The Boy with Big, Big Feelings

Big, Big #1

by Britney Winn Lee, Jacob Souva (Illustrator)

Meet a boy with a heart so big, his feelings glow from his cheeks, spill out of his eyes, and jump up and down on his chest. What good is this giant heart?

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Emotion, Mental Health, Autistic Spectrum Disorder, School, Kids

32 pages, Hardcover

Published August 20, 2019

Reviews

[Maggie Haritha · Rating 5 out of 5]

A precious and true depiction of the feelings so many of us have felt (and still feel) during childhood. This book gives children the language to give adjectives to their feelings and how to name them, which I believe will allow them to better understand themselves as adults. Also, this acknowledges and affirms deep and big feelings in boys and girls, narrowing the gender gap and giving permission to boys to feel. A necessary, deep, and wonderful addition to Children's literature.

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

a book that normalizes big feelings, and one I wish had been around when I was a little girl.

[Mike · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book! It's such a good reflection of me and reminds me again that it's okay to feel feelings, even sadness.
Beautiful read for kids.

[Kelli · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very good book that opens up a great discussion on how big feelings can be when you're little. It maybe a bit geared toward neurodivergent kiddos, but it's still very relatable for any kiddo with outsized emotions. We used it as jumping off point to talk about how every person experiences their feelings differently.

[Kitty · Rating 5 out of 5]

I should probably put an emotional education shelf up on goodreads. This is a really great one. Gorgeous illustrations of being overwhelmed by emotions of all sorts. Doesn't anthropomorphize colors, which I've discovered is a pet peeve of mine. Rhyming text, which always wins me over. This is a book I would like in my home library.

[Brooke · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautiful illustrations with a cute, approachable story. My 10yo saw it sitting on the counter and picked it up to read without me saying anything. :)

[Morton Public Library · Rating 5 out of 5]

Issue-oriented | Thoughful | Upbeat (Appeal terms from NoveList) - Hilary

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

A children's book about feelings.

[Aneesa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Got this book at Literacy Night. Read book to child. Did not ask her any questions, point out the rhyme scheme, or point to the words as I read them.

[Cameron]

i wish i had a book like this when i was a child

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

When a friend with impeccable taste in children's books comes to you and says, “You've got to read The Boy with Big, Big Feelings. It sums my children up perfectly and would be so important for anyone raising boys... No, anyone raising children... to know that it's okay, and maybe even essential, to both feel and show emotions," you immediately ask her if you can borrow said book. Then, of course, you fall in love with it and add it to your posting calendar to ensure that you remember to share it with the world. So, here it is!
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In The Boy with Big, Big Feelings, we meet a boy who not only feels, but feels big. However, he learns to "stuff all his feelings deep down" because he worries that his peers will laugh at and make fun of him. So, he hides his heart until one day, he notices a peer who also seems to be feeling extra big emotions, too. Through their friendship, the two learn to open their hearts again, and also realize that others around them feel big emotions at times, too!
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I greatly appreciate that Lee allows the main character to feel big, big feelings both positively and negatively. So often, we equate squashing emotions to bottling up our worries, fears, and sadness, but many children also try to temper their happiness and excitement, too, in order to fit in.
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You should know that Lee crafted this story originally as a stand-alone poem, not as text for a children's book. Therefore, this book is begging to be read aloud and shared, to bring adults and children together in sharing this book AND their emotions and experiences with each other. The combination of Souva's illustrations with Lee's descriptive phrases (you know it's special when tears are described as "That big heart of his / would push feelings right out of his eyes!") allows children to deepen their understanding of feelings and develop language to describe how their emotions make their bodies feel.
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Thank you, Britney Winn Lee and Jacob Souva, and the many other authors and illustrators who are helping our children grow, understand how to process their emotions, and express them honestly and safely!

