1-2-3 A Calmer Me: Helping Children Cope When Emotions Get out of Control
Colleen A. Patterson and Brenda S. Miles, Authors
Claire Keay, Illustrator
Magination Press, Fiction, Sep. 22, 2015
Suitable for Ages: 5-8
Themes: Anger, Emotions, Calmness
Opening: I am happy, but sometimes I feel mad and VERY frustrated! Like the other day when I let go of my balloon. I felt s-o-o-o mad!
Synopsis: A girl becomes angry when she lets go of her balloon. Her friend tells her it’s okay to feel mad, but there is something she can do to feel better. He shares with her a rhyme he uses to calm his body and mind. “1-2-3 a calmer me. 1-2-3 I hug me. 1-2-3 relax and b-r-e-a-t-h-e…1-2-3 a calmer me.” When she discovers it melts her angry feelings, she begins to use the technique when someone takes away her favorite crayon, when she has to stop playing and eat dinner, and when she loses a race.
Why I like this book:
I was delighted to discover Colleen A. Patterson and Brenda S. Miles’ book which helps children with relaxation and mindfulness when their emotions spin out of control. We need more books like this to use at home and at school to help upset kids regain control so that they don’t act out in a harmful way. Claire Keay’s illustrations are rendered in warm and comforting pastels and capture the emotion of the story.
1-2-3 A Calmer Me introduces readers to a very simple rhyming mantra to help them stop their negative reaction, calm their anger, frustration or disappointment and replace it with a very easy technique. In the first action of the mantra the girl wraps her arms around herself and gives herself a big, tight hug. Then she counts again and slowly breathes in and out and relaxes her body. In the last action she slowly releases her hug and lets her arms dangle by her side. She feels the relaxation.
Resources: The book includes a “Note to Parents, Teachers and Other Grown-Ups” with more information about the steps of the “1-2-3” rhyme, and advice for working through the steps with your child.
Children's Books Heal 
A much more sensible way to teach children how to control emotions. Getting angry with a child who is already angry just makes matters worse. Another great book for a child´s library.
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I agree with you. I am glad there are many more books out that teach simple techniques to help kids to calm themselves. There are more books on mindfulness, yoga, tai chi etc., all wonderful tools for kids to help them take control of their emotions.
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Pat, This sounds like such a terrific book, especially for a nursery-preK classroom where kids are still trying to figure out how to voice their feelings when things don’t go their way. Great review!
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Yes, I think this book is terrific for nursery-preK childrens. Many preschools are teaching mindfulness in a manner of ways. Teaching kids a tool early will benefit them for a long time.
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Sounds like a great addition to any library, home, school. Everybody deals with emotions!
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After reading the book I thought, adults could also benefit from this three-step exercise.
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I wish I had this book when my kids were in pre-school. And as life becomes more hectic and filled with tension, including the endless heart-breaking news, techniques to create a calmer me could benefit people of any age.
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That’s what I though too. Even adults would benefit from the technique. I love that many pre-schools are teaching tools like mindfulness, yoga to help kids learn self-calming techniques.
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I hope plenty of teachers read this post and add this book to their class lessons. I might have to try this 1-2-3 technique next time I receive a rejection on a manuscript… Thanks for another great post!
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Let me know how the technique works next time your receive a rejection on a MS. LOL! Glad you liked the book! It is such a easy technique for kids — and adults.
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This sounds like an important book that families can find very useful.
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It is a very helpful book for children and parents.
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This seems a good way to help small children to learn to deal with their own emotions – much better than confrontation or even distraction which don’t prevent recurrences of outbursts. I’ll look for this one for my 1 year old granddaughter so my daughter has a useful tool for future reference, I have a feeling she may need it!
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It really is a great way to help children learn tools to deal with their emotions. Excellent book. Thanks for visiting.
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