Today's read... Angry Octopus by Lori Lite

The up-coming holidays bring many emotions with them, and especially where kids are concerned. Excitement is hard to keep at bay and, unfortunately, this can backlash just as hard on the negative end (for Mommies and Daddies, too). Today's read addresses all that bubbling anger, which pops up, seems ridiculous even to the person getting angry, but keeps boiling up, anyway. I just liked the octopus on the cover as well as the very bright coral.

So, take a deep breath and let's take a look! 

  

Angry Octopus  

by Lori Lite  

Stress Free Kids

Children's Health & Daily Living / Mindfulness & Meditation  

41 pages  

ages 4 to 8  

The Angry Octopus story featured on ABC's Shark Tank, teaches children relaxation techniques for controlling anger and negative emotions. It helps kids to calm down and lower stress and anxiety levels by focusing awareness on various muscle groups to create a complete resting of the mind and body. Muscular relaxation can lower anxiety levels and be used to decrease pain.  

 

These effective stress and anger management techniques are woven into this award-winning story. Your child will learn the technique as they read the story.  

 

Children relate to the angry octopus in this beautifully illustrated book as the sea child shows him how to manage his anger, remain calm and see things more clearly. This engaging story quiets the mind and relaxes the body so your child can let go of anger and fall asleep peacefully.  

 

Angry Octopus is one of four stories featured on the Indigo Ocean Dreams audiobook and is available in several formats. The Spanish version of El Pulpo Enojado (ISBN: 9781937985011) and Angry Octopus Color Me Happy, Color Me Calm (ISBN: 9781937985332) compliment this story.  

 AMAZON: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004NSV8CO

B&N: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/angry-octopus-lori-lite/1129224205

GOODREADS: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/5371759-angry-octopus

 

MY TIDBITS

With adorable and bright seascapes and an octopus to want to hug, this read takes a look at anger while offering suggestions on how to fight it before it explodes.

The octopus is so proud of his seashell collection, and he's laid it out perfectly outside his door, but when it's torn apart by some careless creatures, anger starts bubbling up inside. He knows it's not a huge deal, but every second his fury mounts. Finally, he explodes and makes a huge ink cloud, which blocks everything from view and doesn't make him feel an ounce better about anything. Luckily, a little sea-child swims by and wants to help.

I'm extremely particular about books, which want to assist kids in learning to deal with emotions and such. So, I always hit these with a mountain of scrutiny. But this octopus did win me over. It's so cute to watch him grow angrier and angrier, and when he explodes, it hard not to understand exactly how he feels and wish to help. The sea-child is sweet enough and comes in with natural flow. While she does offer advice, it doesn't feel preachy, but rather creates a nice read-aloud.

Obviously, this is a book with a mission. The sea-child goes through an entire regiment of exercises the octopus can do to ease his anger, when he feels it flaring up. These are written in smooth fashion. Each step is explained with the same story telling flow and does invite readers to join in, not directly but they will want to. It is directed toward the octopus, and the illustrations of the octopus trying each one are dusted with a light sense of humor...which makes readers want to try it themselves even more.

I did find this one quite cute and helpful. The exercises did draw out a bit too long, making me fight not to skip over the last 2 or 3. But in general, I found it well done and can see this especially great for a group reading, since it will have listeners stretching and scrunching and everything right along with the adorable octopus.

And here she is...

 

Lori Lite is a mom, parenting stress expert and an author. Lori has created an award-winning line of books, CDs, and lesson plans designed to help children, teens, and parents decrease stress, lower anxiety, and control anger. Her sought-after practical tips provide parents with real-time solutions. Lori shares her own experiences as a stressed-out mom in an honest and accessible way. Her personal parenting challenges with getting her children to sleep were the catalyst for her stories. She has the unique ability of communicating how to integrate stress management techniques and self-esteem building activities into your family’s life. You can read more about Lori on her website at https://stressfreekids.com or on her Wikipedia page at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lori_Lite  

 

 

Goodreads: https://bit.ly/3xiDuZN  

Bookbub: https://bit.ly/3S4AFna  

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Website: https://StressFreeKids.com