Common Sense Media Review
By Regan McMahon
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Boy learns how to apologize in wise, relatable empathy tale.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 3+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 2 parent reviews
What's the Story?
Jack knocks down his classmate Zoe's castle made of blocks but remains furious as his teacher, Ms. Rice, insists he write Zoe an apology note. His first few tries basically say I'M SORRY YOU GOT MAD. That doesn't cut it with Ms. Rice, so Jack keeps trying, red-faced and frustrated, crumpling up each note Ms. Rice corrects and painting his feelings in bright red paint. Ms. Rice gently guides him toward a "real" apology, where you acknowledge what you did, say you're sorry, and offer to help make up for what you did. Jack finally gets there, and along the way learns a lot about his own feelings and comes to understand Zoe's, as well.
Is It Any Good?
This apology how-to is true to life and dissects kids' intense hurt feelings that cause them to act out. I'm Sorry You Got Mad accomplishes all this in a relatable classroom tale with adorable, vulnerable characters, a wise, compassionate teacher, and a valuable lesson in conflict resolution that's tinged with humor and not heavy-handed. Feel free to follow Ms. Rice's advice at home, in the workplace, or in your adult relationships. It's definitely not for kids only!
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about anger and how it's expressed in I'm Sorry You Got Mad. Have you ever gotten really mad at a friend or classmate? How did you deal with your feelings? How did the two of you get past the hurt you felt?
Why is it hard to apologize when you've done something wrong or hurtful? Do you think writing a note of apology would help make things better? Is saying it out loud just as good, so long as you really mean it?
How does considering how the other person feels help you understand why they're mad at you? Why is empathy an important character strength?
Book Details
- Author: Kyle Lukoff
- Illustrator: Julie Kwon
- Genre: Picture Book
- Topics: Great Boy Role Models , Great Girl Role Models
- Character Strengths: Communication , Compassion , Empathy , Self-control
- Book type: Fiction
- Publisher: Dial Books for Young Readers
- Publication date: August 27, 2024
- Publisher's recommended age(s): 3 - 7
- Available on: Hardback, iBooks, Kindle
- Award: Common Sense Selection
- Last updated: August 28, 2024
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