Book Review
A short overview of this book
Visiting Feelings by Lauren Rubenstein is a lovely book that encourages kids to think of their feelings as guests ie welcome them in, get to know them, perhaps learn why they are visiting, and let them go (and come back again).
You can learn more on this page, about how to talk to kids about sex education.
Ideal Age
Ideal for children aged 4 to 8 years.
Buy this book
✅ Buy a copy of Visiting Feelings by Lauren Rubenstein from Amazon.
Video Transcription
A transcription in case you are more of a reader than a listener
Hey there! I’m Cath Hak, and welcome to Sex Ed Rescue. On my YouTube channel and website, I review a ton of books that cover various topics related to sex education. I’m here to help parents find better ways to talk to their kids about sex and other important subjects. So, let’s dive into a book review today!
The book I want to talk about is Visiting Feelings by Lauren Rubenstein. It’s a beautiful book that explores different emotions. The author cleverly portrays feelings as visitors, some welcome and some not so much. Sometimes these visitors stay for a short while, and other times they stick around for longer, even when we don’t want them to. Kids can totally relate to that, right?
Let me share a personal story to illustrate this. So, my aunt is coming to stay with us for three days, and we have a big sewing project to tackle. My son, who’s eleven, wasn’t thrilled about giving up his bed for her. He worried that she’d have to sleep there, but it’s actually his sister’s bed that she needs. Kids can understand how visitors, even family members, can sometimes disrupt our routines and make us feel uneasy.
The book encourages kids to open the door to their feelings and invite them to play. It suggests asking what the feeling wants and really listening to it. I love how the book uses rhyme to engage young readers, and the illustrations showcase diversity, which is so important in modern books.
The author also prompts kids to visualize their feelings. What does it look like? Is it bright like the sun or dark like the rain? How does it feel? Light as a cloud or heavy like a grizzly bear? By giving kids the vocabulary to describe their emotions, the book helps them express themselves in new ways.
Visiting Feelings doesn’t just focus on inner warning signals like sweaty hands. Instead, it encourages kids to explore where their feelings settle in their bodies. Is it in their stomach or up in their throat? By paying attention to these physical sensations, kids can better understand and accept their emotions.
The book reminds us that all feelings are valid and that simply acknowledging them can make a big difference. It’s all about accepting and understanding our emotions. Sometimes, that’s all it takes.
I really appreciate how Visiting Feelings offers a fresh approach to helping kids recognize and label their emotions. It’s a great resource for parents looking to support their children’s emotional well-being.
I hope you found this review helpful! Cheers!
