Sorry

by Joanna Cotler, Harry Bliss (Illustrator)

Cow was in a nasty mood. When Duck came along Cow kicked mud in her face.

“Why’d you do that?” asked Duck.

“I felt like it,” said Cow. “And I’m not sorry.”

Little did Cow know that her bad mood would spread to the whole farm. But it does when Cow passes her anger along to Duck who takes it out on Frog who is mean to Bird who upsets Goat who bothers Pig. Until good-hearted Dog turns things around by showing kindness to Pig, turning not sorry into sorry (really sorry). But will that be enough to mend all of the hurt feelings on the farm?

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

32 pages, Hardcover

Published April 7, 2020

Reviews

[Darinda · Rating 3 out of 5]

The day starts with Cow in a bad mood. When Cow is mean to Duck, the bad mood spreads, and nobody is sorry for their behavior or hurtful words. When Dog responds with kindness, the other animals learn to be sorry, really sorry, about their behavior.

A sweet story about being sorry for bad behavior. The animals on the farm are quick with their bad behavior when things aren't going their way, but a positive attitude and saying "sorry" goes a long way. Adorable illustrations. Cute picture book with a positive message.

I received a free digital copy of this book from the publisher via Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.

[Laurie · Rating 5 out of 5]

**GIVEAWAY TIME** To win a hardcopy of this precious book go to www.blazertales.com . I am trying something new - when you put your name and email in the section to win the book, you will get an email. In that email, there is a button to click on to get many more opportunities to put your name in the hat. The new part is that you can click on the second button to check off everything that you did so I will know for sure how many times to put your name in the hat. Also new is that you can get your name in even more if you share this post, repost on Instagram, and retweet on Twitter. Since this is new, please let me know if this is awesome or too confusing or hard.

What is a great animals book for elementary school kids?

Sorry (Really Sorry) by Joanna Colter is!

Does how you feel affect other people? Why yes it does!

Cow is in a very bad mood because his hooves are in the mud so he takes it out on Duck, which makes duck in a bad mood. So when Frog asks Duck to go swimming, she snaps at him.

Does it stop there? Nope!

Now Frog is in a bad mood and is not very nice to Bird. Now that Bird Is in a bad mood she takes it out on Goat.

Will the madness stop or will all the animals on the farm be in a very bad mood?

Read this precious story to show kids (and even adults) that our actions really do affect others (and to find out if the moods on the farm go up or keep going down)!

To read the rest, watch my book talk, and enter to win, go to www.blazertales.com

[Rod Brown · Rating 2 out of 5]

Cow's bad mood is transmitted throughout the farm as each animal in turn treats the next poorly and doesn't apologize or gives an insincere apology.

That set-up is fine, but the resolution annoys as it has the victims approaching the rude creatures with gifts and hugs to win back their affection. Not the sort of lesson I'd pass on to my daughter.

I only picked this up for the Harry Bliss art, which is quite fine, as always.

[Niki · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think you could have some great discussions about emotions and how to treat others using this book.

[Savannah Hendricks · Rating 2 out of 5]

I understand the lesson in the story, but in my opinion, it's not executed properly as a children's story. So much of it shows children that being nasty/rude is okay because saying sorry makes everything better. Which is far from the case once the damage is done. Since 75% of the story is this - before the "lesson" - without any earlier intervention doesn't work for teaching children "before it's too late."

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great social-emotional learning!

[Shaye Miller · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a story of the emotional domino effect experienced when one person takes out their frustrations on someone else. Cow starts off in a terrible mood and kicks mud into Duck's face. Aaaand, of course, Duck has to take out her frustration on another unsuspecting farm animal. And so it goes... However, I'm proud to say that after several animals fall victim to the chain reaction, it is Dog who finally puts an end to it all and begins talking reason. Are we surprised? 😊 The lovely artwork was done in black India ink and watercolor.

For more children's literature, middle grade literature, and YA literature reviews, feel free to visit my personal blog at The Miller Memo!

[Peacegal · Rating 4 out of 5]

In this beautifully-illustrated book, animals living in a fantasy barnyard show how a bad mood can spread, and when we take out our bad mood on others, a lot of hurt feelings can result. Smart and mindful look at keeping control of our feelings and not taking them out on innocent parties!

[DaNae · Rating 4 out of 5]

A bad mood moves through the farmyard until a dog is willing to sit and listen to a friend, deflecting the viral nastiness. Proving once again, that dogs are the best. This is going to be used by school counselors for years to come.

[Erin · Rating 3 out of 5]

I didn't care for this book on the first read-though, but then this actually happened in my house where one person's bad mood became contagious until everyone was in a bad mood. So I went back to read it again and gained a much greater appreciation for it. I feel that the art doesn't really match up with the story. I would have like more "cute" characters over very realistically drawn ones. It's hard to anthropomorphize animals that look exactly like the actual animals.

