First published 2020
The School of Life presents a collection of 26 alphabetically arranged poems that turn human emotions into vivid animal characters. Each poem tackles a different feeling, from Anger to more complex states like Embarrassment and Guilt. Children meet these emotional creatures through rhyming verses that explain how each feeling emerges, what behaviors it triggers, and how young readers can learn to handle its effects. The animal metaphors make abstract emotions concrete and memorable. A child struggling with anger might recognize it in its animal form and gain new words to describe what they experience. The poems offer therapeutic guidance wrapped in musical language, helping children build the emotional vocabulary they need to communicate their inner states. This approach addresses a common childhood challenge: the gap between feeling something intensely and being able to name or discuss it. The book provides children with multiple ways to express their emotions to parents, teachers, and friends. Through creative imagery and practical wisdom, these verses aim to develop emotional literacy that supports healthier, more fulfilled development into adulthood.
Genres: self-help, contemporary, poetry
Vibes: atmospheric, intimate, lyrical, thought-provoking, whimsical
Tropes: educational, therapeutic
60 pages · Hardcover · The School of Life