Jonathan Cape Barbara Throws a Wobbler

I bought this after seeing A recommendation in The Guardian and I'm so glass I did. It's a fantastic book for toddlers.My almost 3 year old absolutely adores it and it has helped her in being able to identify and name her big emotions, and even regulate them somewhat. In a recent tantrum she actually stopped herself, sad she was having 'a wobbler' and started laughing.We also during the same week borrowed a book called 'red, red red' from the library and it too helps to 'normalize' and work through tantrums with toddlers... So we may end up buying that too.

Barbara, an adorable black and white cat in yellow boots, is having a very bad day. In scenes likely familiar to parents of small children, odd socks, a brown pea, and a crack she didn't avoid stepping on all upset her, though Barbara denies being in a bad mood. But when she drops her ice cream it is the final straw. Barbara throws a great big, jelly-like wobbler.Something I really like about the illustrations is that although the wobbler is technically angry, Barbara herself looks sad. The wobbler doesn't want her to talk or have a cuddle or eat ice cream, so she doesn't, but all the while she looks a lot like she might want to. Tantrums in little ones so often arise from feeling upset and not having the language or skills to express or manage this, and this is beautifully represented here.Barbara tries telling the wobbler to go away, but it just reflects her words back to her. In standard little-child irritation she calls it a "stinky bumhead" but giggles when it says it back. On realising she created the wobbler and is therefore able to get rid of it, she shrinks it down until it vanishes and then rejoins her friends.On the final spread we are told there probably won't be any more wobblers that day, but then asked if that is true. Kids will enjoy studying the scene and finding all the wobblers just waiting to erupt!At the back of this book is a very useful guide to bad moods, including the Seethe and the Tizzy with a bit of a description. I like this as an introduction to more emotional vocabulary and the idea that there are a constellation of very similar experiences that may manifest differently.This is a very sweet, humorous, and relatable books for younger children.

A great book which led to lots of discussions about emotions with my 4 & 6 year-old nephews. This book really supports young children in discussing the different 'shades' of being cross/frustrated by providing them with the image and vocabulary of 'the wobbler' as well as helping them to realise they are in control of how they manage these feelings. The back page (a guide to 'moods') is particularly fun to share.

I bought this for my little boy who is struggling a lot with some very big feelings. It helps us to discuss how we can cope with big feelings without "throwing a wobbler" and how to get back on an even keel if a wobbler does sneak up! He enjoys reading it and finds it fun and light-hearted - he can relate to all the little things adding up to ONE BIG WOBBLER.

I have no kids but bought this because it looked great, and it is. I gave it to my mum to remind her of me aged three and she loved it too.