A young child tells us about the different times when he feels peaceful, as well as how he copes when he needs to find a peaceful state again.
Acclaimed picture-book creators Sandra V. Feder and Rahele Jomepour Bell have teamed up once again to create a thoughtful and beautifully illustrated exploration of peacefulness.
“I like feeling peaceful,” the young narrator tells us, then describes the times when he is filled with this emotion. When he is playing with a friend, he feels “free peaceful”; when he is having family dinner, “yummy peaceful”; when he is outside gazing up at the sky, “fluffy clouds peaceful". But, of course, he doesn’t always feel peaceful, and we hear about his strategies for coping during those times, such as taking deep breaths, imagining his favorite things, and finding a quiet refuge or a hug.
Peaceful Me is the perfect companion to Angry Me — together, they encourage readers to let anger come and go, while inviting peace to come and stay.
Key Text Features
explanation
illustrations
vignettes
Correlates to the Common Core State Standards in English Language Arts:
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.K.7
With prompting and support, describe the relationship between illustrations and the story in which they appear (e.g., what moment in a story an illustration depicts).
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.1.2
Retell stories, including key details, and demonstrate understanding of their central message or lesson.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.1.4
Identify words and phrases in stories or poems that suggest feelings or appeal to the senses.
A young child tells us about the different times when he feels peaceful, as well as how he copes when he needs to find a peaceful state again.
Acclaimed picture-book creators Sandra V. Feder and Rahele Jomepour Bell have teamed up once again to create a thoughtful and beautifully illustrated exploration of peacefulness.
“I like feeling peaceful,” the young narrator tells us, then describes the times when he is filled with this emotion. When he is playing with a friend, he feels “free peaceful”; when he is having family dinner, “yummy peaceful”; when he is outside gazing up at the sky, “fluffy clouds peaceful". But, of course, he doesn’t always feel peaceful, and we hear about his strategies for coping during those times, such as taking deep breaths, imagining his favorite things, and finding a quiet refuge or a hug.
Peaceful Me is the perfect companion to Angry Me — together, they encourage readers to let anger come and go, while inviting peace to come and stay.
Key Text Features
explanation
illustrations
vignettes
Correlates to the Common Core State Standards in English Language Arts:
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.K.7
With prompting and support, describe the relationship between illustrations and the story in which they appear (e.g., what moment in a story an illustration depicts).
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.1.2
Retell stories, including key details, and demonstrate understanding of their central message or lesson.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.1.4
Identify words and phrases in stories or poems that suggest feelings or appeal to the senses.
| Published By | Groundwood Books Ltd — May 2, 2023 |
| Specifications | 32 pages | 8 in x 11.25 in |
| Keywords | adapting; behaviour modification; acceptance; sharing; empathy; The Good Egg; social emotional learning; mindfulness; understanding differences; frustration; little kids big feelings; anxiety; kindness; dialogue; explanation; illustrations; vignettes; Elise Gravel; Peter Reynolds; |
| Written By |
SANDRA V. FEDER is the author of the highly acclaimed books in the Emotions and Me series, including Angry Me and Peaceful Me, illustrated by Rahele Jomepour Bell (Bank Street College of Education Best Children’s Books of the Year), and Shy Me and Lonely Me (the latter forthcoming in 2026), illustrated by Ashley Barron. Sandra’s other books include Bitter and Sweet, illustrated by Kyrsten Brooker (a PJ Library selection), and The Moon Inside, illustrated by Aimée Sicuro. She lives in California. |
| Illustrated by |
RAHELE JOMEPOUR BELL is an Iranian-born illustrator and educator whose vivid, textured work explores cultural identity, migration and the richness of everyday life. She is a professor at the Kansas City Art Institute, teaching in the Illustration program. Her award-winning illustrations have appeared in Our Favorite Day of the Year by A. E. Ali and To Change a Planet by Christina Soontornvat, among others. Rahele has been a winner in the Bologna Illustrators Exhibition. She lives in Kansas. |
| Written By |
|
SANDRA V. FEDER is the author of the highly acclaimed books in the Emotions and Me series, including Angry Me and Peaceful Me, illustrated by Rahele Jomepour Bell (Bank Street College of Education Best Children’s Books of the Year), and Shy Me and Lonely Me (the latter forthcoming in 2026), illustrated by Ashley Barron. Sandra’s other books include Bitter and Sweet, illustrated by Kyrsten Brooker (a PJ Library selection), and The Moon Inside, illustrated by Aimée Sicuro. She lives in California. |
| Illustrated by |
|
RAHELE JOMEPOUR BELL is an Iranian-born illustrator and educator whose vivid, textured work explores cultural identity, migration and the richness of everyday life. She is a professor at the Kansas City Art Institute, teaching in the Illustration program. Her award-winning illustrations have appeared in Our Favorite Day of the Year by A. E. Ali and To Change a Planet by Christina Soontornvat, among others. Rahele has been a winner in the Bologna Illustrators Exhibition. She lives in Kansas. |
| Audience | ages 3 to 6 / grades P to 1 |
| Reading Levels | Lexile AD410L |
| Key Text Features | explanation; illustrations; vignettes |
| Common Core |
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.K.7
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.1.2 CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.1.4 |
Commended, Bank Street College of Education Best Children's Books of the Year, 2024
“As in Angry Me, Sandra V. Feder and Rahele Jomepour Bell's equally delightful team effort ... In her stunning illustrations, Bell uses hand-printed textures, scanned and painted digitally, to create a layered, many-patterned look that is enormously appealing.” — Shelf Awareness, STARRED REVIEW
“There is much to ponder, practice, and observe here, and the book has a sense of play.” — School Library Journal, STARRED REVIEW
“[Peaceful Me] gives readers words to talk about their experiences, and uses lulling lines to model settling one's body and mind.” — Publishers Weekly
“Through this story, kids can learn how to help themselves feel better when having uncomfortable feelings, while adults can learn how to help kids manage them appropriately at the same time.” — Children's Literature Comprehensive Database
“The beautiful illustrations create picturesque experiences filled with laughter, quiet reading moments, falling leaves, a game and lots of family and friend time.” — Bend Nest Parenting Magazine
“Peaceful Me is a perfect read to encourage calmness and relaxation.” — CM: Canadian Review of Materials
“A close look at moods and feelings and what might influence them.” — The International Educator Blog