Book Review of It’s OK When I Feel This Way
Sponsored* | All opinions are our own
The Children’s Book Review
It’s OK When I Feel This Way
Written by Abigail Tizzio
Illustrated by Giovanni Abeille
Ages: 3+ | 20 Pages
Publisher: Alma Mater Publishing (2024) | ISBN-13: 979-8-9897533-0-7
What to Expect: Emotions, alphabet, learning, and acceptance.
In It’s OK When I Feel This Way, young readers take a colorful journey through the alphabet of emotions, with each letter representing a different feeling they might experience.
From “A” for Angry to “N” for Nervous, “X” for Xenial, and “Z” for Zany, this engaging book uses vivid illustrations and simple, relatable descriptions to help children recognize and understand their feelings. Characters experience a wide range of emotions in various situations, teaching readers that it’s okay to feel happy, sad, excited, or even frustrated.
The physical design of the book has been well-considered to support the message that no feelings are “good” or “bad”—all are part of who we are, and the idea that emotions can be as changeable as the turn of a page. The cartoon artwork emphasizes faces and body language, helping readers recognize the physical signs that might indicate a particular emotion in themselves or those around them.
Special text effects paired carefully with appropriate colors help readers associate specific emotions with the words and sounds that go with them. Most importantly, the illustrations show the characters accepting and understanding the emotions of the others around them, emphasizing that it is okay to feel however you feel and that all emotions are normal and valid.
It’s OK When I Feel This Way is a wonderful tool for parents and educators to discuss emotions and encourage emotional intelligence in a fun, accessible way. It promotes open communication about feelings, making it easier for children to express themselves and for adults to understand and support them.
Buy the Book
About the Author
Abigail Tizzio is an early childhood educator in New York City, NY, who has a passion for social-emotional learning. Abigail created the book in order to help young readers identify and understand their feelings, to have open conversations about a range of emotions, and to feel reassured that all their feelings are okay.
About the Illustrator
Giovanni Abeille, born in Naples, Italy, discovered his passion for illustration through cartoonist Benito Jacovitti and the book Three Men in A Boat. After exploring various careers, he found his true calling as an illustrator. A graduate of the Academy of Fine Arts in Naples, Giovanni has over 20 years of experience creating imaginary worlds and unique characters for clients worldwide. When not working, he enjoys time with his family and his dog, Linda Lee.
Learn more about It’s OK When I Feel This Way at www.almamaterpublishing.com.
Dedicated Reviews allow authors and illustrators to gain prompt visibility for their work. This is a sponsored*, non-biased review of It’s OK When I Feel This Way. Learn more about getting a book review …
