Move Your Mood!

by Brenda S. Miles, Colleen A. Patterson, Holly Clifton-Brown (Illustrator)

For many adults, exercise is an effective way to elevate mood while keeping the body healthy. New research suggests the physical activity can help children feel better, too!

Move your body--and your mood moves too!

Move Your Mood invites kids and adults to twist, wiggle, shake, hop…and smile! Reading this book with your child is an active and fun way to teach your child about emotions, and introduce the idea that moving our bodies affects the way we feel inside.

Ready to start feeling better? Move and groove your way into a better mood!

Includes a “Note to Parents and Caregivers” with suggestions for how to use the book with your child and additional ideas for teaching your child about emotions.

Genres: Picture Books, Storytime, Emotion, Childrens, Animals

32 pages, Hardcover

First published April 1, 2016

About the author

Brenda S. Miles, PhD, is a pediatric neuropsychologist who has worked in hospital, rehabilitation, and school settings.

Reviews

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a good title to engaged children in movement and gross motor skills. There isn't a lot of text on each page, which makes this title a solid choice for toddler storytime.

[Chelsea Kirkland · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read at preschool class visit 3/17 and baby toddler 3/21- great for last book when attention spans are waning!

[Viviane Elbee · Rating 4 out of 5]

This picture book reads like an action poem with physical activities that children can do while you're reading like twist, hop, wave etc... It can also be used to discuss emotions - tired, fearful, stubborn, happy etc... It's a quick read with adorable illustrations and could easily be used in preschool and with toddlers.

[Christine Heron · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a great concept book. Excellent as a starter to conversations with young children about emotions and how physically moving can help manage how a person feels. Illustrations are whimsical and really very darling. Need some motivation to get moving? This is your tool.

[Chris Hays · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a good read aloud for young students in between longer books. The publisher suggest this book as a get moving in the morning appeal. I think parents might agree that it would help routines. The quality of this book comes from the different moods featured.

[Heather McC · Rating 5 out of 5]

Consider basic body movements when your mood might be getting the better of you, or if you just need a change of pace to get to a new point of view. Full color illustrations and bold, basic text make this book a quick but powerful read that provides movable solutions.

[hhhhhhhhh · Rating 4 out of 5]

loved this & the note for grownups at the back

[Samantha · Rating 4 out of 5]

A picture book that encourages listeners to move their bodies to work out various emotions. A note to parents/caregivers follows the story.

Highly recommended for use with Toddlers and PreK.

[Devon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book for a movement story time!

[Anjanette · Rating 5 out of 5]

love the movement and pictures!!

[Carrie Ann · Rating 3 out of 5]

Yoga Story Time

[Vicki · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book for gross motor skills

[Steph]

Turn/Level: 2/2

Emotions, Actions

Have the audience do the action with you as you read them.

[Molly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Adorable. Talks about the power of movement

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love using this for storytime!

[Jill · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book for a story time or preschool group! This is a book that gets kids up and moving around to help them (or, more likely, their adults) realize that movement and action can positively affect their own moods. Moving around can help change a mood from sad or grumpy into a happy and cheery one. I don't think the book is necessarily saying that difficult things can be easily handled by clapping, marching, twirling, or smiling...but I think it's trying to imply that action and movement can help your brain to deal with emotions. There are things like "March for motivation" or "Fly for fearless". It's very simple, but very effective.

[Jill · Rating 1 out of 5]

If a child feels worried or fearful then they should just wiggle or pretend to fly. Right. Because we wouldn't want to validate a child's emotions, or give children any credit for being intelligent little human beings. Let's patronize them and pretend they can just twist, hop, and waddle their way in to a better "mood". The mental health of children is of utmost importance. If you're looking for books for young children about moods, emotions, feelings, and the mind-body connection, check out the magnificent TODD PARR.

[Jillian · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'd probably recommend reading the note at the end before the rest of the book - if you *just* read the book, it can come off as dismissive of a kid's very real emotions. But the note discusses the importance of acknowledging that feelings are valid, and emotions themselves are not "bad," but our reactions can be (hitting, etc.).
This book could use a little bit more balance, but I think it's a good starting point, especially if you know your child and can judge whether their problem can be lessened by blowing off some energy, or whether it requires a more serious response.

[Morgan · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's a very motivational book, even for adults! I loved it. Made me want to be a better person and change my attitude about a lot of things.

[Tracie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kids will enjoy these fun suggestions for changing your mood by moving.

[Liz Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

A simple way to teach kids how movement and exercise literally improve your mood.