This post is sponsored by Purple Butterfly Press. The review and opinions expressed in this post are based on my personal view.

ABOUT THE BOOK

Ralphy’s Rules for Feelings

Written by Talar Hercuilian Coursey and Riley Herculian Coursey

Illustrated by Meri Andreasyan

Ages 4+ | 36 Pages

Publisher: Purple Butterfly Press (2024) | ISBN-13: 9781955119450

Publisher’s Book Summary: We have big feelings!

Sometimes we don’t know what to do with them or how to change our thoughts that cause these feelings. The first day of school can be scary, but “Furrapist” Jackson Johnson and cute pup Ralphy of Ralphy’s Rules for the Good Life are committed to helping a busload of kids understand and manage their big feelings. During the ride to school, Furrapist Jackson Johnson teaches the children that they can choose their emotions and decide how to respond to them. Ralphy and Jackson make the complicated subject of emotional intelligence accessible for kids to understand and, more importantly, implement in their everyday lives.

So hop on the bus with us, and let’s learn about how taking charge of our feelings can change our day!

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Talar Herculian Coursey is a lawyer by day and a children’s book author, Life Coach, and philanthropist by night (more like mornings). She has been a General Counsel since 2011 and recently joined ComplyAuto, a privacy/cybersecurity SAAS company. Before going in-house, she was a file clerk, associate, and partner at the national labor and employment law firm Fisher Phillips LLP. Talar is a co-author of both #Networked: How 20 Women Lawyers Overcame the Confines of COVID-19 Social Distancing to Create Connections, CultivateCommunity, & Build Businesses in the Midst of a Global Pandemic and Women In Law: Discovering the True Meaning of Success. Her first children’s book, Ralphy’s Rules for Living the Good Life, was published in 2021.

Talar has served as the President of the Salt Lake City Chapter of the Society for Orphaned Armenian Relief (“SOAR”) since 2015. SOAR, founded in 2005, supports orphanages in Syria, Lebanon and Armenia. She runs the Salt Lake City Half Marathon every year to raise money for SOAR in memory of her father. Net proceeds from her children’s books also go to SOAR. In addition to being a mother, wife, lawyer, life coach, and philanthropist, she is also a runner, yogi, and Jesus, Eckhart Tolle, Peloton, and Brandon Flowers groupie.

For more information, visit talaresq.com.

MY REVIEW OF THIS BOOK

SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL SKILLS EXPLAINED FOR YOUNG CHILDREN

Ralphy’s Rules for Feelings

Written by Talar and Riley Herculian Coursey

Illustrated by Meri Andreasyan

This is the second picture book in a series that defines and explains how to deal with emotions for elementary school age children.

Ralphy, a dog, drives the school bus and his friend Jackson Johnson, the Furrapist, sits next to him on the first day of school. As each child passenger enters the bus, Jackson asks how they are feeling. The children express feelings like excitement, sadness, nervousness, and tiredness. Jackson encourages each child to put this feeling on the front seat and decide later whether to leave it or take it with them when getting off the bus at school, teaching children that a feeling can be changed by thinking differently about it. The book portrays a wide range of feelings exhibited by multicultural children, which allows any reader to identify with the characters. At the end of the story, readers are encouraged to discuss their own feelings.

While the book is targeted for readers ages four through ten, it is relevant for a reader of any age. I would recommend it to parents and teachers for a read aloud and discussion.

GIVEAWAY

Enter the giveaway for the chance to win a classroom set that includes 25 copies of Ralphy’s Rules for Feelings!

