Howard B. Wigglebottom Learns It's OK to Back Away: A Story About Managing Anger

Howard B. Wigglebottom

by Reverend Ana, Susan F. Cornelison (Illustrator)

LISTEN BETTER to your body to help calm down, back away and get in less trouble. Award-winning…educator endorsed. FREE download discussion ideas, poster, video, song and interactive questions. www.wedolisten.org The We Do Listen Foundation is helping millions of children listen better to others, their hearts, feelings, bodies, and to intuition, the little voice in the head. 15 Howard B. Wigglebottom books, animations, songs, lessons help ages 4-7 become better listeners, learn important life lessons and feel good about themselves. No one ever gets in trouble for too much listening. Have a good listening day or the day of your choice.

Genres: Childrens, Picture Books, Fiction

32 pages, Hardcover

First published September 30, 2010

Reviews

[Darlene · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this book for review from the author. I did not receive any compensation for my review, and the views expressed herein are my own.

I read this book aloud to my children.

I love the name of the rabbit, Howard B. Wigglebottom. It's cute, it's funny, and accurately describes my kids who can't seem to sit still!

Howard gets taken to the principal's office at school because he does the wrong things when he does not get his way. Even when he returns home, he is still in a time-out. Howard's friend, Ali, stops by. He asks her why she doesn't get angry, and she tells him that she does just like everyone else. She said that her tummy gets all tight when she doesn't get her way and that she tells herself to "Stop; it's OK to back away," before she does the wrong thing. Then, Ali goes out and does something to feel good again, such as; jumping, kicking or throwing a ball, yelling, or counting. With Ali's help, Howard learns to redirect his anger.

We, too, do time-outs in our household for inappropriate behaviour and that includes when they are having a tantrum. The kids are more than welcome to rejoin the household once they have cooled off. I agree with the "back away" aspect of the book's lesson. In the suggestions for lessons and reflections at the back of the book, Binkow suggests listening to our tummies which might feel "tight or shaky or upset." That part of the lesson was a little hard for my kids to grasp, especially my 3 year-old. Speaking for myself, I don't generally get an upset tummy when I'm angry. Rather, my heart gets pumping and my face usually gets red!

We see a different side of Howard in this book. In the previous one we read (Howard B. Wigglebottom Learns About Mud and Rainbows), we see Howard as more of a "hero." In this one, Ali is the "hero" and Howard is the one that needs her help. I love that Binkow shows the "give-and-take" of the friendship between Howard and Ali and that nobody (not even cute Howard B. Wigglebottom) is perfect!

My kids really like Cornelison's illustrations. My 3 year-old especially got a kick out of seeing Howard's angry "Ninja Bunny" face.

Overall, I really liked this book but not as much as the other Binkow book that we just read (Howard B. Wigglebottom Learns About Mud and Rainbows). One thing in particular that I really like about this series is that it stimulates further discussion with my kids *after* we have read the book. Any book that does that gets my thumbs-up!

Although this is Book #5 of the series, each story is independent and can be read out of order.

MY RATING: 4 stars!! We really liked this book and recommend it!

[Cassandra · Rating 4 out of 5]

My daughter has challenges with anger. I wasn't sure if she was ready to pick up a moral from the story but she did! I finished reading it, shut the book, and asked her what she thought. She talked about Howard's anger and how he was able to overcome it. Hopefully she is also able to apply these principles to herself.

[Sunni Berbert · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book to discuss anger. Acknowledges that it is a normal emotion to feel. We all do at some point. Book even invites the readers to think about what leads up to a person having an outburst. How we react to our emotions is where we have the choice. We decide if we will give into the emotion or if we will think “stop, it’s ok”. It then offers other things we can do to help release the anger in an appropriate way, often through physical activity.

[So_Unhip_Shan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great illustration for kids who struggle with impulsive anger.

[Phoebe Hayes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome book about managing anger! Love the tips at the end for kids to learn from. I also loved how it helps kids identify that the feeling in their tummy might be anger.

[Erica · Rating 3 out of 5]

Howard has a hard time controlling his anger and let it ruin his day his good friend Ally teaches him to fill his belly up and think something to make him feel better

[Brian · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's a story book that teach children something can not do, if you do like that, you won't get the way, and you might to have terrible result. Howard, leading role of this story, one day he was hungry in the class, he really wanted to have lunch, and having his favorite chocolate milk. But when he almost reached the chocolate milk, there is nothing left; thus, Howard was very angry and hit the guy in front him, making the room a lot of mess, and then Howard was taking to the principal.

[Rosa Cline · Rating 4 out of 5]

These Howard B Wigglebottom books are so cleaverly written by teaching young readers-listeners lessons in life without being in their face about it. In this one Howard gets mad and trys to kick and hit another boy at school he gets into trouble and just has a bad day. But his friend comes to visit him after school and teaches him that it's ok to have a bad situation and it's ok to just back away from it and find something else that helps calm you down. A good book.

[Zach · Rating 5 out of 5]

Howard the bunny gets very angry when he doesn't get his way and that always gets him in trouble because he does things that he shouldn't. His friend Ali tells him that it's ok for him to get angry but says it's ok to 'back away' and teaches him ways to calm down rather than hit people or throw things at them. The back of the book offers suggestions and lessons and reflections from the text.

[Alice · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really like this Howard B. Wigglebottom series. They teach values and how to deal with emotions without having it 'in your face' This story is cute and teaches how kids can deal with anger issue. I like the talking points in the back. This would be a great resource for parents, families and teachers.

[Marc Lucke · Rating 3 out of 5]

Although I found the art a little frenetic and off-putting, I liked this book's exploration -- and validation -- of anger and the myriad ways to channel it. Definitely a worthwhile addition to any preschooler's library.

[Kim · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very good resource for children with anger issues.

[Angela · Rating 5 out of 5]

This sweet little bunny is so cute that the students can't help but be interested in the story! If you haven't visited the WeDoListen.org website, you are missing out!

[Fabian]

Howard B Wigglebottom