[Cindy Mitchell *Kiss the Book* · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sorry (Really Sorry) by Joanna Cotler, illustrated by Harry Bliss. PICTURE BOOK. Philomel Books (Penguin Random House), 2020. $18. 9781984812476

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - ESSENTIAL

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE

Cow is mad because he is all muddy and he takes his anger out on Duck. This puts Duck in a bad mood and she is rude to Frog. This goes on until Dog sees through the bad behavior to their real relationships and each animal is then able to do something nice for another.

I love these stories that reveal a universal emotion we are all so ashamed to admit to and treats it gently but with truth. Sure, we all get irrationally mad or frustrated, but we do indeed have the control over how we treat others. The illustrations are lackluster, but the story is universally useful.

Jen Wecker, HS English Teacher
https://kissthebookjr.blogspot.com/20...

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oh, goodness, how do model true contrite behavior when you have caused harm to another BUT you do not feel contrition because someone, some terrible someone has harmed you and hurt your feelings?! OH, the WOUNDING. This truly is difficult for me, and when it comes time for me to be the grownup person in front of my kids and rise above...oh, I fear that I fail at this far too often.

Thank goodness for Dog's example here. Everyone else has carried on the wounding--isn't that the way of our world, especially now?--and Dog alone does not. Dog sits. Dog waits. Dog listens. Dog holds no offense. What a beautiful, simple example of friendship and love. And then one by one, all the other animals remember how to be friends again. Thank you for this story.

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very sweet story about reactivity and how our actions have a very real impact on others. I loved how it demonstrated the chain effect of negative reactivity but also illustrated the equal, and even more powerful effect of positive reactivity. This book does a great job of introducing and modeling this very important life principle.

[raccoon reader · Rating 2 out of 5]

eh.... ::shrug::

[Cassie · Rating 5 out of 5]

YES! What a great way to explain how being unkind can spread from person and person and how just as easily, kindness can be spread instead.

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cow splashes mud on Goose without a glimmer of remorse. The slop of the mud and Cow's "I don't even care" response transfers the same grumpy attitude to Goose and this irritability quickly spreads from one offended animal to the next; until everyone in the barnyard is out of sorts and angry with each other. Then Pig snaps at Dog. Dog does not respond in kind, instead he is brave enough to say that he is sorry, and to mean it. His apology is genuine. A few others have said “sorry” but they were sarcastic, but Dog means it when he tells the pig that he is sorry. This sets off a new chain reaction. One by one each farm animal realizes that they are “sorry" and through words or actions each of the formerly rude animals offer some form of apology; smoothing feelings and healing discord. Some of the animals even leave special gifts that they know their friends will enjoy, like a yummy worm sandwich for the bird. Everyone is back in harmony and all is serendipitous until the horse sidles up to the fence. Readers are left to wonder what new shenanigans are about to ensue.

The message conveyed in this charming picture book is a valuable one. Individuals can either choose to spread negative emotions, or they can choose to do the right thing and apologize when necessary. This theme is appropriate for every age group and reading level. The bright illustrations keep the tone light and humorous when the rudeness of the characters might become overwhelming. The facial expressions of the animals accurately convey the mood of each one as they go from neutral to offended to offender. It might be useful to read this book with a toddler and let them tell you how each animal is feeling from page to page and let them offer feedback on how they might handle the situation. It would be easy to discuss how people hurt each other’s feelings and what the best ways are to make up with someone who has been injured by the words or actions of someone else. Some of the interactions involve bullying and this would make a good story for both sides of the issue to discuss how they feel and why. What made the cow decide to be mean and how was the dog able to respond differently from everyone else? Children need to see and discuss these issues using books that put the issues at a comfortable distance. This is a good book for discussing feelings and how we respond to outside stimuli.

[Stephanie Tournas · Rating 4 out of 5]

 Making a riff on the meme/hashtag "Sorry, not sorry", this picture book shows how meanness perpetuates meanness, and that it just takes one brave soul to turn it around. Cow, in a bad mood, kicks mud in Duck's face. Duck asks her why she did it, and Cow says, "I felt like it ... And I'm not sorry." Duck, now covered in mud and annoyed, insults Frog, who insults Bird, and so on. It takes Dog to arrest the chain of events, by really listening to his friend, Pig, and by reminding her, with kindness, what is important. It's so sweet, and I love that it's Dog who turns it around. It's great for kids to learn that it's never to late to say you're sorry (in most cases, anyway.) Bliss's fabulous ink and watercolor art gives the animals all priceless facial expressions, which is what we have come to expect from him. The book delivers a lovely message through beloved childhood animals in a simple story of kindness.

[Darla · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ever snapped at someone when you were having a bad day? Next thing you know, that person is also having a bad day--and probably passed the grumpies onto another. On and on it can go unless someone breaks the chain (Can you hear Fleetwood Mac right now?) In this book it all starts with a cow who hates standing in mud. She kicks mud on duck who calls frog a "gross green glob," and on it goes. . .until dog helps pig turn things around and start sending some love back up the chain. The grands LOVE the Vox version of this book. Last night I set it on my desk to help me remember to review it today. Before I could post, my grandson had already discovered it's new location and had taken it to the couch for another listen. It includes different voices for the animals and is so engaging. With all the times the littles are hearing this story, they are sure to catch the message. It's a good reminder for me as well.