CLICK ON THE LINK BELOW TO ENTER THE GIVEAWAY!

https://gleam.io/VfBnl/ralphys-rules-for-feelings-book-giveaway

  

TOUR SCHEDULE

Monday, January 22, 2024The Children’s Book ReviewBook Review of Ralphy’s Rules for Feelings

Tuesday, January 23, 2024Me Two BooksA Storytime Activity Paired with Ralphy’s Rules for Feelings

Wednesday, January 24, 2024Life Is What It’s CalledAuthor Interview with Talar Herculian Coursey

Thursday, January 25, 2024The Fairview ReviewBook Review of Ralphy’s Rules for Feelings

Friday, January 25, 2024Confessions of a Book AddictBook Spotlight of Ralphy’s Rules for Feelings

Monday, January 29, 2024A Blue Box Full of BooksBook Review of Ralphy’s Rules for Feelings and Little Free Library Drop

Tuesday, January 30, 2024icefairy’s Treasure ChestBook Review of Ralphy’s Rules for Feelings

Wednesday, January 31, 2024Satisfaction for Insatiable ReadersBook Review of Ralphy’s Rules for Feelings

Thursday, February 1, 2024Cover Lover Book ReviewBook Review of Ralphy’s Rules for Feelings

Friday, February 2, 2024One More ExclamationBook Review of Ralphy’s Rules for Feelings

Monday, February 5, 2024Country Mamas with KidsBook Review of Ralphy’s Rules for Feelings

Tuesday, February 6, 2024The Momma SpotBook Review of Ralphy’s Rules for Feelings

Wednesday, February 7, 2024Barbara Ann MojicaBook Review of Ralphy’s Rules for Feelings

Thursday, February 8, 2024Deliciously SavvyBook Review of Ralphy’s Rules for Feelings

Friday, February 9, 2024Stargirls Magical TaleBook Review of Ralphy’s Rules for Feelings

While Daddy is Away: Days of Deployment

Written by Trista Lawrence

Illustrated by Denny Poliquit

A Christian family talks about how to stay strong while dad is deployed in military service. The older brother and sister help with chores, assist their baby brother and create projects to send dad and keep his spirits up. Though it is difficult for them, they understand the meaning of his sacrifice and are proud of him.

This picture book is recommended as a resource for families in military service.

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Lola’s Fuzzy Snuggly Blanket

Written by S.D. Dillard

Many children like Lola have a warm, fuzzy blanket that they see as a comforting friend. Lola has grown beyond the toddler and preschool years, but she continues to take her blanket everywhere she goes. One day her father asks her to leave the blanket at home when they are going out to a restaurant.

When the family return home, Lola’s blanket cannot be found. Lola is extremely upset. The next day, while cleaning, Lola’s mom finds the blanket. Lola goes back to sleeping with her blanket.

I can sympathize with Lola. One of my children was very attached to her blanket. While the premise of the story is a good one, it seems strange that Lola would be comfortable bringing her blanket to school. I think it would have been better for Lola’s dad to discuss the situation rather than tell her to leave the blanket home and then hide it. Parents and teachers might want to use this book to discuss the subject of separation anxiety, particularly with preschool and kindergarten children.

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Ronan’s Dinosaur

Written by Nadishka Aloysius

Illustrated by Manoshi de Silva

This chapter book features a five-year-old boy named Ronan who is suddenly moved to join his parents at his Grandmother’s rural home in Sri Lanka. Ronan and his parents lived in the urban area of Colombo.

Ronan is an anxious, lonely boy who does not like change. His parents have moved in temporarily to help his ailing grandmother. Ronan’s parents are kind and caring parents who do their best to assuage his fears. One day while playing in the garden, Ronan finds a lizard named Scoot. Scoot can talk. He explains to Ronan that she is a dinosaur. Ronan is skeptical, but he learns to enjoy exploring with her and making friends with Tryx, her dinosaur friend who lives in the trees.

When Ronan’s parents hear him talking aloud, they think he is talking to himself and become concerned. So, they take him to visit a neighbor next door who has a dog named Spike. Ronan is afraid of the dog, until Scoot talks to the animal. Again, Ronan learns he has nothing to fear.

Ronan’s grandmother has a setback and must visit the hospital. There he confides in his grandmother and reveals his secret. She remembers her own youth spent with Scoot. The time has come to sell the house and move to a nursing home. Ronan is devastated. Will Ronan ever see Scoot again?

This is a wonderful book to share with children who like to be alone or who experience anxieties. It gently explains that change is not necessarily bad and that we grow from personal experiences both real and imaginary. Targeted for children ages seven and older. I would especially recommend it for ages nine through twelve as a portion of the vocabulary is challenging.

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