Elephant of Sadness, Butterfly of Joy - Patricia June Austin

\nElephant of Sadness, Butterfly of Joy is a collection of twenty-four picture poems that explore the realm of human emotion.\n \nEach poem links an animal with an emotion and uses sensory imagery to spark childlike wonder, paint word pictures to ponder, and see the world from a new perspective.\n \nElephant of Sadness, Butterfly of Joy evokes metaphoric thinking in young readers. From the Mosquito of Worry and Snail of Anticipation to the Hummingbird of Happiness and Lanternfish of Love, the poems vary in tone--some light, some dark, some humorous, and some serious. The animals represent a diversity of species, including mammals, reptiles, cephalopods, mollusks, fish, insects, arachnids, and birds.\n \nWhether hopeful, frustrated, surprised, or content, this book helps illustrate the emotional spectrum that encompasses the human experience and bridge a gap in understanding so that children are better equipped to label their feelings.\n \nFor teachers, parents, and caregivers, these poems open space for discussions about social-emotional learning, which, now more than ever, are needed conversations.\n