How to Take the Grrrr Out of Anger

by Elizabeth Verdick, Marjorie Lisovskis

Anger is a part of life. We can’t avoid it, we shouldn’t stuff it, and we can’t make it go away.

Kids need help learning how to manage their anger. This book speaks directly to them and offers strategies they can start using immediately.

Blending solid information and sound advice with jokes and funny cartoons, it guides kids to understand that anger is normal and can be expressed in many ways—some healthy, some not.

It teaches them how to recognize anger in themselves and others, how to handle situations and emotions (loneliness, guilt, frustration, fear) that lead to or mask anger, and how to deal with the anger they feel.

Young readers learn that violence is not acceptable and there are better, safer, more positive ways to resolve conflicts.

They also discover what to do when people around them are angry, how to get help, and how to locate other resources (books, hotlines, school groups) when they need more support.
 

Genres: Parenting, Childrens, Nonfiction, Emotion, Self Help, Counselling, Juvenile

128 pages, Paperback

First published October 31, 2002

About the author

Elizabeth Verdick has been writing books since 1997, the year her daughter was born. Her two children, now ages 13 and 8, are the inspiration for nearly everything she writes. Before becoming an author, Elizabeth edited books for children and parents.

These days she writes books for toddlers to teens, and everything in between. She especially loves creating new board book series for toddlers—the latest series is Toddler Tools™, which helps young children and their parents cope with those tough times and transitions that happen every day (like naptime and bedtime). The Best Behavior™ series helps toddlers reach new milestones and improve their day-to-day behavior.

Elizabeth also enjoys getting the chance to look at the funny side of life in the Laugh and Learn™ series, which helps kids ages 8–13 get a handle on the social/emotional skills they’re developing throughout the elementary– and middle school years. Elizabeth lives with her family and five pets near St. Paul, Minnesota.

Reviews

[Kristen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Although this book is intended for kids, it’s a great read for anyone wanting to learn about taming tempers. Excellent advice and suggested resources.

[Dani]

Title: How to Take The Grrr Out Of Anger

Author: Elizabeth Verdick and Marjorie Lisovskis

Illustrator: Elizabeth Verdick and Marjorie Lisovskis

Genre: How-To/Non-fiction

Theme(s): Self Control, Relief, Emotions, Feelings

Opening line/sentence: “Everyone gets angry. There isn’t one person on the planet who hasn’t been angry before.”

Brief Book Summary: This book is sectioned into different chapters that take the reader through the stages of anger and how it can be contained and relieved. Some chapter titles consist of “How It Feels to Be Angry,” “The Dopey Things Angry People Do,” “Six Steps to Solving Anger Problems,” and “Grrrreat Ways to Keep Your Cool.” The book is conversational and simple with its illustrations. It is a book that is relatable to both children and adults. It makes the reader not alone in the fact that anger is a real emotion, and everyone feels it at some point. The book even includes sections at the end for parents and teachers. It explains different resources available for kids, parents, and teachers.

Professional Recommendation/Review #1: Meredith Kiger, Ph.D. (Children's Literature)
This amazing little book is designed to help kids handle anger in their lives. As the book reassures, everyone gets angry. Handling that anger so that it does not stay with you for life is what this advice is all about. Handling anger in proper ways is healthy, both mentally and physically. The book is divided into ten short chapters which include: How it Feels to be Angry, The Different Faces of Anger, Five Steps to Taming That Temper, and Grrrreat Ways to Keep Your Cool. Illustrated with amusing cartoons, the text is minimal and is written in a positive, chatty tone. Chapters often include 5 or 10 ways to do this or that, such as how to relax or steps to take to solve anger problems. There is a message for parents and teachers on what to do to help angry kids as well as additional resources for kids, parents and teachers. A great idea to have this one on hand in the classroom! 2003, Free Spirit Publishing, $9.95. Ages 8 to 12.
(PUBLISHER: Free Spirit ;Roundhouse (Minneapolis Minn.:) (Northam:), PUBLISHED: 2002.)