[Juliana Lee · Rating 3 out of 5]

A boy with extra big feelings sometimes cries at loud noises, gets angry when his block tower collapses. He thinks he is alone in his feelings and so he tries to hide them. One day he meets a girl who is feeling blue and he sees that she has extra big feelings too. They become friends and soon realize that everyone has feelings, some big some small.

[Josh Olds · Rating 5 out of 5]

A lot of children’s books that deal with children’s emotions tend to focus on how emotions should be expressed, managed, controlled, or otherwise maintained. And while those aren’t inherently bad—though some can be—the overall impression that kids can get from adults is that it’s not okay to express emotion. This is particularly true for young boys. Just the other day, I witnessed a mom at the playground telling her young son that “only babies cry” and “nobody likes you when you cry.” Yikes.

The truth of the matter is that everyone has big feelings and while there are inappropriate or more negative ways of expressing them, children need to be taught how to express and use their big feelings. That message is at the core of The Boy with Big, Big Feelings. With a delightful rhyming scheme from Britney Winn Lee and engaging illustrations from Jacob Souva, this book introduces readers to a young boy whose feelings sometimes overwhelm him.

Lee takes readers through the highs and lows of having big feelings—from the extreme joy of playing with others, to sadness, to empathy at another’s pain. Finally, the boy finds a kindred spirit with similarly big feelings and the two begin to see that everyone has big feelings at some time or another. The book ends “The boy and his friends slowly felt less alone with the feelings that lived deep inside them. Emotions might feel big and scary sometimes, but that is no reason to hide them!”

As someone with big emotions, who has children with big emotions, and who lives in a rather emotionally reserved culture, The Boy with Big, Big Feelings is validating and freeing. Adults have such a desire to control children that many never learn to express and engage with their feelings freely. This gets exacerbated by certain strains of Christianity that focus on patriarchal authority and preach the impassivity or emotionlessness or God. But just read Scripture and see God’s big, big feelings at work! We are made in the image of the Creator and our heart is meant to reflect the Divine.

I remember when my son was very young, he was attempting to create something with blocks. He had a vision in his two-year-old mind that the dexterity of a two-year-old’s hands and—let’s face it—basic principles of physics were rendering impossible. The vision could not be realized. And he raged. And raged. And raged. Because his world was not as he wanted it to be. Many adults would look on his big feelings as bad behavior. But how many times have I raged and raged and raged about the world not being what I want it to be? How often is my vision for the world not in alignment with reality and no matter how much I try I cannot fix it? That’s a holy rage—but it must be taught and cultivated. The world seeks to quash big, big feelings. Instead, we need to embrace them. That’s what The Boy with Big, Big Feelings teaches us.

My son is six now. When we got this book, he asked to read it. A few pages in he stops and says “This boy is just like me.” And I wept.

[Benjamin]

I promise you I don't just read heavy message books to Henry, but we recently went through his library books to see which ones we want to read again, and this was in the give back pile, which is why it's in my to-be-reviewed pile. Is his give-back pile mostly heavy message books? Hmmm, probably just a coincidence and not just a failure of authors to pitch things to kids rather than to their parents...

(I'm partly joking and here's the part where I'm joking: maybe this didn't quite work for Henry now, but maybe it'll work for your babe. Try it! That's what your local library is for!)

So this is a book, in rhyme, about a boy who, well, has big feelings: when he's happy, he's very happy, when he's sad, he's very sad -- and when other people are sad, he's sad too. He tries to repress his emotions because he's afraid other kids will make fun of him, but then he meets a girl who has big big feelings, and they bond, and then realize that everyone has big feelings. Wait, everyone?

There's something niggling me about this book -- and certainly part of it is the resolution that everyone has big feelings. That's not my experience, either as an individual or as a caretaker watching multiple children play. Everyone has feelings? Sure, absolutely, a good lesson. Everyone has big feelings the same way? That's just a little slip at the end of the book and it feels like a slip, like -- it's not narratively motivated, it feels like a quick move to say something that the authors want to say but haven't actually shown.

