I loved this because it's such a practical and humorous guide on how to deal with big feelings. The examples were relatable on the kinds of situations that lead to freaking out. There were several options on what to do, and no judgement for kids who still freak out sometimes, just more advice on how to deal with it. I've worked with a lot of kids with big feelings, and this seems like it would give them tools they need to be happier.
Thanks to NetGalley for letting me read this

E ARC Provided by Edelweiss Plus

This short, highly illustrated book helps kids and tweens understand more about why everyone occasionally "freaks out" and what can be done to manage these episodes and to hopefully freak out less. There's a lot of good explanations about things like the various response to challenging situations, where kids might find themselves being Freezers, Fighters, Flee-ers, Flipper-Outers or Fixers. Teen magazine-style quizzers help to determine this, and there are a number of these quizzes throughout the book to bring home lots of different points. There are some acronyms, like FART (Feelings, Automatic, Reactive, Too Far) and BuRPs (Button [pushing] Reduction Practices that will help kids remember what they are facing in times of emotional crisis. There's a great list of reasons why people freak out (no one ever taught you not to, you've had practice, it feels good in the moment, others in your life freak out), as well as solid scientific explanations of brain science. The most useful part of the book is probably the 26 Button Reduction Practices, which range from "breath" to "Yoga". There's even a discussion about mental health days, and I definitely appreciated the admonition that you should only take these if you actually need them. The book is rounded out with a good resource list of other books to consult.

I'll probably buy this for my library for one of the reasons mentioned for freak outs; many of my students appear not to have been taught how to avoid these. My mother's BuRPs pretty much started and ended with "ACT like we did not raise you in a barn"; growing up, I was unaware that freaking out was an option. And no, my mother NEVER lost her temper or had meltdowns. You... just didn't. However, this is much more common today, and I have on many occasions had to sit with kids in the library and remind them how to do box breathing or to tell me five things they can see, hear, etc. Since I am not licensed to deal with emotional crises, having a book like this gives me something to hand students that might be more useful to them than anything I can offer!

Thank you to Workman Publishing and NetGalley for the eGalley to review!

Wow, what an awesome book! Even adults can get some use out of this one (I sure did!)! In an age where it's getting harder to regulate emotions due to such a reactionary culture, getting this kind of guide into younger hands is more crucial than ever. This book goes over what freaking out actually is, what it can look like for different people, why we do it, and how to properly work through a freakout. It's not at all patronizing and is a bit funny as well, which will make it feel less clinical for kids to read. There are quizzes to help readers understand what kind of freakouts they're prone to, what their buttons are, and how those buttons get pushed. It's really good!!

I would immediately hand this to a kid who needs help regulating their emotions and properly responding to situations that make them uncomfortable in any way. While it's fairly concise and thorough, it also provides more resources for even better understanding should the reader feel uncomfortable reaching out to another person for help. This list of resources (and the book itself) can also help adults who are teaching kids social-emotional learning. So if you have kids who are prone to freaking out, get this book in their hands!!

Carla Naumburg's "How to Stop Freaking Out" offers young readers a practical and humorous guide to managing their emotions during chaotic moments. Filled with engaging quizzes, fun facts, and reflective activities, this book offers kids practical advice to help them stay grounded and find humor in their experiences.

Thank you NetGalley and Workman Publishing Company for the ARC.

“How to Stop Freaking Out” is a good primer for emotional regulation techniques. Author Carla Naumburg explains step-by-step what is happening in your body when you lose your cool and how to get your body and mind back on track with clear guides and choices to find what works best for each person.

Letizia Rizzo’s illustrations are playful and charming. The design of the book includes soothing color and a somewhat modular feel so you don’t always have to start at the top of the page. Periodic “quizzes” to think more about your own feelings or to check for understanding add an interactive element to the book.

Classroom considerations: This would be great to have in an introductory psychology classroom and in the middle school or high school library.

Although “How to Stop Freaking Out” is designed for middle schoolers, it would also be good for high school students and adults who work with young people.

I received an advance review copy for free from NetGalley and Workman Publishing Company, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

This book was great for the anxious child. Very accessible and well written. Can read all at once, or pick out applicable parts.

This is an interesting book that helps children to pick apart what it really means to 'freak out' and what can be done about it. I particularly liked the way that it doesn't shy away from giving the science behind why our brains do what they do in certain situations; I think children really appreciate this. My only reason for not buying this to use in school is that I'm in the UK and the language is very American and so I'm not sure how much our children would relate to it. I will be able to share bits I've read though and expect this to be useful.

The format of this book was fantastic. Easy to implement. Very useful information. Great for young readers.

A guide for children about freaking out. It takes them through what causes the "freak outs" and how to work through them. I thought this was very user friendly and full of great facts and more. It also has multiple "quizzes" that readers can take to learn more about themselves. I think this would be a great tool for all kids, but especially those with anxiety!