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| From Ira Crumb Feels the Feelings by Naseem Hrab, illus. by Josh Holinaty |
Poor Ira. Now his tummy hurts, his chin is wibbling and his eyes are leaking. There are those who admonish him for his feelings:
Chin up, kid. No one likes a wibbler.
and others who seek to distract him:
Forget your problems and just feel the music.
Even inanimate objects like houses, a hydrant and a car seem to be trying to cheer him up. But Ira's feelings are fully in control, evolving from sadness to explosive anger. It's only when Malcolm reconnects with Ira, telling Ira he'd missed him and offers to be sad with him that the friendship is rekindled into a laughing extravaganza of fart jokes.
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| From Ira Crumb Feels the Feelings by Naseem Hrab, illus. by Josh Holinaty |
While that which distresses Ira may seem insignificant to older readers,
Naseem Hrab understands that being excluded or not having your game chosen is a very big deal for Ira and very young children. (Reminds me of a great folk song called
Blues is Like Shoes.) Ira tries to understand his feelings but feelings are often incomprehensible except in hindsight. When feelings have you in their hold, it's tough to have perspective. And the vocabulary
Naseem Hrab uses, like leaking eyes and wibbling chins, is so appropriate for the very young. The message is that feelings, though not always welcome, are normal. In fact, an engaging poster that came with the book shows Ira in all his feelings, good and bad and in-between.
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| Portion of poster accompanying Ira Crumb Feels the Feelings by Naseem Hrab, illus. by Josh Holinaty |
Josh Holinaty's illustrations are more than appropriate for the very young who would benefit from reading a story about feelings. His artwork is emotive and still fun.
Josh Holinaty, who illustrated Troy Wilson's
Liam Takes a Stand (Owlkids, 2017), makes Ira effusive in his emotions from joy at play to overwhelmed with sadness and blistering with rage. Ira and his feelings are the stars of the book and
Josh Holinaty ensures that, through colour, line and shape, nothing gets in the way of that focus.
I know that
Ira Crumb Feels the Feelings is a fun but realistic take on friendship but I think teachers of preschoolers and kindergartners will appreciate its lessons on emotions, for children to recognize feelings in themselves and in others, to help everyone get along a little bit better.
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Look for the news tomorrow about the Toronto book launch for
Ira Crumb Feels the Feelings for a chance to purchase your own copy, have some fun and nibble on a few cookies. (I heard there would be cookies though, if there aren't, disappointment is a feeling we can all accept as normal.)