Professional Recommendation/Review #2: Barbara Jo McKee (KLIATT Review, May 2003 (Vol. 37, No. 3))
This little book is chock full of information for kids as well as teachers and parents on how to deal with angry feelings. Its chapters are concise, with lots of illustrations, and advice is given in ways that can be easily understood. Practical suggestions include how to relax in ten easy steps and six steps to solving anger problems. There are ideas for ways for readers to release their anger, to understand why they are angry, and to express their anger in a positive way. Lists of resources for children as well as for teachers and parents are included. A simple but excellent book, this can be used by and with students in grades 4 through 8, and should be in both school and public libraries. Category: Education & Guidance. KLIATT Codes: J--Recommended for junior high school students. 2003, Free Spirit, 118p. illus. bibliog. index., $9.95. Ages 12 to 15.
(PUBLISHER: Free Spirit Pub. (Minneapolis MN:), PUBLISHED: c2003.)

Response to Two Professional Reviews: I recognized all of the aspects noted in both professional reviews. I found the chapters to be conversational and concise, which made the book fly by. Typically, I do not think of “How-to” books to be humorous or enjoyable, but this book was both! I also agreed with the Children’s Literature review that suggested the resources provided in the back of the book to be a handout in the classroom. This book provides a lot of information into chapters that are easy for children to read and understand. Dealing with angry feelings is a real issue that everyone goes through, and this book effectively uses details and illustrations to show how anger should be handled.

Evaluation of Literary Elements: This book uses humor to show how individuals sound and act when they are angry. For example, an illustration showing two girls includes a word bubble that says, “Would you puh-lease shut up?!” I laughed at this word bubble because I saw my teenage-self saying that exact phrase. This book also includes a variety of illustrations that demonstrate the facial expressions that angry people show. With each chapter, the characters show a more calm facial expression when they figure out a solution to relieve their feeling of anger.

Consideration of Instructional Application: This book can be used in a kindergarten/first grade classroom when emotions and feelings are being introduced. Students could draw a picture of their face for each different emotion. The teacher would use the students’ examples to explain all of the different emotions. When the teacher explains anger, he/she could use this book to offer solutions to relieve anger in and out of the classroom. The teacher could write the six steps to solving anger problems on the board so the students could refer to them if they become angry in school. Illustrations could also be used with the six steps to solving anger problems because most students may not be able to read all of the words.

[April · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read aloud with my son. This one was above his age level, but it was to the point in terms of discussing anger and dealing with emotions. I had to modify some of the examples to make them fit our own life circumstances, but overall it was a useful starting point in our learning, and I see us being able to keep this one as a resource to revisit in the future.

[Sandy · Rating 5 out of 5]

How to Take the Grrrr Out of Anger was not really what I thought it was going to be. I was expecting a fictional story for some reason. That might be because it was so long between requesting this book and reading it that I forgot what it was supposed to be about. Also, I've tried to read quite a lot of fictional books about anger to my children--specifically my child who struggles with his emotions.

I quickly realized that this was more of an instructional manual for kids on how to help them with their anger. I highlighted a ton. I appreciated that actionable things were included. Anyone reading this book (adult or child) will be able to find something they can put into practice to help. The words a person uses to talk to themselves matter as much or more than words said to them by others. I love that this was addressed. I know my child can get frustrated with himself and gear towards the negative with his self-talk. Children are encouraged to find an adult they can talk to at certain times. The author tells them to find someone they can trust, but also, if they don't get the help they need from that person (for whatever reason), then find someone else to talk to. Not giving up after the first person doesn't help is so important. I like the positive messages given to kids: "you are stronger than your anger," and "you have the power to overcome your anger!"

Favorite quotes:

-Anger can stay with you for a very, very, very long time. This may be hard to believe, but some of the adults you know and talk to every day are still angry about stuff that happened when they were kids. Because they never dealt with their anger, it just stuck around like a bad smell. You probably don't want this to happen to you.

-Sure, other people may sometimes try to make you mad on purpose. But often they're just being themselves, or kidding around, or making mistakes. They may not even know they're angering you.

-Did you know that even just making an angry face may make you feel mad? ... So angry face, angry thoughts, and angry words often lead to more angry feelings. It's that simple.

