young children might not know how to express their feelings. Using a variety of animals this book shows how you might express certain emotions facially and explains what it feels like and examples of when you might feel that way, encouraging the children to think of a time they might have felt like that so they can earn to put a word to the feeling. I think it's an excellent way to get kids talking about their feelings. The funny examples of the animals in those scenarios will be great to keep the kids engaged (like a surprised sheep at a surprise birthday party and an excited elephant buying new shoes). The illustrations too, not to busy crowding the pages but with full page colour illustrations on nice colourful patterned backgrounds with a lovely style, will keep the kids interested too. Definitely a great one to read with young kids.

Very cute and child-friendly book. helps young children navigate and understand their emotions through the use of animals and their emotions.

This would be a great addition to any professional working with children, including therapists anf educators. The text cleverly places synonyms and allows kids to catch a grasp before exploring more information. Easy graphics for kids to describe as well.

This is a really fun children's book with great illustrations. It looks at and explains different feelings to kids. Recommended for kids and their parents.

I received a free copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley. My review is voluntary and the opinions expressed are my own.

Animals Feeling Like Us by R. M. Smith was a very cute story with cute illustrations. It teaches children about their feelings as well. I definitely recommend for small children.

What does it look like when you feel happy, frightened, silly, angry, or other thing? What do those feelings mean? Look and see!
The illustrations by the author are imaginative, delightfully colorful, and FUN!
Well suited for reading WITH someone any age from 4 and up, including ESL, and great for gifting to everyone, but especially to a school or your local public library! Pub Date Feb 27, 2025
I requested and received a temporary uncorrected eGalley on PDF from BooksGoSocial via NetGalley.
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Overview:
"Animals Feeling Like Us" is an imaginative and engaging children's book that introduces young readers to the world of emotions through a delightful parade of expressive animal characters. With its playful rhymes and accessible language, the book presents a unique approach to teaching emotional literacy by assigning relatable feelings to fun characters such as a Happy Hippo, an Excited Elephant, and a Grumpy Goat.

Strengths:

Engaging Presentation: The creative use of animal characters to personify emotions immediately captures a child's interest. Each character not only entertains but also serves as a memorable symbol for specific feelings.
Accessible Language: The text is crafted with simple, rhythmic language that is perfectly suited for preschool and early elementary readers, making it easy for them to grasp complex emotional concepts.
Promotion of Emotional Intelligence: By pairing each animal with a brief yet thoughtful description of what the emotion feels like, the book effectively encourages self-awareness and empathy in children.
Educational Versatility: This title works exceptionally well as a resource in both home and classroom settings. Educators and parents alike can use it to initiate discussions about feelings, helping children to recognize and articulate their emotions.
Target Audience:
Ideal for children in the preschool to early elementary age group, "Animals Feeling Like Us" is designed to be both entertaining and instructive. It is a perfect addition to any children's library, particularly for those looking to foster early emotional and social development.

Conclusion:
R.M. Smith's "Animals Feeling Like Us" is a delightful and innovative exploration of emotions that manages to educate while captivating its young audience. Its imaginative presentation and strong focus on developing emotional intelligence make it an invaluable tool for nurturing empathy and self-awareness in children. Highly recommended for parents, educators, and anyone involved in early childhood education.

This was a sweet and educational book! The illustrations were really well done and I enjoyed the explanation for each feeling as it relates to humans after we see the animal experiencing the emotion.