Dealing with Feeling: Happy
 

Dealing with Feelings is a 6 book series that helps children understand their emotions and is designed to give voice to what’s brewing inside, showing children how to name their emotions as they also learn to read. While I illustrated many books before, most of them were for toddlers, and were not so specific in terms of expressing human emotions, or as child-centric. Illustrating a group of kids and adults was a new experience for me, as was a 6 book work scope. But as such things often go, I got more confident as the work progressed and enjoyed a variety of compositions and view points.

This Makes Me Happy follows a young girl on a field trip to the fair, complete with a roller coaster, pie-eating contest, and petting zoo! But when her pesky nut allergy keeps her from having a treat with her class, the girl learns that even the happiest of days can have unhappy moments. By reflecting on her trip and recognizing the many feelings that arose during it, she is able to feel less overwhelmed―and more confident about her positively happy day.