[Lisa · Rating 1 out of 5]

I liked the illustrations and felt they conveyed the feelings well. I did NOT like the story and stopped it about two pages in because I was cringing and completely turned off. It seems to convey the ripple effect of bad moods and actions and conversely the domino effect of kindness. I know people (in this story it is all animals) can be rude and act out but I don't want to read about how they did it for no other reason than they "felt like it." Nor did I need to hear all about insincere apologies. I really prefer books to model what we want from children, not what they may do and feel justified in it because half the book is showing those things. I think it makes the take away message muddled and confusing. We finished the audio version by skipping to the more positive middle to the end of the book but this is going right back to the library.

[Sandy Brehl · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've never met a Harry Bliss illustrator that i didn't love, and this is no exception.
The characters feel like old friends, the kind of friends who can be in bad mood, reflexively act/speak unkindly, but are genuinely good at heart. The empathetic response from audiences will be spontaneous, and the eventual turn of attitude and responses will be celebrated.
Saying "sorry" can be hard to do, or far too easy, when insincere.
In this case the parenthetical (Really Sorry) is the secret sauce that emerges to restore harmony among the friends.
A delightful book for the very young, with a worthy message at any age.

[Becky B · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cow gets muddy hooves which puts her in a mood. When her flinging mud hits Duck, Cow refuses to apologize and that gets Duck in a mood. Soon the whole barnyard has been unkind to each other as the moodiness spreads. Is there any hope for reconciliation?

What a fantastic book about how your bad mood and unkindness can spread to others. It does not excuse the actions of others, and eventually it shows how to stop the bad mood and unkindness in its tracks (with patience and the ability to see what's really going on with the upset person who said something mean) and work to reverse it with genuine apologies and acts of kindness. The illustrations are fabulous too. Highly recommended.

[Molly Cluff (Library!) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I can see this book being a good teaching tool for kids who are learning about how to apologize. A sequential story where one grumpy animal acts meanly towards another, and soon everyone in the barnyard is upset at someone. Pig finally apologizes to dog, and that sets off a chain reaction of the other animals reconciling with each other as well. The only thing that felt a little odd was how it was the animals that had been wronged who were approaching the ones who had been mean to them rather than the other way around (maybe the message is to take the high road?).

[Tatym Medina-Cole · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a really good choice of book if there are issues with being kind in the classroom. The story not only conveys the message that being mean and taking out your anger can spread, but also that a real apology is better than one that is insincere. I like that the story uses cute farm animals, but I do think that the story would be more powerful if it took place in a classroom, because it would be more relatable for the kids. Overall, this story has a good message, and is another that would be great to have on hand either as a parent or a teacher

[Janet · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked the illustrations, especially those of the goat and the double page spread of frog receiving a box of flies. The theme of the story, everyone being irritated with each other and eventually all the animals being friendly. The sentence structure I didn’t care for, especially the first half of the title which will make it somewhat awkward to read aloud. And, yes,in very hot humid weather cattle like to wade into rivers and ponds.

[Angie · Rating 4 out of 5]

My Review: This was a really great book to help kids understand grumpy emotions. I love how it shows that one grumpy person (animal) being mean or cruel can start a whole chain of upset and grumpy people. It also shows how just one understanding and kind person can change and stop the chain. It was a simple story for little ones and had such a great message. The illustrations were cute and the use of animals will really capture kids attention.

[Dena Vincent · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cow starts off in a bad mood and treats duck badly then duck treats frog badly and on it goes. Dog stops the chain of bad events by listening to Pig and giving him some comfort. After Pig gets some love he gives it to goat and goat gives it to bird. Which starts a new chain of events and all the animals end up happy.
This book has a great message and will be a great read aloud. Published 2020

[Nicole · Rating 5 out of 5]

As an elementary school counselor, I love using bibliotherapy when working with students. This book is a perfect way to explain the process of how just one action (without apologizing) can lead to others displacing their mad/sad feelings. I especially appreciated how I was able to navigate with my 1-2 grade students that just because Cow "starts" it, she isn't to blame. We ALL have a choice to be kind or mean, and whichever we decide is OUR choice.

[MeganRuth - Alohamora Open a Book · Rating 3 out of 5]

A cyclical story about farm animals getting angry and taking it out on the next animal. Luckily, they all say sorry and the story ends up nicely right with the animal who started all the grumpiness.

It'd be a great book for a storytime or lesson about emotions, saying sorry, and how the things we do impact others.

[Abby Johnson]

Oh man, cow is having a really bad day and takes it out on duck... who takes his bad mood out on frog.. and so on until the whole farm is having a terrible day. This book demonstrates the domino effect that a nasty attitude can have and ends with all the farm animals making amends. Share with young kids to start a conversation about behavior and how to handle a bad day.

[Dina]

Yeah! A book that talks about the consequence of being in a bad mood and what really being sorry is in a way that younger students can understand! I hope to use this book for a read aloud when school resumes. Good dialogue, beautiful illustrations and a solid plot add to the allure of this book! Recommend!