Review of Anger is my Monster
Authors and publishers are not able to post replies in the review topics.
- Rishaunda Lynnette Britton
- Book of the Month Participant
- Posts: 199
- Joined: 18 Aug 2023, 15:28
- Currently Reading:
- Bookshelf Size: 167
- Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-rishaunda-lynnette-britton.html
- Latest Review: The Adventures of Thomas in Hopi Land by Patrick Dallabetta
Review of Anger is my Monster
Anger is My Monster by Clara Harper is the first book in the My Inner Monster series. In this installment, the focus is on emotional intelligence, explored through the character Yoshi. Yoshi is unable to control his emotions and so often gets upset at the slightest provocation and misunderstanding. And all this while, he never thought about the implications or impacts of this attitude until a rampageous monster named Murphy the Mad Monster shows up. There are difficult incidents ahead, and as it is, the hope of getting anything resolved will depend on Yoshi's willingness to take redemptive actions.
The story provided effective frameworks through which children can better understand the impact of their anger issue and what they can do to resolve it. The first is the symbolism introduced through the character Murphy the Mad Monster. The destruction and loss brought about by this monster is a physical reflection of Yoshi's intermittent fits. And Yoshi's astonishment and franticity following this development show just how unaware a child can be about the depth of their actions and attitudes.
The second is the coaching on emotion management. I found the exercises easy and incredibly rewarding. The third is a simple illustration of actions and consequences, explored through the monster's initial drama and then the direct impact of Yoshi's practice of the concerned emotion management techniques on the monster.
The story was well illustrated. I was really impressed by the quality paintings and the visual details they convey. In addition, the text was thoroughly proofread. However, I need to make some contributions that could help improve this work. First, I think there is a plot hole between the appearance of the monster and Yoshi giving it a name. Something ought to have played out that would explain this action of name-giving, because it's kind of strange that the monster just appeared and the next is Yoshi giving it a name. Also, the behavior of the monster right after it was named gave an ambiguous context, leaving the interpretation of such behavior to the reader's discretion.
Furthermore, I don't think the scene of Yoshi and his brother struggling over a live snake is a safe read for kids, as children stand the risk of being bitten by a snake if they try to act out what played out in this scene. I'm of the opinion that it's safer to remove this scene. Due to these concerns, I am removing a star and giving this book four out of five stars. This book is truly helpful material for emotion management, and I recommend it to every child and childcare facility.
******
Anger is my Monster
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
-
- Posts: 1
- Joined: 24 Aug 2022, 03:13
- Currently Reading:
- Bookshelf Size: 0
-
- Posts: 180
- Joined: 09 Aug 2024, 15:42
- Currently Reading:
- Bookshelf Size: 23
- Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-emmanuel-olowolayemo.html
- Latest Review: Surviving the Business of Healthcare by Barbara Galutia Regis PA-C
The book offers practical frameworks for understanding and managing anger, including effective exercises and clear illustrations of actions and consequences. The visual and textual quality is high, but there are some issues. The plot lacks clarity around why Yoshi names the monster so abruptly, and the monster's behavior post-naming is ambiguous. Additionally, a scene involving a live snake may be unsafe for children and might be better removed.
Overall, the book is a valuable tool for teaching children about emotion management and earns a rating of four out of five stars. It’s highly recommended for children and childcare settings.
-
- Posts: 69
- Joined: 20 Aug 2024, 08:05
- Currently Reading:
- Bookshelf Size: 37
-
- Posts: 176
- Joined: 24 Jun 2024, 01:34
- Currently Reading:
- Bookshelf Size: 16
- Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-mercy-ndungu-9.html
- Latest Review: Thoughts on Science and Faith by Michael John