Way Past Mad

by Hallee Adelman, Sandra de la Prada (Illustrations)

Keya is way past mad. Her little brother Nate messed up everything--even breakfast. She heads to school kicking rocks and sticks. When her best friend Hooper tries to help, Keya shouts, "I don't even like you." It's not true, but Hooper storms off, kicking rocks and sticks too. Keya gave him her mad! Now it's up to Keya to find a different way past mad and to make things right. A relatable story that speaks to kids' emerging emotional intelligence skills.

Genres: Picture Books, Friendship, Emotion, Childrens, Family, Fiction, Realistic Fiction

32 pages, Hardcover

Published March 1, 2020

Reviews

[Jillian · Rating 4 out of 5]

These books do a good job of laying out a situation that is fairly universal with children's various emotions & then a conflict + a way to be more self-aware and come out of the heightened emotion. Will be a good series for elementary libraries & SEL collections. Would pair well with Debbie Ridpath Ohi's emotions series also.

[Bonnie Grover · Rating 5 out of 5]

Being mad , really mad, way past mad is contagious. Keya learns that being mad can hurt. It can also hurt your best friend. Kindness is also catchy. What a great book for teaching young kids about bullying, empathy, anger, and kindness! I plan on recommending this to several teachers and friends.

[Eileen R. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Everybody gets mad, but sometimes frustrations build and you find yourself way past mad, the kind of mad that “starts and swells and spreads like a rash.” In this wonderful book, simple but powerful language and bold illustrations really get to the emotional heart of the story, with a lovely ending as Keya and her friend Hooper find the “way past mad” together. This is a book that tugs at your heart and stays with you. Perfect for the classroom and beyond.

[Darlene · Rating 5 out of 5]

A simple tale filled with complex emotions. Young readers will discover how sometimes, when we may not realize it, emotions can make us do things we regret. A reminder that even when we mess up, saying we're sorry makes things better. Colorful illustrations, and Keya's imagination add whimsy and humor to the tale.  This book is a great way to introduce kids to emotions and how to express them and share them in safe and appropriate ways. Delightful! 

[Marnee Simon · Rating 5 out of 5]

I became a fan of Dr Adelmans books after reading my quiet ship”. The “way past” series are just as well written and illustrated. Especially during the very confusing and emotionally challenging times during the pandemic, the books are such useful tools in helping children understand, process, and reframe their thoughts and emotions in very thoughtful and sensitive ways. I would highly recommend to the entire series to parents, educators, therapists, and of course to children. I would highly recommend the entire series. Well done Dr Adelman!

[Danielle Hammelef · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another excellent tool for kids to see how anger can build and overflow into their day, impacting people around them. I enjoyed how the character was able to see how her anger affected her best friend and how she was brave enough to apologize and repair their bond. Talking out anger instead of taking it out on others is presented as a happy ending solution to inspire readers to choose kindness because it makes everyone happy and stops the anger.

[Pinky · Rating 5 out of 5]

Keya's little brother Nate keeps making messes and breaking Keya's stuff, she has had enough. She doesn't want anything to be with anyone not even Hooper. Hooper tries to help Keya but she hurts his feelings and afterwards feels bad about it. In the end Keya tells Hooper she is sorry and all is forgiven.

[Peacegal · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars--When everything seems to be going wrong, a little girl starts out her day angry and learns how anger can be passed on to others when you take out your feelings on someone else. Youngsters are encouraged to put themselves in the place of both the angry girl and the friend who is unjustifiably snapped at, and find more positive ways to manage big feelings like anger.

[Viviane Elbee · Rating 4 out of 5]

In this book, Keya is mad - way past mad, « the kind of mad that starts and swells and spreads like a rash. » Unfortunately her anger spreads when she insults a friend.

This is a good book to discuss feelings with preschoolers and elementary school children. Kids may be able to empathize with Keya and talk about other ways of dealing with anger.

[Pam · Rating 3 out of 5]

Keya is having a really bad morning. Her little brother has made several messes and ruined some of her things. She takes that anger out on a friend as they walk to school. This helps her see how being mad can spread and that she needs to find a better way to cope with it. Readers will connect with her emotions and how she makes some decisions she shouldn't.

[Donna · Rating 5 out of 5]

WAY PAST MAD I have a place in my heart for books that promote poignant subject matter, e.g., kindness, bullying, emotions, etc. It seems that “poignant” is author Hallee Adelman‘s calling card.

