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 Blunder, 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 Blunder: A Picture Book On Handling Anger for Kids 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 Blunder 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 Blunder by Cynthia Spellman to all parents and young readers.

Anger and the Birthday Blunder: A Picture Book On Handling Anger for Kids 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 Blunder 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 Blunder is a children's picture book written and illustrated by Cynthia Spellman. The story follows Tessa, a young girl who hopes for a new piano on her birthday. When she comes downstairs to celebrate, she finds her family in the kitchen, preparing for her big day. Excited, Tessa starts to unwrap the gifts, but her joy quickly fades when her younger brother, Josh, takes the toy piano that was among the gifts for himself. Tessa becomes angry and struggles to control her emotions. Mia, her older sister, intervenes by having a conversation with Tessa that helps her cool down and understand her feelings. This exchange enables Tessa to calmly discuss the situation with Josh. Together, they decide to resolve the gift mix-up and their emotions, officially naming themselves The Emotion Investigators.

Anger and the Birthday Blunder is the first book in The Emotion Investigators series by Cynthia Spellman and sets a solid foundation for future installments. Drawing on her experiences as a psychiatrist, Spellman teaches young readers about their feelings and the cues that accompany them. In this story, Tessa and Josh both experience anger over the present mix-up. Tessa describes feeling a buildup in her chest, while Josh notices his hands becoming tight and shaky. Many readers will resonate with these physical expressions of anger and discover helpful techniques to calm down when they notice similar feelings. Another important lesson is the value of helping each other. Just as Mia supported Tessa, Tessa also provided guidance to Josh. The book offers an engaging and interactive lesson on unwrapping gifts and assembling pianos, accompanied by the colorful illustrations that bring the story and characters to life. I enjoyed this book and look forward to the next installment in the series. Overall, it is an excellent book and a must-read for anyone wanting to teach children about managing and understanding their emotions.

Anger and the Birthday Blunder: A Picture Book On Handling Anger for Kids 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 Blunder 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.

Anger and the Birthday Blunder by Cynthia Spellman is the story of Tessa, a little girl who experiences frustration and disappointment on her birthday. Tessa has been dreaming of getting an electric piano like the one she plays in her music lessons. When she received a small toy piano instead, surely, there must have been a mix-up somewhere. To make matters worse, her younger brother, Josh, thinks the toy is his. This misunderstanding makes Tessa’s anger boil over. Her big sister, Mia, steps in and helps her understand what’s happening by using something called the “1-2-3s of Emotions.” Mia teaches Tessa how to notice what her body feels and the thoughts that pop into her head. Together, they explore anger's job, and Tessa learns that thinking things through before reacting can help her better control her strong emotions.

Cynthia Spellman's Anger and the Birthday Blunder is a gentle children's book that offers a realistic look at how children experience intense emotions, like anger. The author does a great job of explaining emotional awareness in everyday family life using kid-friendly language. Instead of using lectures or complicated concepts, the book uses a relatable situation — a birthday gone wrong — to help children and adults talk about feelings. The “1-2-3s of Emotions” is a simple, memorable tool that will help young readers to think before they react. It is both practical and compassionate. I appreciate that the story doesn’t shame children for getting angry, but treats anger as a natural signal that helps us recognize unfairness. I also love how the book shows the importance of support. Tessa’s sister, Mia, patiently guides her through her anger, showing how older siblings or parents can model caring emotional support. The story ends with warmth, understanding, and a lesson about communication. I highly recommend this valuable children's book to parents, caregivers, and educators alike.

Anger and the Birthday Blunder by Dr. Cynthia Spellman follows Tessa on her birthday, when she discovers a red toy piano with a card that seems intended for her, but her brother, Josh, claims it for himself. Tessa experiences physical and emotional signs of anger. Her older sister, Mia, introduces her to a method called the 1-2-3s of Emotions, which identifies the body’s sensations, thoughts, and urges to understand feelings. Using this method, Tessa recognizes her anger and considers how different responses might affect her and others. Calling themselves The Emotion Investigators, the siblings choose to investigate the situation rather than react impulsively, leading to the discovery that a larger electric piano is meant for her, and the red piano actually belongs to Josh, ultimately celebrating together while learning a structured approach to managing strong emotions.

Anger and the Birthday Blunder by Dr. Cynthia Spellman is a delight from first note to last, and young readers will enjoy the story and the lessons to be learned from it. The illustrations by the author are really lovely, using a color palette that is uniquely bold and soothing, rendered in a contemporary digital style that still gives a nod to classic illustration. Spellman’s writing captures children’s emotions in a way that feels honest and relatable, and the 1-2-3 song is genuinely catchy, making it fun to sing along with. This is a thoughtful little book by Spellman, and I look forward to seeing where The Emotion Investigators venture next.

Anger and the Birthday Blunder by Cynthia Spellman is the story of a young girl named Tessa. On Tessa's birthday, she was expecting an electric piano with pedals and lots of keys. Instead, what she saw in the family room was a small red toy piano with a birthday card attached to it. But the card had no name written on it. Her little brother Josh is quick to assume that the toy piano was meant for him, making Tessa's heart race and tears stream down her face. Fortunately, her older sister Mia steps in to teach her about managing emotions, helping Tessa gradually understand how to recognize the signals from her body, thoughts, and urges. Meanwhile, Tessa is in for a pleasant surprise as she discovers a big mix-up.

Anger and the Birthday Blunder is an excellent picture book that gives children valuable lessons on anger management. Through Tessa's journey, young readers will be able to understand how to regulate their emotions. This book is designed to help children learn about developing emotional intelligence. Using likable characters and a short, yet compelling plot, author Cynthia Spellman crafts an engaging tale that is bound to resonate with kids. One of the primary highlights for me was Tessa's characterization. Tessa is a sweet child who, sometimes, feels overwhelmed by her emotions, especially on her birthday. Her portrayal is not only realistic but also very compelling for young readers. Additionally, the "1-2-3s of Emotions" is a simple and effective way to help children better connect with their feelings. Highly recommended.

Anger and the Birthday Blunder by Cynthia Spellman tells the story of Tessa, who eagerly hopes to get an electronic piano for her birthday. Tessa’s excitement turned to disappointment when she saw a small red piano on the coffee table in the family room. When her little brother, Josh, assumes it is his gift, Tessa’s frustration boils over, and she yells at him. With the help of her older sister, Mia, Tessa learns about the 1-2-3 system of emotions: body, thoughts, and urge. When Tessa combined these three steps, she recognized that what she was feeling was anger. Realizing her reaction had been unfair to Josh, Tessa understood that shouting was not necessary. Choosing kindness instead, she apologizes to Josh, and together they search for her real present, turning her anger into understanding and emotional growth.

Anger and the Birthday Blunder by Cynthia Spellman is a wonderful resource for parents to help children recognize and manage their emotions. Through three simple steps, young readers learn to identify their feelings and discover healthy ways to handle them. Children can easily connect with the characters and comprehend the portrayed emotions, thanks to the vibrant, expressive illustrations by the author. The illustrations also immediately draw attention and keep readers engaged, while the accompanying text reinforces each emotional lesson in a relatable way. Spellman’s engaging writing style makes learning about feelings both fun and meaningful. This book not only teaches emotional awareness but also encourages empathy, reflection, and positive communication, making it a valuable addition to any child’s personal library.