Book Review of Kind Karl: A Little Crocodile with Big Feelings
Sponsored* | All opinions are our own
The Children’s Book Review
Kind Karl: A Little Crocodile with Big Feelings
Written by Sharon Salzberg and Jason Gruhl
Illustrated by Sébastien Mourrain
Ages: 4-8 | 32 Pages
Publisher: Bala Kids, an imprint of Shambhala Publications (2025) | ISBN: 978-1645472476
What to Expect: Mindfulness, kindness, emotional intelligence, SEL strategies.
Written by an experienced meditation teacher, this picture book doesn’t just teach readers strategies for taking control of their emotions—it also demonstrates that they can do it themselves, without the need for expert interventions.
Karl Crocodile finds it really hard to be kind—not because he doesn’t want to, but because when things don’t go his way, his body just seems to take over. Feelings fill his body, his body tenses up, and before he knows it, he’s throwing things and yelling at people. Then, one day, Karl notices that when he gets upset, he also tends to have some unkind thoughts about himself. By recognizing this, Karl can let those thoughts go—and question the other unkind thoughts that make him lose his temper. Thinking kinder leads to being kinder—to himself and to others—and soon he’s not Crabby Karl anymore, he’s Kind Karl!
Karl is a relatable character, whose good intentions and secret fears will feel very familiar to young readers—as will his characteristic losses of temper! By showing how Karl teaches himself to manage his emotions and practice kindness, the story empowers readers to take responsibility for their own and others’ happiness, and models specific strategies for noticing unkind thoughts, calming down when angry, and building kindness in the community.
The wonderful ink and watercolor illustrations feature a range of colorful animal characters and evoke the whimsical styles of Quentin Blake or Mo Willems, adding humor and helping readers visualize what kindness looks like. Resources at the end of the book offer additional opportunities to practice lovingkindness, including meditation strategies and suggested activities to increase kindness.
Practical, relatable, and fun, Kind Karl: A Little Crocodile with Big Feelings is a wonderful resource for teaching SEL.
Buy the Book
About the Authors
Sharon Salzberg is a meditation pioneer, world-renowned teacher, and New York Times bestselling author. She is among the first to bring mindfulness and lovingkindness meditation to mainstream American culture 50 years ago, inspiring generations of meditation teachers and wellness influencers. Sharon is the co-founder of the Insight Meditation Society and author of fourteen books. She also hosts the popular podcast, The Metta Hour, featuring interviews with thought leaders from the mindfulness movement and beyond.
Jason Gruhl is the former executive director and founder of The Joshua School (a school for children with autism spectrum disorders and developmental disabilities in Colorado); a psychotherapist; and a professor (adjunct) in the Mindfulness-Based Transpersonal Counseling program at Naropa University where he teaches Mindfulness and Meditation and Therapy for Children and Adolescence. Jason is the author of several books.
About the Illustrator
Sébastien Mourrain is the illustrator of over forty picture books and documentaries published by Gallimard, Seuil, Bayard Éditions, and Éditions Milan, among others. He lives in Lyon, France.
Dedicated Reviews allow authors and illustrators to gain prompt visibility for their work. This is a sponsored*, non-biased review of Kind Karl: A Little Crocodile with Big Feelings. Learn more about getting a book review …
