…in my picture books (aka The Let’s Talk series), illustrated by Sarah Jennings.
I love Sarah Jenning’s illustrations. In the process of producing a book I give Sarah clear directions for each illustration but she always adds many extras which result in adorable effects!
It was hard to choose so few from each book but I had a go. Here are my favourites from each book (in reverse order of publication). My photographs don’t do them justice but you’ll get the gist!)
A book that celebrates the diversity of families as well as the glue that sticks them together.
I particularly like the humour of the first picture – especially the dog, the ‘duplication’ in the second and third pictures and there’s always a charm in how Sarah draws any kind of gathering or crowd – as in the fourth picture!
The sequel to How Are You Feeling Today? with 12 more ways of feeling and suggestions for what to do when you’re feeling them.
I think we could all do with a tent to withdraw into when we experience uncomfortable emotions – it’s a great idea captured well in this picture! I love a bit of wizard and monster magic and the last picture has feel-good factor!
What Makes You Do That? (paperback) What Makes Me Do the Things I Do? (hard back)
A book that contrasts unhelpful behaviours (and why we are tempted to do them) with more helpful ones – and explains why they are more helpful!
The first picture makes me smile with thoughts of hyper-focus, the last three make me laugh! My uzband would say that’s exactly how I put the laundry away and the first scarf I ever knitted looked exactly like that. In fact, I think it was worse. The last one makes me think of one of my favourite sayings: just because everyone is doing something, doesn’t mean it’s right.
A book written with boys in mind but that can be used for all children to expand their emotion vocabulary as it shares many situations and what someone might feel in each of them.
Of course, I included both enjoyable and unenjoyable emotions in this book. I love what’s represented in ‘calm’ – who wouldn’t want to sit there? I think overwhelm is portrayed well as the picture alone triggers the feeling in me. ‘Confused’ makes me think of IKEA and ‘impressed’ is based on when my brother walked into the living room with a giant wasp made just from ‘olden days’ 4 and 8 nodule Lego bricks when he was 6!
What’s Going on Inside My Head?
A book that explores positive mental health habits – such as how to think about yourself, what tends to make us happy and emotion management.
I love the sentiment of the first picture and when left to draw any bedroom or family scene, I love the details Sarah includes – like the two dolls sitting and chatting on the toy box.
Let’s Talk About When Someone Dies
A book that considers death for both bereaved children or those just curious about death.
I love how Sarah often includes an animal throughout a book. This book got a delightfully scruffy dog which clearly doesn’t like to share space with bananas!
A book that considered some common situations children might worry about, how these situations might make them feel, what they might think and offers comfort and advice to help you survive each situation. .
The first picture is exactly the kind of thing I did as a child: fill up my bed with teddies. The second one is a good reminder, the third – also, and the last picture of eclectic teachers just makes me smile.
Let’s Talk About the Birds and the Bees
A book that gently, but clearly, delivers information about puberty, body safety, how babies are made and much more…
I love the sentiment of the first picture, how happy that teenager is to be washing in the second, a cute bird and a bee (the only euphemism in the book is the title) and a lot of love going on in that fourth picture!
A book that explores friendships – what they are, what makes them work and what can be unhelpful within them.
I guess it’s no accident that the two pictures I like most illustrate that a friendship can survive one of you being really messy!
A book that invites you to consider 12 different emotions and gives suggestions for what you could do if you feel them.
I love the idea of a worry extractor (and I make one out of human children sometimes)! I think I spent a fifth of my childhood staring at clouds out of the window, excitement is always a great emotion to explore (and the fact that it is enjoyable but also can be a little uncomfortable) and I just love the sentiment in the last picture of just showing worries who’s boss!
Aren’t I lucky to have such a great illustrator (rhetorical mark)!?