Angry Mangry

Angry Mangry by Barton Williams, illustrated by Benjamin Johnston (Little Steps Publishing)
PB RRP $24.95
ISBN 9780980723748
Reviewed by Vicki Stanton

Benjamin is having a tough day. He has been pushed, shushed and bumped. His pencils have been hogged. His anger rises and rises until  Relax Max turns up on his bike and the two go for a spin with Benjamin cooling down in the process.

Angry Mangry is an empowering book for younger children. The first title of the School Rox series, it demonstrates how people can take control of their own emotions. Simply written, with an infusion of humour, the text is complemented by illustration in coloured pencils. Bountiful white space focuses the attention on Benjamin and his emotions.

This book would be a wonderful asset particularly in an early educational setting and a useful tool to discuss emotions that are often viewed by our society as bad. Angry Mangry highlights that there are many small situations each day that can anger any one of us. However, it is how we deal with that emotion that is important and this book will help children do just that.