Horn Book
Using his familiar simple, bold colorful paintings, Parr enumerates some of the things that feel good including "getting tickled" and "reading a book under a tree." Some of the entries will be less likely to resonate with children, such as "visiting a sick friend." The book is sometimes silly, sometimes thoughtful, but more a thirty-two-page greeting card than a true picture book.
Publishers Weekly
(Fri Oct 06 00:00:00 CDT 2023)
Children's physical and emotional wellbeing take center stage in a trio of fall titles. The first, The Feel Good Book by Todd Parr, offers observations about experiences that give children a glow: """"Reading a book under a tree feels good"""" and """"Watching your grandma and grandpa dance feels good""""; helping others also merits several mentions (""""Showing the new kid around feels good""""). Parr's signature illustrations, bordered by thick black lines and filled in with retro tangerines and mauves, are cheerful and bright.
School Library Journal
PreS-Gr 2-Parr's feel-good list includes acts of kindness ("Giving somebody something special feels good"), pastimes ("Reading a book under a tree feels good"), emotions ("Being brave feels good"), and silly fun ("Brushing your hair with a lion feels good"), and his childlike illustrations exude cheerfulness. The playful, bold art adds wit and humor to the simple statements: "Playing under the sprinkler feels good" shows a little girl being sprayed with water from a deep-pink elephant's trunk, and two green fish demonstrate how "Rubbing noses feels good." An author's note invites readers to reflect on what brings them happiness. A perfect pick-me-up for any child who is having a bad day.-Linda Ludke, London Public Library, Ontario, Canada Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information.