I love books that educate students about how to handle difficult feelings and this definitely does. This would be a great addition to any classroom or home library.

This was such a great book. Myself, may daughter, my sister, my mom and my grandmother all suffer from stress and anxiety. I can remember as a kid having unrealistic fears and I now see them in my daughter. As she’s gotten older it has changed... it’s not better but she’s learning to deal with it differently. Books like this show kids who suffer that it’s hard, it stinks, but there’s hope.

This was a book full of information to help kids manage stress. It was well done and the example were spot on. It didn’t come across as preachy or know it all. It was well done and a great tool for parents and teachers alike.

A funny tale about how stress has a physical smell and how to reduce stress - accepting that not every method will work for everyone all of the time.

It discusses a variety of stressful scenarios in a child friendly way and the characters try different coping mechanisms to see if that stops the smell.

This book is for older children and younger teens and gives ways to handle stressful situations. The tips in the book can work for anyone.

Stress Stinks by Bryan Smith

Social-emotional education is a huge push within school systems right now. With the rise of mental health struggles in society, our students are needing support in managing their emotions. It is our job as educators to help our students learn the skills necessary to identify their emotions and implement the correct strategy to cope with how they are feeling at the moment.

Stress Stinks, by Bryan Smith, is a great resource for helping students identify the stress within their lives and help select the right strategy for them to help manage their anxiety. The text is easily relatable and it offers lots of common scenarios that all students experience at times in their lives.

As the students work through the story, they will be able to identify a similar situation in their own lives that the characters are experiencing. In addition to the relatability of the text scenarios, the strategies for coping with stress are kid-friendly and usable for all ages of kids.

Stress Stinks was written to be a text to help teach kids how to identify and manage the stress in their lives, and it has accomplished that task. It would be a great resource for counselors and classroom teachers to utilize to help coach their students in managing the stress in their lives.

This is a GREAT book to use in the classroom or recommend to parents. It not only talks about stress/anxiety, but provides helpful coping strategies for students. This portrays student stress in a realistic way and discusses how to possibly prevent stress in the first place but also to deal with it when it occurs

I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. Thank you NetGalley.


my daughter suffers from anxiety, and so we try to find books with relatable characters for her... this book was just that. it helps the child realize they aren't alone in being stressed ort anxious!

Cute book!

The book teaches several practical strategies for kids to manage stress. I found it to be simple and accessible - the stressors are very relatable for many kids - from the lack of planning out your homework load to not being invited to a birthday party. It also very clearly states the possibility of one stress relieving techniques not working for every situation - which is absolutely on point and should not prevent a person from giving up on managing their stress, but rather prompt them to try a different approach.

A really good children's book teaching them how to handle stress. I loved the storyline and the techniques helping your child to become more positive.

***Thanks to the publisher and #NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review***

I wish I had this book when I was in grade school! I was always so stressed and I thought I was the only one. I love how the author really breaks it down and explains it in simple terms. Great for anxious kids!

I received an electronic ARC from Boys Town Press through NetGalley.
Smith teaches younger readers about stress management techniques through his main character, Amelia. Her mom helps her find ways to release "stinking thinking." She shares with a friend and gets her teacher involved as well. Soon the whole class is practicing self-help techniques to cope with stresses. Easy to follow story that allows readers to try the exercises too.
Simple illustrations show the emotions and actions involved.
Tips for parents included at the end of the book.

Amelia is feeling overwhelmed with her daily schedule. She feels stress and pressure as she has softball practice to attend, tons of homework to complete, chores to tick off her to-do list and to top it all off she was not invited to her classmate, Samantha's, birthday party on Friday. How can she cope with all the negative thoughts and stress that she is feeling? To make matters even worse her mother sniffs her head and diagnoses her with "Stinking Thinking." Oh my what is that and what is she to do?

She discovers that she not alone with this malady and bumps into some of her friends who are suffering from the same thing. With help from her beloved mom and her teacher Mrs. Haynes she tries techniques for stress relief that really do work and make her feel less anxious and worried.

This book is a wonderful guide (and education) connecting kids with their feelings. It explains how they can control these negative thoughts and turn them into positive ones causing kids to live a happier, less-stressed life. "The Book Without Limits" series celebrates kids who demonstrate good character. The author has wisely included valuable Tips for Parents and Educators that will help kids manage their stress and who knows?.... maybe adult stress too.

The illustrations are simply wonderful. They are full of emotion and heart and enrich the author's positive message. I highly recommend this book.

Well, my 9 years old son did not like this book very much....... we read it togheter, but he said that the girl looks a little bit odd, and asked why her mother did not ask or check about her school works to be done before her stress came out....
he did not like that there is a part for partents, in the same book for children,too.

Thank you #netgalley for giving me a copy of #StressStinks to review. I enjoyed this book more than I thought I would. The skills that it teaches to help kids combat stress were pretty blatantly laid out which I thought would take away from the story, but they were added in very well. The illustrations were cute and the situations that the kids went through were realistic. I think kids, parents, and educators should read this book not only for the tips on how to combat stress for kids, but to remind ourselves that what seems small to us is big to the kids. Great book.

ARC provided by Net Galley in exchange of an honest review.
4 stars!
This was such a cute little story, adorable light and funny. The illustrations were stunning and suited the story well!

A fantastic children's book that talks about stress and managing emotions. I love that it shows multiple scenarios that cause stress for kids and how sometimes our coping mechanisms don't work. Therefore, we must try something new or even ask someone else for help. I think many kids will connect with this book and the situations the main character experiences. I really loved it. Bonus features include notes for parents or teachers that help continue the lesson of stress management for kids. An important topic, and much needed in today's world.