Mr Huff is a wonderful book written and illustrated by Anna Walker. It was the CBCA 2016 Early Childhood Book Of The Year and raises a topic that can seem too dark or oppressive to small children, yet it is deeply relevant to them.
Even very young children have days when they or people around them) feel sad for no particular reason. This book explains those feelings in a gentle way, using beautiful illustrations.
There are some wonderful learning opportunities in this books that is suitable for children aged 3 to 8 years of age.
Positive Psychology - some great follow up discussions to have with children after reading
Mr Huff
What sorts of things put you in a bad mood?
How can a bad mood make everything even worse?
How do other people feel about you when you are in a bad mood?
What can you do to make yourself feel better?
Consider what might be the good points and bad points of each of the following situations:
A rainy day
Getting your tonsils out
Getting a baby brother / sister
Moving to a new school
How can your attitude or the way you view things totally change the situation?
Think of some other stories or songs that suggest ways to make situations better – eg ‘My favourite Things’; ‘Whistle while you work’, ‘Just a spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go Down,’ etc
Make your own guide to how to make yourself feel better in bad situations.
Have each student think of one piece of advice. Print each piece of advice and pin them to a wall to make a Happiness wall.
Have students list three good things that happen to them each day.
I love this book, so much to talk about with children, and introduces a tricky topic for young children.