Little hedgehog is sad, he didn’t win the game
Basic emotions: SADNESS
| Author | Tatjana Gjurković, Tea Knežević |
|---|---|
| Illustrator | Jelena Brezovec |
| Original Title | Ježić je tužan jer nije pobijedio u igri |
| ISBN | 978-953-8008-73-3 |
| Format | softcover |
| Pages | 24 |
| Size | 22x22 cm |
| Age range | Early learning (2 – 6), Beginning readers (5 – 7) |
| Category | Sadness |
|---|---|
| Tag | Basic emotions: SADNESS |
WRITTEN BY EXPERTS IN CHILD PSYCHOLOGY
Little hedgehog was playing with his friends in a forest meadow. A doe suggested that they play a game in which everyone would be given a different letter, and then everyone would have to find as many objects as possible whose name began with the letter they were assigned. The hedgehog didn’t like the game because he had already lost once before. However, everyone agreed, so he decided to try again. This time he took third place out of four. He got very angry, and then very sad. His dad saw everything, came to comfort him and remind him that he is getting better every time and that he should only compare himself to himself.
Playing is children’s “job”. It has countless positive effects on child’s overall development, including discovering their own skills, potential, abilities, or limitations. Play also gives a child the space to push their own boundaries and win over others and themselves. Victories are successes and affect our self-esteem, self-confidence, and sense of worth and pride, while losses or failures cause sadness, disappointment, and frustration.
This picture book brings a story about child’s sadness because of failure in some challenge or game and you’ve noticed it more than once.
Sadness is one of the so-called basic emotions. They appear in all cultures and from early age. By the end of the 6th month of life, a child expresses all four basic emotions (anger, fear, happiness, sadness).
Sadness caused by failure is very often accompanied by other emotions such as frustration, anger, and shame. However, a child who loses a game first of all feels sad because they didn’t succeed in their plan. After the unpleasant feeling of sadness, a child can develop fear and aversion to participate in challenges in general, so it’s very important for parents to use the moment of failure to teach their child how to deal with this unpleasant feeling. They are not and can’t always be the best or the winner.
At the end of the picture book, there are advice for adults that will help you understand your child’s emotional needs and help you provide help and comfort.
Author: Tatjana Gjurković
Tatjana Gjurković has a master’s degree in psychology, she is certified psychotherapist, certified child play therapist (RPT), Certified Transactional Analyst (CTA), Teacher and Supervisor of Transactional Analysis (TSTA). She works individually with children and adults and holds educational programs for specialists in fields of child play therapy and transaction analysis. She is author of a book “Play Therapy with children” and 28 therapeutic picture books. She continuously promotes the importance of mental health in children and adults through Centar Proventus which she co-founded with her colleague Tea Knežević.
Author: Tea Knežević
Tea Knežević has master’s degree in psychology, she is certified psychotherapist, certified child play therapist (RPT) and Certified Transactional Analyst (CTA). She provides play therapy with children, psychotherapy with adults, parent consultations, and conducts numerous training courses for professionals in Centar Proventus which she co-founded with her colleague Tatjana Gjurković. She has written 28 picture books with therapeutic stories for children. In addition, she is the author of several manuals related to psychological resilience, gifted children, and anger management.
Illustrator: Jelena Brezovec
Jelena Brezovec has a master’s degree in social studies. For a long time, drawing was just a hobby, until 2008 when she became a co-founder of the publishing house Evenio and decided to study digital illustration, with the focus on children’s illustration. So far, she has illustrated more than 40 picture books and many other publications. She is the winner of the Grigor Vitez “Bird” Award, a special praise from the children’s jury. She has illustrated the most popular children’s book series in Croatia – Mrljek & Prljek. Her illustrations have been part of many exhibitions throughout Croatia. She lives and works in Varaždin, Croatia.