-But you can't "smoosh" anger. What happens when you do? The anger won't stay down for long.

-That's the thing about angry or rude texts, emails, instant messages, and handwritten notes: you can't undo "send." Just remember: what goes on-screen stays on-screen. Forever.

-It's true that anger can really make you mad. But anger is never an excuse for being mean.

-Angry behavior doesn't solve problems. Most times, it makes things worse.

I also appreciate the resources (extra books to help on this topic) listed at the end for the parents. I will be checking out multiple of the books listed.

I haven't tried reading this book to my child or letting him read it himself, but I am trying to do the best job I possibly can with modeling the behavior I want to see. I would like to either read this to him or have him read it one day on his own. But from a parent perspective, I give How to Take the Grrrr Out of Anger 5 Stars. Have you or your child read How to Take the Grrrr Out of Anger? What did you think? Let me know!

[Bill Housley · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great teaching tool in helping people with this addiction.

[Sarah Snow · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book for students struggling with anger. There are many examples, checklists, and tips.

[Joan Bourne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book I used in my counseling practice. They kids seemed to enjoy it and connected well with the material.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good discussion on anger and how to work with it. Geared towards children, but also provides lots of helpful advice for all ages.

[Elyssa Brown · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am searching for books for At-Risk Youth, this book is GREAT for elementary/middle schoolers, maybe even higher schoolers to break things down.

[Margaret · Rating 5 out of 5]

This seems like a great resource for a middle schooler / pre-teen in your life, and of course other ages (if they're okay with the cartoons).

[Ellen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read this for work. Really really good book for childeren that ewplains how to handle agression.

[Brian · Rating 4 out of 5]

How to Take the Grrrr Out of Anger is a great read for children ages 9-12 as well as the teachers and the parents/caregivers of these children. I think we have all had moments in our lives that we wish we could have handled ourselves differently or if nothing else, expressed our emotions differently, and I know I for one can say that I have so I thought I would read this book to see if there was anything in it I could share with my children as they are still too young to read. What I found was that the book does a wonderful job bringing together many useful, tried and true anger management techniques and some new ones that I have never heard of. My favorite part of the book was the section on bullying! With bullying being the current "hot button" issue in schools across the country (which it should be!) this book accurately talks about the various roles of the participants in bullying and the various reasons why children bully. This section alone should be shared with children but the whole book will benefit them greatly.

What impressed me most about this book was that it doesn't tell children that anger isn't "ok" but rather it explains that how they deal with this natural emotion and express their anger determines if their anger is "ok" or not. The reason I gave the book 4 stars instead of 5 was because it was to naturalistic for me.

Regardless of the number of stars I gave the book, I believe that this book should be in every school if not in every classroom as it would serve as an excellent resource for students, teachers, and parents alike.

[Bobbie Crawford · Rating 5 out of 5]

How to Take the GRRRR Out of Anger
Written By: Elizabeth Verdick & Marjorie Lisovskis
Illustrated By: Mike Gordon
Published By: Free Spirit Publishing, 2003, First Edition, 120 pages, paperback ISBN 978-1575421179

How to Take the GRRRR Out of Anger is an invaluable resource for parents, grandparents, teachers, childcare providers, etc. I have a son who is almost 11 and he has moments when he gets really angry but doesn’t seem to be able to express himself properly; after reading this book and talking about it with me, he is able to control his anger to a better extent and feels calmer. This book has done a wonderful job; bringing together many useful, tried and true anger management techniques and some new ones as well. For children and pre-teens who need to learn new ways of accepting and managing their anger, this is a ‘must –read’; it is written at their reading level so it should be easily understood. With artistic, expressive illustrations, the reader will...


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[Desirai · Rating 4 out of 5]

I suggest reading this before giving it to a child to read for him/herself. There are some parts in the book that might need to be explained to younger children. For example:

Page 23 reads:

Help is Here
Sometimes anger takes over people's lives. What if you feel really angry or depressed all the time. Or are thinking about hurting yourself or someone else? Or are afraid someone else is going to hurt you. Get some help right away. You can:

* Talk to a grown up you trust

* Look in the yellow pages for crisis intervention

* Look in the back of the white pages for First Call For Help

* Call the toll free National Hopeline Network at 1-800-442-4673

Although I can appreciate and understand why this information is included in the book, the last thing I want is my little brother calling the National Hopeline Network every time he's throwing a temper tantrum.

