Quick Rundown:
Author: Jo Witek
Illustrator: Christine Roussey
Age Range: 5-7
Blurb: “Sometimes my heart feels like a big yellow star, shiny and bright. I smile from ear to ear and twirl around so fast, I feel as if I could take off into the sky. This is when my heart is happy. A vibrant celebration of feelings, in all their shapes and sizes.”
About: This book delves into feelings children experience. It lets them know that this is normal and it is okay to feel that way. Each feeling is represented by a shape and color with a heart in the middle.
Favorite Quote from Book: “Sometimes I hide my heart away where no one can see, like my own small treasure.”
Activities to try with the book:
–Identify Your Feelings: The character in the book tells the audience the emotions she feels and what they are like or when they might occur. With your kids identify some feelings they experience. When do they feel this way? What activities could they do during this time? For example, when I’m feeling happy I might want to skip down the sidewalk; I’m not going to want to do that when I’m angry.
–Hearts: Have the kiddos practice making and cutting out hearts. Their hearts could gradually get smaller and be in different colors so you could glue them together to create an image similar to the book’s cover.
–Interactive Book Talk: While you are reading, pause after each page to discuss with your children. Could they add more to the page? When have they felt this way?
–Use with Zones of Regulation: I have used this book with the Zones of Regulation curriculum. My students enjoy hearing a story read aloud and it helps them become more engaged in the discussion afterward.
Interested in In My Heart? Click the picture below to go to Amazon.
Reading Through the Library 