Out of a Jar
*Goodreads rating 4.4*
An Indie Bestseller
An Entertainment Weekly Best Book of the Year
A School Library Journal Best Book of the Year
Age: 3-6
Format: Hardcover
Author: Deborah Marcero
Product Description
Llewellyn does not like to feel afraid or sad, angry, lonely, or embarrassed. And so he comes up with a brilliant plan: he tucks each of his feelings into jars and hides them away where they won't bother him anymore. But when he gets in trouble in class, Llewellyn finds he needs to put away excitement too. And when joy is quickly followed by disappointment, he decides to get rid of joy as well. After a while, Llewellyn walks around not feeling much of anything at all. And what happens when his emotions refuse to be bottled up any longer?
In this richly illustrated and universally relatable picture book, Llewellyn soon discovers that life is more colorful when he sets his emotions free. And only then, by facing and embracing each of his feelings, is he finally able to let them go.
Reviews:
"Gorgeous illustrations, poetic prose, and a relatable protagonist make Deborah Marcero's tale the kind that you can return to again and again . . . Handles complex emotional topics in a way that's easy for kids to understand—and parents to enjoy. —Entertainment Weekly
"May help kids open up about their own big emotions . . . The book’s upbeat ending . . . [affirms] that feelings should be shared and heard." —Parents Magazine
* "Offers a new spin on exploring one’s emotions and . . . the importance of sharing them with others . . . A valuable lesson for young readers, and probably a vital reminder for adults as well. Peppered with rich vocabulary, the text itself is simultaneously simple and profound." —School Library Journal, starred review
"A fantastic picture book about learning and naming emotions, and the importance of being free to express them." —BookRiot
"A valuable lesson . . . [Marcero's] empathetic, engaging approach respects young children and meets them where they are." —The Horn Book
"Marcero elevates the familiar practice of color-coding emotions through her eye-catching illustrations and creative layouts." —Booklist