On top of that, the whole premise of this book feels... I don't know, limiting? Like: we no longer take the 1950s parenting approach of saying that feelings don't matter; and I see a lot of mindfulness for kids stuff that says something like "your feelings are like the fish in a pond, they come and go -- be like the pond, not the fish." But this book feels like it swings far away from either position, and if you swing far from "feelings don't matter" you hit "feelings are the only thing that matters." And that's not a message I support, especially with a sensitive kid.

Like: recognize that you have big feelings, don't be ashamed and hide them -- but also recognize that your big feelings are big fish, and you're the pond.

(I'd actually go a little further than this book, which represents feelings as just a thing that you feel, whereas I feel that feelings are actually things that sometimes should lead to some actions. Like if you're scared, sometimes that's just a thing to feel, but sometimes it's a message to you to do something.)

[Marienne Carillo · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Boy with Big, Big Feelings by Britney Winn Lee is a great book that follows a boy who describes himself as having really big feelings. Throughout the story, we see how he experiences different emotions through a variety of playful visuals and comparisons. We also see that his feelings are so big that he has the ability to feel other’s big feelings as well. As we follow him through his school days, we see him struggling to hide the fact that he feels such strong emotions. However, when he meets someone with similar experiences, he learns that he is not alone and that big feelings should be embraced.
What this book contributes to the central concept of emotions is the recognition of empathy. It acknowledges that individuals, including children, have the ability to feel things personally and sense feelings from other people. Not only does this emphasize connection with others, but it also stresses the importance of not hiding emotions. Another contribution to emotions that this book makes is the importance of connecting with others. When the boy finds another student who feels and struggles in the same thing, they are able to work through their feelings together instead of doing it alone.
In his article, “Introduction to Picturebook Codes,” Moebius discusses the intention behind representations of light and how it depicts the differentiating degrees of character understanding. This book strongly reflects this idea in the color schemes of each emotion. Darker colors, for example, are prevalent in scenes where the boy is experiencing feelings of insecurity and unsureness. The colorful imagery will be enjoyable and easily understood by children k-6, making this book a fantastic read for insight into emotions.

[Savannah Lee · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Boy with Big, Big Feelings is about a little boy who was in tune with his feelings. He is very empathic and can feel the emotions of those around him. He asks, "Why me? Why this big, giant heart in a world that's so heavy and kind, where all of the feelings under the sun feel as if they were made to be mine?" He was nervous that others would make fun of him for all his feelings so he tried to push them down. He met a little girl who shared how she also has big feelings, they became friends. They discovered their whole class is filled with big emotions.

The illustrations are lovely, they accurately depict the feelings and emotions. Honestly, I teared up a little while reading this book. I was and am this little boy to this day, I feel all the emotions and at times they feel all-consuming. I loved the theme of this book, it is okay to have those big feelings and emotions, in fact, it is healthy. I think it is especially important to share this with younger students particularly boys as sometimes they do receive some grief for showing their feelings.

I will 100% use this book in my future classroom no matter what grade I teach. The importance of sharing their emotions is far greater than worrying what others might say, way easier said than done. By introducing feelings and emotions, I can teach my students to respond to situations that are positive and negative.

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book had a great message that not only helps children to feel comfortable with having big, big feelings but also gives others an inside view and an understanding of what it is like to feel this way and have no control over it. The rhyming gives the story a good flow and pace which makes for an interesting and easy read. The illustrations were well thought out and actually help to visually portray what it must be like for the character to deal with his big, big feelings. The illustrations also include characters of a mixture of all different type is races and gender which helps to make any child be able to see themselves in the story. The story is a good lesson for children that they are not alone in how they feel and that even though they may be different from some other children, there are other children who feel just like they do and if they are able to just be themselves rather than hide their feelings they may just find a new friend who feels the same way they do. The overall story is great for children, young readers, and adults alike. It's provides a great lesson in an whimsical way that keeps the readers attention.

