Dawson has some big emotions that he feels. When Dawson experiences anger, worry, excitement, his emotions take control of his body. His teacher recommends that he gives those emotions to his squishy when he becomes overwhelmed. It is never ok to hurt yourself, others or destroy things. Giving those emotions to Dawson squishy helps him to be the boss of his own emotions.

A great resource for parents, teachers and children that have a difficult time with their emotions. It identifies those emotions and gives the child a safe place for them. Children need to feel safe when they are dealing with big emotions.

A special thank you to Boys Town Publishing and Netgalley for the ARC and the opportunity to post an honest review.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the chance to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
3.5⭐
I really liked the idea. It teaches the kid how big emotions are okay and how we can deal with them and I liked the special page of strategies for parents and educators to help kids manage their big emotions.

I will NEVER not read a Julia Cook book! Her books are a staple in my 3rd grade classroom! Awesome Dawson Has Big Emotions will have a spot in there, as well!

Dawson is a boy who has big feelings. He struggles with how to handle them. The book takes us on a journey and shows how Dqwson processes his many feelings.

I like how Dawson is so relatable. So many kids struggle with regulating their emotions. One could easily have a conversation with children regarding how Dawson felt and what he did to make his problems better. I also like that the suggestions for Dawson are ones that I would truly use with my students (i.e. get a fidget, use deep breathing, etc). This is an awesome took for parents, educators, and mental health providers! Thank you to Net Galley and Boys Town Press for the opportunity to read Awesome Dawson Has Big Emotions!

It was a good read about emotions and ways to handle them and that if they get overwhelming that means they are bossing us around and we can take control.

This was cute and teaches the child that big emotions are ok but can be handled in a way that is acceptable. Definitely a good book for toddler boys.

A great story for helping younger children understand some of the big emotions they might have! My son really enjoyed the pictures, especially the ones that showed Dawson's feelings as though they were something outside of him.

I loved that the story also. gives some strategies that children could use to help manage these emotions, and that in the back there is even some useful information for adult caregivers too!

had so much fun reading this book, the story is so adorable and the illustrations were so well done and charming, there’s so many little details in every page that I couldn’t stop but be mesmerized by it all. I will definitely be recommending it! Thank you netgalley and the publisher for this early copy

Awesome Dawson has some pretty big emotions and he needs some help managing those huge feelings. He learns, with the help of a trusted adult, strategies to help himself cope in a positive way.

The back of the book has a page of suggestions for adults to help children manage their feelings.

Awesome Dawson Has Big Emotions is another great entry into this category to help young children effectively manage their emotions. I love that the story doesn’t deny Dawson his emotions, but teaches him to cope in a healthy way. Author Julia Cook, along with Dr. Rebecca Chow, has created a delightful self-help guide.

This would be a great story for young children learning to manage their emotions and for the adults helping them.

I received an advance review copy for free from NetGalley and Boys Town Press Publishing, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Big emotions can be hard to deal with at any age. This is a great way to break it down for children of any age and explain to them how they can deal with it.

This book was so cute!! I loved how it teaches little show to process their emotions! All of my kiddos were sucked in and listening so intently when I read it to them.

This was a pretty good book to read to my 3 year old about emotions. Maybe it would be better for a bit older child but he did seem to enjoy parts of it.

*Full review on wallflowerhaze.com*

A children’s book about learning to manage big emotions that is actually helpful and not just “Stop being naughty!” AND it can work for a neurodivergent children? Heck yeah!

This is actually the second book in the Awesome Dawson series, but the format means that it works equally well as a standalone book. Having said that, although I haven’t read the first book in the series (Awesome Dawson, It’s Not Your Turn), if it’s anything like this one, then I’m sure I would recommend it.

Awesome Dawson Has Big Emotions is a useful teaching tool to help young children make sense of their emotions and learn how to process them in healthy ways. The story format makes the lesson feel natural and accessible to the target audience.