This is just one of a handful of things that might need to be further explained to a younger child. Besides that the book was pretty good in explaining anger, what it is, how it makes us feel and ways to deal with it.

[Ruth Ann · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a great resource for kids who struggle with anger. I recommend it first of all because the information is helpful and based on sound psychology. I like that it addresses anger management but also makes kids aware that anger can be disguised as other emotions and behaviors. The one page checklists would be great for kids to copy and refer to regularly as they are learning to address their anger. The doses of humor and cartoons make the book lighter and model coping by using humor. The back of the book includes resources for teachers, parents, and students. Finally, I thought it was important that the book gave advice to kids on what to do when an adult in their lives displays inappropriate anger and suggests ways to get help.
The book is too long to read in one setting and for best results should be read and digested in small chunks.

[Dolly · Rating 3 out of 5]

I recommend this book for grades 4-8 and their parents. It's a good book that discusses anger, how to recognize it, taming it, and solving problems when it becomes one. I like that this book does not dismiss anger as just something to avoid; it's a natural emotion that everyone experiences. This book focuses mainly on how to handle it. It's a little too "self-help" for my tastes, but there are several practical exercises that can help relieve stress or resolve problems.

[Nicholas Moscati · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thought that this book was very helpful in helping me control my temper. As an adolescent in Middle School, I feel that kids are becoming harder and harder to deal with. However, this book has helped me tame that anger and release it as positive energy. I have learned of better ways to deal with anger and to be healthier mentally. Thank you to the author for writing such an amazing, helpful book for young kids.

[Nalana · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have been reading this with my eldest son (7 yrs old) and he has really enjoyed it. I think its helping him deal with his anger and frustrations and letting him know that its okay to get angry, but not to act out. I would recommend this to anyone who has a child who has challenges with frustration/anger. Its written for children and gives lots of examples and has some fun artwork also.

[Cornelius · Rating 4 out of 5]

For kindergarten children, this is an excellent book to read to children about how to control their anger. I would use this book in the classroom to inform children when they get mad, relax and take a deep breath. The book recommends to children different ways to control their angry in a fun and enjoyable manner to make them laugh.

[Mishelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book, I use it with kids and adults for anger management. It's simple, straightforward, has useful interventions (progressive muscle relaxation, thought stopping) and normalizes anger. LOVE IT!

[Jenny · Rating 3 out of 5]

I briefly glanced through the headings and skimmed the main ideas. Good concept, appropriate for older children. Would probably use with older children/teens in therapy. Wasn't as impressed with it as I had hoped.

[Arielle Feist]

This book is perfect for kids who have some anger management problems. It has five steps to get anger under control. It has problem-solving techniques, ways to deal with grownups who get angry, recognizing body language warning signs, and more! I think this book could be useful for all children!

[Elysse · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a child's book to teach them how to control and manage their anger, the points made in the book are applicable and the situations are adorable. It reminded me even to think about actions, especially when I am angry, and be aware that I am now a role model for my daughter....

[Molly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book with steps to help your child calm when angry and tips on what to do to prevent getting into situations that trigger your anger. "Anger is a strong emotion. But you are stronger" great book for helping kids 8 and up to "cage their rage."

[Lee · Rating 5 out of 5]

So far this is the best book written FOR kids about anger management that I've seen. Advice is practical and understandable for kids of any age from elementary through high school.

[Shakira · Rating 5 out of 5]

What I think about this book so far is that through the past days, when i have been reading this book, I've been trying to use these skills to help my with my anger.

[Jenny · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book for kids about anger and how to control it.

[Lyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good book to help with anger issues with students. Will use as resource @ school.

[Cyndi Whitmore · Rating 2 out of 5]

My almost 12yo just brought this book to me, held it up and said, "You see this book? I've read this book TWICE and it doesn't work."

[Sara Wilkins]

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