All summer I’ll be sharing books for kids of all ages on topics that will interest them or offer them a new interest to learn about. Most of the time these will be nonfiction books, but sometimes we can learn from fictional stories too. I frequently learn from books sent during a historical period because usually the fictional story is based on real events.
So, I hope you will stay tuned to these posts. They will always have Summer Read-to-Learn in the title and in the tags. There will be books from some of my favorite publishers like National Geographic, Phaidon, Chronicle Kids, Prestel, and many others.
To see all the posts from my Summer Read-to-Learn series, click HERE.
INVISIBLE THINGS
Written and Illustrated by: Andy J. Pizza & Sophie Miller
Published: July 18, 2023
Publisher: Chronicle Kids
Have you ever thought about what a whisper looks like? What about hope or worry? If you could give your mood today a color, what color would it be? Mine would be yellow, I think. We all know what an itch feels like, and it can be quite annoying, but what does it look like? Authors Pizza and Miller ask you to put on your invisible “invisible thing” spotting glasses and find some invisible things in your life.
Feelings can be tough to name let alone describe, but thinking of the feelings or emotions as an invisible thing can help kids visualize and name their emotions. If they can’t name their feeling but can imagine a red blob, then they are probably angry. Lots of creative and silly doodles fill the pages to help kids think about their senses as well as their emotions.
I loved the description of Melancholy. In fact, I had that feeling today and it helped me pause and consider what I imagine that feeling to look like. The book encourages kids to pause and use their senses to identify what they are feeling at that moment. Warning, this book may also encourage spontaneous giggles and laughter.
I think this is a great book for kids that struggle to name their emotions or as a resource for a counselor. The concepts are approachable and easy to identify and give kids another way to communicate their fears, challenges, or worries if needed. I’ll be gifting my copy to the elementary counselor at the school. I think it would be a great addition to a classroom library.
Click HERE to download an activity kit.
Click HERE to download a teacher guide.
Andy J. Pizza is the acclaimed illustrator behind the popular podcast Creative Pep Talk, and the illustrator of A Pizza with Everything on It. Check out his website, HERE.
Sophie Miller is a mixed-media artist, originally from Yorkshire, England. She likes to write, walk, garden, and visit the library with her kids.
Andy’s head is in the clouds, and Sophie’s feet are on the ground. Together, they have built a wonder-FULL life in Columbus, Ohio, along with three kids, two dogs, and a ton of creativity.
To purchase a copy of INVISIBLE THINGS, click the photo below:
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Thanks to the publisher for sending a copy of this book for the purpose of this review. This review is my honest opinion. If you choose to make a purchase through the above links, I may receive a small commission without you having to pay a cent more for your purchase.
Posted Under Andy J. Pizza, Book Review, Children's books, emotions, Sophie Miller, Summer Read-to-Learn