[Bri Feltz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Genre: Contemporary Realistic
Grade Level: PreK-3rd
Really sweet book with a lot of great uses to talk about SEL with students. This book is a great way to remove the stigma associated with big emotions and normalize it in the classroom. This is also a great reminder to teacher's that a student isn't necessarily acting out, but they may just have a big heart and struggle handling the big emotions they feel. I really like how the illustrations connect with the big emotions being talked about so you could use this as a opportunity to talk about a way to handle an emotion. Students could use the illustrations as a model to how they can draw their own emotions to communicate them appropriately. I love that in the end it talks about the importance of communicating our emotions and not hiding them way down inside. I could definitely see this being used as a whole class read aloud and one on one with struggling students.

[Meredith · Rating 3 out of 5]

A highly sensitive child describes his big feelings and worries about how his peers will react to his emotions.

"There once was a boy with feathery hair and a heart that was bursting with feeling. His emotions seemed bigger than everyone else's, and sometimes they made him go reeling."

A little boy describes how he reacts more intensely to external stimuli, both positively and negatively, and how he can be overwhelmed by his emotions. He also talks about being affected by the emotions of others.

He worries about being ostracized by his peers until he meets a classmate who is also a highly sensitive person. Their friendship helps him gain self-acceptance.

This picture book raises awareness of children who highly sensitive and whose emotional reactions may appear irrational and extreme. These children have special emotional needs and require additional help and firm but reasonable boundaries to learn to regulate their own emotions.

[Shane · Rating 3 out of 5]

I like that there are so many books these days that try to help kinds identify what they are feeling and experiencing. Picture books that help children deal with worries, or anger, or depression are crossing my desk much more often.

I liked the start of this book. I could identify with the "big feelings" the boy was feeling, and how they would leak out of his eyes and show on his face whether he wanted them to or not. Both myself and my son experienced this to some degree when we were younger.

The element I wasn't so sure about was how self-aware the boy was, and so readily able to identify a girl who was the same as him, and subsequently that everyone has these feelings, to the same degree. This seemed to minimise the isolation children like that can feel, and also the fact that they might be different to those around them.

The artwork was lovely, with excellent use of colour.

[Mya Motley · Rating 5 out of 5]

"The Boy with Big, Big Feelings" is a fun book about a boy who feels very strong emotions. It helps kids understand their feelings better and teaches them how to deal with big emotions in a good way. The story shows how the boy learns to handle his feelings with the help of adults and friends who care about him. Kids around 5 to 8 years old can enjoy this book, but older kids up to 10 can also learn from it. They'll learn about different feelings, like when they feel happy, sad, or angry. The book also gives ideas on how to calm down when feelings get too big, like taking deep breaths or talking to someone they trust. I'd use this book in class to talk about emotions and how to manage them. This helps kids learn about emotions and how to handle them in a positive way, which is really important for their well-being.

[Michelle Goggin · Rating 5 out of 5]

A young boy full of energy gets himself in trouble at school and is also obnoxious to his friend. It started affecting him in his own feeling of himself, thinking something's wrong with him, and he doesn't understand. But his dad comes to his rescue and teaches him meditation and finding his zen, and through his learning of this, he's able to help his friends when they were styress. In the end, the young boy found his calling in helping people full his energy to make good choices fast during tough situations.

I really like this book because it deals with self-esteem and finding yourself when you're different. it also deals with mental illness, which is tough for young people. The book is very colorful, large, and bright, drawing you in. I also like the relationship between father and son, which is positive and shows what to do during stressful situations.

[Mariah Fuller · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story is all about a boy with really big feelings. His emotions were always high and he struggled to control his emotions, even the smallest things would make him cry, get angry, have a burst of happiness, and even take on the feelings of all those around him. He struggles to balance his emotions and control the feelings he had. The boy eventually just stuffs everything inside and stops talking about his emotions, until one day he finds someone else who has really big emotions too. He finds someone he can relate to! The boy realizes that his feelings are powerful, sharing them make you realize that big emotions effect all of us. I like the overall message that emotions might feel big and overwhelming sometimes, but that is no reason to hide them.

