When you receive a copy of a children’s book, mixed emotionsby new yorker cartoonist Liana FinkI couldn’t wait to dig into it. It begins with the question, “How am I feeling?” It also depicts emotions that are difficult for children to name, such as the characteristic boredom that occurs when there is “so much to do, but none of it is what you want to do.”
When we read the book together, my 6-year-old son asked, “Why does this child scream that she doesn’t get tired?” But you fall asleep right away!?” To that, I replied with a slightly sideways glance. why do that you think? “
I’m excited to share a few pages from the book and a Q&A with Liana…
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Caitlin: How did you choose the title “Mixed Feelings”?
Liana: I remember having really strong emotions as a child, but never thinking there was a way to explain them. In fact, many of them were a mixture of feelings of shyness and confusion about feeling shy. Some of the sentiments in this book were inspired by my three-year-old, but everything about shyness was inspired by my own childhood.
Are there any other characters modeled after your childhood?
A child pretending to be a horse. I was expelled from nursery school for pretending to be a dog. And I was a very gentle dog, never got rowdy, never barked, never bit, nothing. But the teachers didn’t like it. What was so frustrating at the time was that I couldn’t explain why I did what I did. Looking back, I think it probably came from being shy and trying to connect with other kids in interesting ways.
I read that you identify as neurodivergent. How has it shaped your relationship with emotions?
Yes, I’m very sensory, so noise can sometimes overwhelm me and cause me to act strangely. When it comes to neurodivergence, there are years when it’s the biggest problem for me. It’s like I have this drawer. It’s always there, but it can take a year to find out everything inside. I just finished that year.
What do you want children to take away from this book?
I want my children to learn not to judge their own emotions based on how other people react to them. Children can feel very embarrassed, especially when others don’t understand them. I think I was the same way, and I think my son was too. I wish I had learned how to respect my feelings sooner.
Me too! As a parent, I also felt sympathy for the book’s depiction of nursing care.
There is a page where a little girl points to a bird but cannot get her mother’s attention. I also want adult readers to see a mother taking care of her toddler and dog. It’s raining and the mother is making everyone put on rain gear and go out the front door. It looks like she’s barely holding it together. I was that little girl and I was her mother.
Do you like hosting children’s book events?
Yes, I love asking children questions. It’s so fun to hear the children’s opinions. Children are much more different from each other than adults. Also, there are kids who always talk a lot and kids who are shy but want to say something.
your parenting manga Popular on Instagram. Do our readers have a favorite?
my new yorkerStyle comics are a one-two punch like stand-up jokes, but my Instagram comics are just a one-punch punch. People liked the scene where the mother and baby are both thinking the same thought bubble.my. ”They belong to each other.
what are some your What is your favorite children’s book?
I grew up reading books Please tell me Mitzi. Additionally, Arnold Lobel’s Mr. Owl at Homewhich is as great as the Frog and Toad series, but less famous. george and marthabecause their friendship is so warm and comforting.
Congratulations! liana,your beautiful book!
PS There are hot dads in children’s books and chic mothers in children’s books.
(Liana Fink photo: Annette Hornisher)
Source: Cup of Jo – cupofjo.com
