Title: A Box of Butterflies
Author/Illustrator: Jo Rooks
Age Group: Age 2-6
Synopsis: Ruby and Robot discuss how to identify and discover feelings.
The Lowdown:
I initially grabbed this book because there was a little girl with a robot on the cover. Boys seem to have the market cornered on robots. But why? It’s another silly, arbitrary gender distinction that makes no sense. Bug loves robots in general but I want Peanut to feel comfortable loving them too. And speaking of love… the cover drew me in but the story just gives me all the feels. Literally.
Rooks maintains the focus on the emotions by coloring anything not directly associated with those emotions gray. The vibrancy of the feelings then are more easily identifiable for young ones and grants them more gravitas. Each page seems a perfect embodiment of the feeling it’s trying to identify. Ruby then comes in and rounds it all out with her adorable wellies and overalls.
Like all Magination Press books this one includes a reading guide to discuss why emotion identification is so important. As a gateway for communication, it allows children to feel heard and understood and is another step toward emotional maturity that sometimes even alludes adults. Ruby takes this all in stride and not only is an emotional guide for Robot but also for readers.
Story Tips:
- Discuss how each emotion makes you feel. Remember you’re not limited to Ruby’s descriptions. Invite your reading buddy to do the same. You can also use this exercise in everyday life to encourage emotional identification.
I need more!
Jo Rooks also has a book called Lucy’s Light (keep an eye out on the blog for an upcoming review) as well as other stories. Find out more about her here: https://www.jorooks.co.uk/
For more about Magination Press books check out these previously reviewed stories: All My Stripes, Fantastic You, and Line and Dot.
I received this book in exchange for an honest review but all thoughts and opinions are my own.