Anger is the kind of emotion that can be scary, especially for children, and sometimes leads to regretful behavior. Learning how to manage it at a young age is critical. In fact, in 1969 Fred Rogers recited before the U. S. Senate a song he wrote, “What Do You Do?” (…with the mad that you feel?) which literally saved PBS.

Here we are, in 2020, and that’s what Hallee‘s newest picture book is about: what you do—and don’t do—when you get angry. In Way Past Mad, main character, Keya’s little brother, Nate (who doesn’t know any better), wreaks havoc when he does things like mess her room, ruin her breakfast and destroy her favorite hat. She gets way past mad…

“The kind of mad

that starts

and swells

and spreads like a rash.”

The problem grows bigger when that nasty demon “Displaced Anger” shows up, and Keya takes out her “mad” on her friend, Hooper :-( . Yep, that’s what NOT to do.

Through Hallee’s words and Sandra de la Prada‘s expressive illustrations, the reader witnesses how to handle a situation in which displaced anger hurts a friend, how to go about rectifying it, and the kind of forgiveness and understanding that should be the dynamic between good friends.

Mister Rogers always knew that helping children learn how to manage their emotions was an invaluable service. His words of wisdom are needed now more than ever, and so are children’s books that help with such an essential effort. That's what this book is and I’m thrilled to report — it’s going to be a series!!!

[Elisabeth · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars.

[Dylan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really like these but the fact that they never talk to their grown ups about how they are feeling seems like a slight negative to this otherwise wonderful books

[Lucas · Rating 5 out of 5]

“I liked that she had a messy room like me! I like when she said sorry because I say mean things when I’m mad too and I am sorry.” - Luke

[Hanna · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really liked this book! I liked that it had concrete things happening that upset the little girl, and that her apology to her friend was also concrete and specific.

[Karen S · Rating 5 out of 5]

A truly wonderful read. Finally a book that addresses the true emotions of children. Refreshing!!!
Keep the “way past” books coming! Long overdue!

[Tammy Higgins · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a librarian and teacher, I am thrilled to find books like Way Past Mad. I find more and more that students come to school ill-equipped to navigate interpersonal skills. Too often students find their emotions out in front of themselves and in the middle of conflict, especially with regard to anger. Adelman uses no gimmick here. She shows a very organic, relatable situation for children as main character, Keya, faces a series of annoyances at home that left unchecked build and build to a mad that "starts and swells and spreads like a rash." Before she knows it, she allows her anger to drive her actions and undeservingly hurts friend Hooper in the process. I know so many students who act out of emotion only to regret it later. Although Keya manages to "get past her mad" through apology, what I love about this book is that it can open up conversations with young readers - with parents, teachers and counselors alike - about other ways to process emotions (especially when they get away from us) and make amends when our "mad" hurts others even though we didn't intend to. I have already purchased copies to share with all of our elementary libraries.

[Dawn · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is excellent. It belongs on the shelves in homes, libraries, classrooms, and wherever else a young person might experiences big, overwhelming feelings. The illustrations feature a multi-cultural cast of characters. The text is simple but spot-on and emotive. Kids (and adults) will immediately relate to the characters' emotional journeys. I have a friend who is a family therapist, and I'm putting this book into her hands right away.

[Lyndsey & Kevin McCormick · Rating 5 out of 5]

This lovely picture book is good for kiddos (4-8ish) who are trying to process feelings of anger (which is a BIG feeling for a little person!). I love the illustrations (by Sandra de la Prada), which bring Hallee Adelman's words to life in a fun and relatable way.

And speaking of words, Adelman has a way about them. The way she talks about "mad" as a noun, such as "I gave him my mad," "my mad made me say it," etc. are simultaneously compelling and cute!

Highly recommend this book (and her previous MY QUIET SHIP, 2018) for the kiddos in your life who sometimes get WAY PAST MAD.

[Jennifer Barr · Rating 5 out of 5]

We've all been Way Past Mad. "The kind of mad that starts and swells and spreads like a rash." Gorgeous book with beautiful bold art. Important theme - one that can resonate with us all. Hallee Adelman has shown the true nature of how children (and everyone really!) can be mad, and how that kind of mad can affect the people around us. A great addition to any library, home picture book collection, or classroom setting. Looking forward to more Way Past books!

[Tori Martin · Rating 2 out of 5]

Although the book ends well, we did not read this to our 4.5 and 3 year olds. We felt that the main character's attitude and responses to angering situations was a bad example to our kids, and since the resolution was so short we felt that our kids would be more likely to emulate the negative expressions of anger rather than the short, positive example.

[Andréa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Note: I accessed a digital review copy of this book through Edelweiss.