Mixed Feelings by Liana Finck

Mixed Feelings introduces very young children to their own complicated emotions.

Mixed Feelings by Liana Finck. Rise (PRH), 2025, 38 pages.

Reading Level: Picture Book, ages 0-4

Recommended for: ages 3-5

How do I feel? Mostly happy but a little sad . . . Shy and not sure why . . . Stuck inside but getting cozy . . .

People of any age are complex. I recall one of my homeschooling friends telling us how she heard her 4-year-old crying at night. “Sarah, what’s wrong?” “I don’t know,” wailed the child. “Well,” said my friend, who may have been feeling a bit cynical at the time, “Get used to it.” If we probed our feelings beyond surface anger or pleasure, we’d probably find other emotions at work as well. That’s what Mixed Feelings is about: How can a 4-year-old feel Not! Tired! when it’s time to go to bed, and yet be sound asleep five minutes later? How can a kid long to be home while at nursery school, and simultaneously distracted by a new toy? How can he be mad at everything—and also a little bit hungry? Not so mysterious: feeling misunderstood. That starts early.

The cartoon illustrations deftly reflect the emotions going on in each double-page spread. It’s a quick read-aloud, yet worth reflecting on. Might even be helpful for a child just beginning to sort out her own feelings.

Bottom Line: A humorous, sympathetic, and deceptively simple study of a child’s emotional life.

Also at Redeemed Reader:

• Review: Tell God How You Feel (starred review) by Christina Fox offers biblical guidance for helping kids deal with strong emotions.
• Reviews: See our roundup of Three Picture Books about Friendship and Positivity.

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