The Magical Science of Feelings

Clinical social worker Jen Daily helps kids understand the science behind feelings, taking them on a lively tour of the brain to see where anger, anxiety, sadness, and joy start, and offering activities for calming emotions.

Where do feelings come from? Are they magic? No, they're science! There is a reason our tummies feel funny when we are worried, and why we want to stomp and clench our fists when we feel mad. With endearing illustrations, the parts of the brain come alive as friendly characters who explain how emotions like happy, sad, mad, worried, and overwhelmed are created in the body. Along with clear explanations about the origins of feelings, author and clinical social worker Jen Daily provides creative coping skills and activities (playfully called emotion potions) that help build a child's ability to reflect, cope, calm anxious thoughts, and welcome greater joy. From dancing to storytelling and meditation, the coping skills are accessible and effective for a wide range of social-emotional needs and learning styles.

"In this charmingly illustrated book, feelings and the science of emotions are broken down in such an easily digestible way, children may not even realize they're reading nonfiction... The science of emotions is explained in a gentle and kind way, leaving readers feeling empowered in their newfound knowledge and more confident in how they can manage their feelings and reactions to stressors. The expressive and bright images are reminiscent of Roger Hargreaves's "Mr. Men" series... A great and useful tool for SEL collections, families, and children who are experiencing hardship or having trouble expressing their emotions."--School Library Journal
"This was a perfect book to read on the day that I saw Inside Out 2. The movie shows how complex emotions are which segues perfectly to this book. It does a brilliant job making emotions accessible and easy to discuss for children. For each emotion, it describes what is happening in the body to make the emotion, has the reader reflect on the emotion, and has activities that help with the feeling. This is a perfect book for homes and for schools-it truly is about the magic and science of feelings.​"--Unleashing Readers
"The Magical Science of Feelings is a fascinating exploration of emotions, highlighting some important information and action strategies to handle these emotions in an easy-to-understand manner... Reminiscent of the movie Inside Out, we have fun, expressive characters - amygdala, the hippocampus, the neocortex, and the limbic system - with easy to remember nicknames - Amy, Hippo, Neo, Lim, respectively. The book depicts the role these four play every time we experience an emotion or its reaction."--YA Books Central
"This appealing picture book does an especially effective job of describing the chemical changes that take place in human brains during times of intense emotion ... Youngsters, parents, teachers, and counselors will enjoy this accessible SEL introduction to where feelings come from."--Booklist
"You should pick up a copy as soon as possible to share with your friends and family."--Mommies Reviews
"This book provides a truly delightful journey through the science of emotions, filled with clever characters, clear explanations, charming illustrations, hands-on activities, and helpful strategies. The Magical Science of Feelings is both highly engaging and highly educational. I would absolutely recommend this book to parents as a valuable resource for kids--and their grown-ups."--Heather Tedesco, PhD, coauthor of Raising a Kid Who Can
"As a parent and a pediatrician, nearly every day I hear of the need for child-centered ways to teach our children THE MAGICAL SCIENCE OF FEELINGS. Jen Daily has done an exceptional job distilling a complex topic into a just-right resource children will enjoy."--Kelly Fradin, MD, author of Advanced Parenting
"The characters, illustrations, and activities make the science instantly useful in getting to know our emotions and take care of them well." --Lawrence J. Cohen, PhD, author of The Opposite of Worry and Playful Parenting

Jen Daily is a licensed clinical social worker currently serving as Director of Counseling at Deerfield Academy. In her private practice, she provided psychotherapy and coaching to children, adolescents, and their grown-ups focusing on the science of emotions and the belief that empowering children with the knowledge of their bodies leads to more effective interventions and a happier child. Daily has authored numerous group therapy curricula, designed professional development trainings for educators, and is a sought-after speaker who teaches teachers about the science of emotions and effective school-based interventions. She lives in western Massachusetts.

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