Book Review: Stuck With the Blooz

Stuck With the Blooz

by Caron Levis
illustrated by Jon Davis
Book Website: Click here

A Note From the Publisher: What do you do when you're feeling blue--especially when your mood takes the form of a drippy, oozy monster called the Blooz? Do you ignore it? Do you ask it lots of questions? Do you give it an ice-pop and hope it goes away? Through trial and error, the child in this story discovers that while it may not be easy, it's not impossible to shake the Blooz. 

Why It's On My Bookshelf: There are students in my school who will really benefit from reading this book. They are dealing with life situations that are contributing to increased feelings of sadness. One way to help them cope is by giving them awareness of their emotions and finding ways through discussion on how to deal with it when it pops up in their life. Perfect book for this! You could also do some creative art therapy by drawing the Blooz monster from the book.

I don't know what the statistics are regarding depression and children but I personally feel this generation is at risk. With the recent shootings in Newtown we are all feeling really down. My niece who is a 5th grader said to me, "I just feel so sad." It is such a traumatic event and has filled so many kids with a deep sadness that they don't know what to do with it. I know the healing will take a long time but turning to books can sometimes bring comfort and provide help for those who are hurting.

A Link to This Book and Others You Might Find Helpful:

Book Review: The Cloud

Author/Illustrator: Hannah Cumming
Interest Level: Ages 5 and Up

A Note From the Publisher: Everyone has bad days, and children are no exception. When a black cloud descends on a little girl at school, support from a classmate with a great deal of imagination helps to brighten up everyone’s lives.

Why It's On My Bookshelf: What a creative book. A little black cloud hangs over a little girl's head on each page. What is it? What does it mean? Why is it there? What's going on with her? Why is it black? What can others do about this cloud? These were some of the questions I posed as we went through the the story. It's fabulous. I preach being a bucket filler at our school so this was such a great example of how to fill an empty bucket. And yes....kids are definitely walking around feeling down in the dumps at times. This is a neat community builder.

You will love the last page. Her cloud is gone and she's standing playing with the children and a new little boy enters with a little black cloud over his head. Hmmm.....wonder what's going to happen! I want to note this is a quick read. I slowed it down with lots of discussion and a prepared activity around community building. You might also add words to the story as you are reading...that's another little cheat thing I do to expand the message.

A Link to This Book and Others You Might Find Helpful:

Book Review: One of Those Days

Author: Amy Krouse Rosenthal

illustrated by Rebecca Doughty

Interest Level: Ages 5-11


About This Book: Rosenthal enumerates ways in which a child's happiness can be squelched by a rotten day. The array of mishaps includes sibling and friendship problems, disappointing birthdays, itchy clothing, misplaced belongings, and self-doubt. Each unwelcome incident warrants a special designation. There's a Keep Spilling Stuff Day, a Nobody's Listening To You Day, a Gutter Ball Day, and a Not Big Enough Day. This succinct book is not a story but an imaginative list of calamities that culminates predictably with the promise that all bad days lead to a new dawn.

 Why It's On My Bookshelf: Sometimes I notice kids walking around school in sort of a slump. This book has helped me as a counselor immensely to reach out to those students. Just like adults, kids sometimes have really hard days too. One of Those Days comforts and validates children. I love to say to kids, 'Hey, looks like you are having one of those days.' They know exactly what I am talking about because we are using a phrase that we know and have learned about.  So how do we cope when we have one of those days? It's been a very thought provoking book when we read and discuss it. I highly recommend it for your shelf.