Pajama Press

A sweet and poetic concept book for preschoolers that explores feelings both tactile and emotional

The toad feels bumpy, like a gnarly tree. The snake feels smooth, like a stone polished by the sea. One by one the hedgehog discovers the textures of his animal friends. But how does the hedgehog feel himself?

Award-winning author/illustrator Rebecca Bender’s How Do You Feel? will charm readers with its lyrical text, endearing animals, and surprise ending. The small trim size and padded hardcover format make it perfect for little ones, who may even be inspired to find new ways of expressing how they feel—in every sense of the phrase.

Awards & Honours:
2017 Spring Best Books for Kids & Teens selection

Reviews:
“A puffy, cheery cover framed in soft purple….[C]lean, uncluttered, sturdy pages with plenty of white….The tone is set for this toddler-friendly book that introduces a few animals and how they feel….A charming, smart, and attractive book.”—Kirkus Reviews 

“The ending of the book is a nice surprise – switching from a focus on physical feelings (e.g., soft, gnarly) to emotional feelings. This may allow parents an opportunity to discuss the differences in what or how a child might be ‘feeling’ and that both types of feeling are important.”—CM Magazine

“The uncomplicated poetic descriptive text is paired with charming colourful and whimsical illustrations rendered with acrylics and coloured pencil. An added feature for babies is padded covers.”—Resource Links

“The small trim size and padded hardcover format make it perfect for little ones, who may even be inspired to find new ways of expressing how they feel in every sense of the phrase.”—Midwest Book Review

“This is great for very young children and especially good for students learning English. There are lots of new adjectives and similes that students will enjoy learning.”—Youth Services Book Review

“[A] sweet children’s book with acrylic and colored pencil illustrations.”—Brigham Young University, Children’s Book & Media Reviews

“Use this captivating book to inspire your own metaphorical statements.”—Imagination Soup

“Pajama Press has started putting out these lovely padded-cover books for preschoolers that are so much more inviting to hold than ordinary board books. With its soft, cushioned cover, the parade of animals within and the repetitive text, How Do You Feel? will become a popular read-aloud book for parents and teachers of preschoolers and kindergarteners.”—CanLit for LittleCanadians

“I love the double meaning of the question (because anything that teaches that a single thing can have two realities is important), and that the answers to the questions are all about words and similes. The whole book is about connection, and it’s sweet and lovely, and also powerfully subversive in the most important way.”—Pickle Me This

“The illustrations are delightfully soft…”—@picturebookplaydate