I love that the author mentions a range of emotions. I think children’s books on the topic of emotions and behaviours often focus heavily on emotions we might call “negative”, like anger, sadness, or worry, and whilst this book includes those emotions, the author also includes excitement. Although excitement is usually deemed a “positive” emotion, however, when intense and overwhelming, this too can lead to just as much discomfort or unhelpful behaviours as those typically “negative” emotions.

Something that I noted whilst reading is that Dawson is not admonished for having big emotions, or even for expressing those emotions. He is reassured that having big emotions is normal. He is, however, guided towards a safer method of expressing the big emotions. Dawson’s kind, patient teacher takes the time to talk him through an understanding of his emotions, helping him to understand why his current behaviours create the consequences they do, and providing him with the tools to feel more in control of his emotions and the way he responds to them.

The section at the end – aimed at parents, educators, and caregivers – is a fantastic idea. Written by Dr Rebeca Chow, it affirms the need for all parties (child and adult) to work together in learning how to cope with big emotions, and that this work is for the benefit of ourselves and for the people around us.

The author offers practical examples of healthy coping methods that adults can facilitate at low or no cost. You can buy a special “My Little Squishy” or use a similar squishy toy or stress ball already in the home/school. There are also free downloadable pages available to help “reinforce the lessons Dawson learns”.

I think this book is suitable for all children aged 4 and up. I also think it’s worth saying that as an autistic person who experiences emotional dysregulation and sensory overload, I found this format very accessible and applicable to something with which neurodivergent people (young and old) often struggle.

Although I only learnt about my own autism in 2022 (aged 32), I can look back now and see how much I have struggled with both ends of the emotional spectrum; “shutdowns” or dissociation, suppressing big emotions and maintain my “mask”; and “meltdowns” or explosive behaviours stemming from overwhelming emotions and sensations.

I know now that this is a common experience for autistic people and I think that’s why I found this book so great. Emotional dysregulation and challenging behaviour is often judged as some kind of character flaw. In reality, it’s usually a reaction to unbearable stimuli. What is often put down to “naughtiness” is often an attempt to express and release an overwhelming emotion.

I’m still learning about autism and how it affects me. But I’m starting to allow myself to stim freely (my own versions of using the My Little Squishy!) and to view my emotions as an experience rather than a flaw in my personality. It’s doing wonders for my mental health, and my confidence is (slowly) growing.

I think this book does something very similar to that process, so I think there are a whole bunch of neurodivergent kids who could benefit from having their grown-ups read this with them.

Of course, this book cannot fully eliminate the reality that some neurodivergent people will continue to experience meltdowns throughout their life. The methods in this book are not some kind of miracle trick that magically makes any child 100% in control of their emotions. More importantly, meltdowns are much more complex than tantrums or fits of temper.

I’m not saying this short book covers the full scope of the support needs that every neurodivergent child has regarding emotions and behaviours. I am saying that as an autistic person, I believe this book could be useful for many neurodivergent children and their grown-ups.

In conclusion, I would definitely recommend this book to all parents, caregivers, educators who live, work, or have contact with young children.

Being the parent of a young children isn’t an easy job. Social skills are presented in a series of books by Boys Town Press. In this title, a boy learns ways to comfort himself when he’s over-excited or upset. What a good book for a parent to read aloud to their child who has big emotions! There’s even a link to purchase the squishy toy described in the story.

Thoughts:
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. This is an amazing book to help children identify and handle their big feelings. I think the techniques advised to Dawson in the book are great for young children and the depictions of the big emotions are beautiful. I also appreciated the downloadable pages offered at the beginning, tips for parents, educators and caregivers at the end and absolutely love that there is a Squishy available to buy for children to do the same as the character for big emotions.

Favourite Quote:
"It’s ok to have big emotions, but if they get too big, they try to boss you around."

I love how this explained big emotions to small people! What a great way to help teach children how to regulate their reactions to their feelings! I will definitely be getting this for my daughter!