What’s the best way to handle big emotions? In this book by Cynthia Spellman, MD, children will find ways to deal with being mad in Anger and the Birthday Battle, part of The Emotion Investigators Series. It begins with a girl named Tessa on her birthday morning. All she wants is a real piano for her birthday, but she's crushed when her brother, Josh, opens a toy one she thinks is meant for her. She feels frustrated and turns to her older sister, Mia, for help. She helps Tessa figure out what’s going on with all her angry feelings. After her talk with her sister, Tessa decides to talk with her brother. They work through his feelings, too. They decide to form a team that helps with navigating and communicating their feelings.

Anger and the Birthday Battle: Handle Anger in a Fun Way by Cynthia Spellman, MD, is a thoughtful, easy-to-understand story that helps kids figure out their big feelings, especially when they're mad, and teaches them how to work through them. As an educator, I appreciate the use of relatable sibling dynamics and how the words and pictures model appropriate ways for children to have emotional intelligence, making it a great teaching tool. The character of Mia provides youngsters with a safe person who helps name and normalize complicated feelings. The book also encourages children to notice physical cues tied to emotions, such as a "volcano in the chest," which is a spot-on way to explain feelings of anger. It would be a good addition to classrooms, counseling offices, or family reading time, especially for children learning to cope with anger or disappointment.

In Anger and the Birthday Battle by Cynthia Spellman, Tessa’s birthday starts with some confusion, which turns into anger. She had wanted a piano for her birthday so she could practice her music lessons, but when she arrived in the family room to receive her gifts, her younger brother was playing on a new toy piano. He says it is his, and Tessa becomes angry. Tessa’s older sister, Mia, takes her upstairs to talk about her big feelings. Emotions exist for a reason, but we all need to learn how to listen to them and turn them into the guide they were meant to be. Anger is a secondary emotion, which means anger always has a reason underlying it. What do Tessa and Josh learn about handling anger and discovering the reasons behind it? Did Tessa end up with a piano? What steps help resolve anger?

Everyone has emotions, but many people try to ignore them. They pretend they don’t have any because they have not learned how to handle them. This little book is a great source to help your children understand that all emotions, including anger, are natural and okay to have. However, we should not allow emotions to rule our lives or control our behavior. Emotions exist to warn us that something is not right, so that we can work on changing the situation. Anger normally appears when we feel something is unjust or unfair. When we feel an emotion, we need to stop and think about what we are feeling and thinking. After this, we can then work on ways to change what is wrong. I highly recommend Anger and the Birthday Battle by Cynthia Spellman to all parents and young readers.

Anger and the Birthday Battle: Handle Anger in a Fun Way by Dr. Cynthia Spellman combines her expertise as a board-certified psychiatrist with an engaging narrative to help children understand one of the most common yet challenging emotions—anger. The story follows Tessa and her younger brother Josh, whose anticipation of a birthday celebration turns unexpectedly tense after a misunderstanding. What begins as a moment of frustration becomes a learning opportunity as the siblings step into the roles of “Emotion Investigators,” exploring the physical sensations, thoughts, and behaviors that come with feeling upset. The plot is simple yet effective, using everyday family dynamics to present an emotion that young readers will easily recognize. Tessa’s journey from initial irritation to thoughtful reflection offers an approach that children can apply in their own lives. Josh shows how conflict and resolution can strengthen relationships when handled with empathy and understanding. The pacing is well-suited for young audiences, with just enough tension to engage them without overwhelming the message.

Dr. Cynthia Spellman offers gentle guidance without being didactic. The “Emotion Investigators” framework is both playful and practical, encouraging children to approach their feelings with curiosity rather than judgment. This method empowers them to pause, identify what they are experiencing, and choose constructive responses, a skill that benefits the individual child and the broader social environment in which they interact. Anger and the Birthday Battle succeeds in presenting emotional regulation as an engaging adventure. By framing self-awareness and empathy as skills worth investigating, Dr. Spellman offers children a positive path toward understanding themselves and connecting with others. It is a charming and thoughtful resource for any parent or teacher focused on helping young minds grow both emotionally and socially.

Anger and the Birthday Battle: Handle Anger in a Fun Way is written and illustrated by psychiatrist Cynthia Spellman, MD. It is a colorful children’s book about understanding the emotion of anger. It’s Tessa’s birthday. She is upset when she does not see the piano she had hoped for among her gifts. Then her little brother, Josh, opens and claims another present: a small toy piano. Older sister Mia helps Tessa understand that emotions have a purpose and give us clues through our thoughts and how our bodies feel. In this case, her hurt feelings are anger. Mia teaches her a good strategy for responding. Feeling better, Tessa is then able to talk to Josh and help him understand his own emotions. She generously allows him to keep the toy piano. But there is a mystery to solve: what has happened to the real piano she had been hoping for? Might Grandpa have something to do with it?

Using stories as a way to help children understand their own and others' thoughts and feelings is a wonderful way to teach healthy responses. Cynthia Spellman’s Anger and the Birthday Battle is well-written, with a calm, positive, and gentle tone that would be ideal for a child struggling with emotions. Children will relate to Tessa’s feelings, and I like the way the story portrays the characters stepping aside from the situation to reflect and talk together. The short picture book style and layout make it easy to read and accessible for young children. Colorful illustrations by the author complement the story throughout. The mystery element is smoothly integrated into the story, and I can see children engaging with the idea of becoming “The Emotion Investigators” just as Tessa and Josh do. This is a useful book for sharing and discussing one-to-one or with small groups of children, and is part of the author’s Emotion Investigators series.