• Age: 3 to 6
• Grade: p to 1

A young child tells us about the different times when he feels peaceful, as well as how he copes when he needs to find a peaceful state again.

Acclaimed picture-book creators Sandra V. Feder and Rahele Jomepour Bell have teamed up once again to create a thoughtful and beautifully illustrated exploration of peacefulness.

“I like feeling peaceful,” the young narrator tells us, then describes the times when he is filled with this emotion. When he is playing with a friend, he feels “free peaceful”; when he is having family dinner, “yummy peaceful”; when he is outside gazing up at the sky, “fluffy clouds peaceful". But, of course, he doesn’t always feel peaceful, and we hear about his strategies for coping during those times, such as taking deep breaths, imagining his favorite things, and finding a quiet refuge or a hug.

Peaceful Me is the perfect companion to Angry Me — together, they encourage readers to let anger come and go, while inviting peace to come and stay.

Key Text Features

explanation

illustrations

vignettes

Correlates to the Common Core State Standards in English Language Arts:

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.K.7

With prompting and support, describe the relationship between illustrations and the story in which they appear (e.g., what moment in a story an illustration depicts).

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.1.2

Retell stories, including key details, and demonstrate understanding of their central message or lesson.

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.1.4

Identify words and phrases in stories or poems that suggest feelings or appeal to the senses.

SANDRA V. FEDER is the author of two acclaimed picture books. Bitter and Sweet, illustrated by Kyrsten Brooker, was a PJ Library selection, and The Moon Inside, illustrated by Aimée Sicuro, has been translated into French, Chinese and Korean. She’s also the author of three early chapter books — Daisy’s Perfect Word, Daisy’s Defining Day and Daisy’s Big Night, illustrated by Susan Mitchell. Sandra lives in Northern California.

Sandra V. Feder's profile page

RAHELE JOMEPOUR BELL’s rich, textured illustrations have appeared in Angry Me by Sandra V. Feder, To Change a Planet by Christina Soontornvat (Green Earth Book Award), The Treasure Box (Bologna Illustration Exhibition award) and Our Favorite Day of the Year by A. E. Ali (Kirkus Best Picture Books of the Year), among many others. She is an assistant professor in the illustration department at Kansas City Art Institute and has her studio in Kansas state.

Rahele Jomepour Bell's profile page

• Commended, Bank Street College of Education Best Children's Books of the Year

Peaceful Me is a perfect read to encourage calmness and relaxation.

CM: Canadian Review of Materials

Through this story, kids can learn how to help themselves feel better when having uncomfortable feelings, while adults can learn how to help kids manage them appropriately at the same time.

Children's Literature Comprehensive Database

As in Angry Me, Sandra V. Feder and Rahele Jomepour Bell's equally delightful team effort ... In her stunning illustrations, Bell uses hand-printed textures, scanned and painted digitally, to create a layered, many-patterned look that is enormously appealing. STARRED REVIEW

Shelf Awareness

A close look at moods and feelings and what might influence them.

The International Educator Blog

The beautiful illustrations create picturesque experiences filled with laughter, quiet reading moments, falling leaves, a game and lots of family and friend time.

Bend Nest Parenting Magazine

[Peaceful Me] gives readers words to talk about their experiences, and uses lulling lines to model settling one's body and mind.

Publishers Weekly

There is much to ponder, practice, and observe here, and the book has a sense of play. STARRED REVIEW

School Library Journal