No One Is Angry Today

Have you ever felt insecure about your appearance, abandoned by your friend, or frustrated because no one understands what you’re going through? Author Toon Tellegen chronicles the experiences of a group of passionate characters struggling with familiar emotions in an unconventional manner. Through metaphors and poetic language, each story portrays a different animal’s reaction to sensitive topics. The characters intermingle throughout the story, giving the reader a deeper insight into each animal. This book is composed of ten short stories that will amuse readers ages six to twelve.

I appreciate the author’s allegorical approach to anger, sadness, loneliness, and repressed emotions. The illustrations by Marc Boutavant beautifully capture the wide range of sentiments experienced by all individuals. It is refreshing to see a book that discusses uncomfortable emotions in a relatable and amusing manner. My personal favorite story is “The Frog, the Swan, and the Hedgehog.” The frog makes an impulsive decision at the swan’s birthday party, which results in the swan fleeing instantly. The swan expresses how this made her feel but ultimately decides to forgive her friend and move on from the contentious situation. The themes discussed throughout these stories can inspire meaningful and insightful conversations with readers.