Blog
Reading Passport
The Reading Passport invites students to travel the globe through the power of literature. They get a stamp or sticker in their passport for every country they visit via a book, as defined by the author’s country of origin. This activity is designed to foster a lifelong love for reading while building an appreciation for geography, diverse cultures, and, of course, the spirit of adventure.
Raise your own monarch butterflies
I think butterflies are one of the most amazing animals on Earth. And you can raise them right in your own backyard. Plant milkweed, watch tiny striped caterpillars grow, and witness the miraculous transformation from chrysalis to butterfly. Along the way, you’ll explore big questions about migration, instinct, and nature’s hidden mysteries. You might even find one in yourself.
How to teach kids to dream in 3 steps
Wow! What another big honor. Thanks to years of research, we got a story in the preeminent blog for psychologists in Psychology Today. (It’s been a while, so I thought it would be okay to reprint this article now.) You’ll get an overview of our dream process, and you’ll learn more about our philosophy that drove the creation of the book. Yay!
Emoji crossword puzzle
Emoji crossword puzzles aren’t just fun — they mirror real life. Just as we interpret a friend’s facial expression to understand how they feel, these puzzles invite us to “read” emojis and connect them with emotions. It’s a playful way to practice emotional recognition, build empathy, and strengthen word skills, all while enjoying the challenge of a crossword.
“If I were President for a day…” worksheet
Ever wonder what kids would do if they were in charge of the country for a day? The “If I Were President for a Day” worksheet allows them to explore leadership, creativity, and empathy while having a blast imagining their dream policies and fun presidential perks.
Emoji mood tracker
Here is a fun and enlightening activity to teach kids (and adults) to track their emotions throughout the day or week. By recognizing patterns and triggers, children can better understand their feelings and develop effective coping strategies, which promotes mental and emotional well-being from an early age and build a foundation for a healthier, happier life.
Feel Your Feelings storytime and activities
Here are some pictures of all the fun activities we did at our storytime, including an emoji cutout kit, giant slide puzzle, jigsaw puzzles, T-shirts, buttons, notepads, book signing, snacks, and lots of time to share stories and smiles.
Emoji cutout kit
Download an emoji cutout kit and create new feelings. You’ll be surprised how many emotions you can create with a few simple shapes. And if you make one small change, like turning a shape upside down, you will create a whole new emoji. This is a great way to continue the
Feel Your Feelings group activities
Here is a fun idea about how to use Feel Your Feelings in your classroom.
Feel Your Feelings, the braille edition
Here is a sneak peek at Feel Your Feelings, the braille edition. Not only is the book in braille, but it is also filled with tactile graphics, so you can literally feel your feelings!
My cat editors
A quick story about my cat editors with lots of pictures of them “helping” me in the office.
Three simple reasons why we need emotions
Some emotions show us what we love, others protect us from harm, and as you can see in the rainbow illustration from our book, all of them put together, like colors on an artist’s palette, paint a beautiful picture of life. I’ll explain these ideas below. And, I have a fun challenge for you that I call “the joy of fear.”