[Brandi · Rating 4 out of 5]

A boy with feelings so big he doesn't know how to cope with his emotions. When a loud truck drives by, he cries. When someone having a hard day, he feels their emotions as if they were his own. He tries to cope by hiding his feelings. He thought the kids would make fun of him or not wan to be his friend because of his mixed emotions. He met a girl who was crying and realized he is not the only one with feelings and that his feelings are not something to be ashamed of. This book is relatable for any child, but especially for children experiencing anxiety and extreme emotions, or who have been diagnosed with autism or as a highly sensitive person. I would recommend this book because it shows its okay to express your feelings and your not alone.

[Shelby Staples · Rating 5 out of 5]

"The Boy With Big, Big Feelings" is a children's book written by Britney Hoffman and illustrated by Alison Brown. The book follows a little boy named Q who experiences intense emotions and struggles to express them in a healthy way. Through the use of expressive illustrations and relatable storytelling, Hoffman and Brown tackle the issue of emotional regulation and offer children a helpful and empowering way to understand and cope with their feelings. The book also includes a "Note to Caregivers" section with tips and strategies for supporting children's emotional well-being. "The Boy With Big, Big Feelings" is an excellent resource for parents, caregivers, and educators looking to promote emotional literacy and support children's mental health.

[Melissa Alvarez · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is for ages 3 and up. I enjoyed this book because it talks about a boy with ADHD. Sometimes children feel all of these different emotions and do not know why. The boy in this story talks about the emotions he was feeling and how scary his emotions were because they were so big. He was scared that the other children would make fun of him. Until I day he found a friend that was experiencing the same emotions as him. He told her that she felt the same way he way. I’d recommend this book because it also discusses how it’s ok to feel these big emotions and that just because they are so big that doesn’t mean they have to be hidden.

[MOSS Kids Book Project · Rating 5 out of 5]

I cannot get over this book. It is my absolute favorite. Reading this with my sensitive 4yo boy with BIG, BIG feelings was an absolute gift. He was finally able to see himself in a book character! It was a perfect addition as our son has been experiencing big changes navigating new routines and a new baby sister. We created an activity where he drew a self portrait & painted his emotions coming out of him (just like the book's cover). While he painted, we talked about all the different emotions he feels and how he doesn’t need to hide them. We even discussed how mama has big feelings too— just like in the book. Forever grateful to author Britney Winn Lee!!

[Molly · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm trying to find a book on empathy, and understanding other kids' feelings. This one doesn't quite meet that goal, but it does do a good job of speaking to those kids who seem to feel emotions on a bigger scale than their peers. I definitely had big, big feelings as a kid (and adult, if I'm honest) and always felt like that was a flaw. This is a great book for kids like that, and I think its especially important that it's a boy, since we still really need to normalize boys and men having emotions.

[Jaedyn Harrington · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think that this book is is incredibly important for kids to read. It follows a boy who feels his emotions very strongly, and is embarrassed by it because he doesn't think anyone else feels like him. However, after meeting a girl, he realizes that everyone has feelings, and that it's not a bad thing to feel them so strongly or openly. I think that many kids try to keep their feelings inside because they're scared of being judged because of it, but it's important that parents and teachers teach their children that feelings are natural, and that it's healthy to show them.

[Natalie · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book is about a boy who has very big feelings. He feels what others feel and just goes through all the emotions. There are illustrations that show how he is feeling through his heart and he finds a friend that also feels the same way. I would use this in my classroom to talk about feelings because kids are learning what to call those emotions. I like how it features a boy in the book because we are told that boys don't cry or shouldn't show their emotions. It is important that we talk about our feelings and understand what they mean.