Cover Image: The Struggle Bus

The Struggle Bus

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Member Reviews

We've all taken our own trips on the struggle bus, why not give children the opportunity to learn how to articulate their experiences, too? I love any book that gives kids the language necessary to explain their experiences, and The Struggle Bus by Julie Koon does a fantastic job of it. At times I felt the message of the book got a little muddled or vague, but overall this is an excellent story for all ages, and the artwork is absolutely beautiful.

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Thank you to NetGalley for providing a copy of this in exchange for an honest review.

What a great lesson for kids to learn early. To know that struggling is a part of life and it’s ok to get on the bus and ride it until it gets easier or until you are able to do the task you were struggling at. Emotions are ok to have and go through, because we all have them. Great for any family library or any library for that matter.

The pictures that went with the book are amazing and well done. I really liked them.

Overall, I would read more by this author.

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Hard work and making mistakes: they're good for you!

I liked the metaphor. The boy is struggling to get up a hill. It's steep, he can't do it. He gives up. And while the Struggle Bus comes along to help, the boy seems to resent the fact he couldn't do it alone.

He needs to learn the lesson that sometimes he won't be able to manage things alone, that everyone needs help sometimes. And that by not giving up he might still succeed later, and even do better.

Slightly mixed messages with this, I thought, regarding the 'lessons' but I liked the visual representations offered by the bus as 'help', as well as the useful notes for parents/teachers at the end, with scientific words such as 'neurones' included.

A good volume to use when talking to children about perseverance.

With thanks to Netgalley for providing a sample reading copy.

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My six year old loves this book.

This is a wonderful story about how it's okay to have many different feelings and that those feelings are not final. The way it talks about mental health in a version for young children is great and very powerful.

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Very cute art and title, but not quite enough substance for me to buy it as a gift (for a child or a parent who would appreciate the joke).

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I've been on the struggle bus for awhile now, so I immediately wanted to read this when I saw it. It's a great picture book helping kids to understand how to handle their struggles.

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The idea of a bump in the road is brought to life in this charming book about the struggle we feel when things don't go our way.

It reminds us that all things will work out in time and (most importantly) YOU ARE NOT ALONE!

I can see this book as a fantastic discussion starter for children of all ages, to talk through challenging issues like overwhelming feelings, and to inspire perserverence.

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Thank you to Netgallery and the publisher for providing me with a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.

A cute childrens book about dealing with bad days and difficult emotions. Very simple rhyming text, easy to read and understand for a young audience. The illustrations are cute and match the tone of the book.

I wish it had gone a little more in depth but I think it's a good way to bring up this topic with children.

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The Struggle Bus is the perfect book for a child that is having a tough time, whether from grief, sadness, or struggling to fit in. It provides a safe space to express sad feelings, but also helps show how to look on the bright side. I appreciated the suggestions after the story of some activities to do when feeling down. Simple illustration, but it fit the story well.

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This book is a perfect read for people who may be overwhelmed or struggling. The pictures and words used help to realize it is ok to have trouble, but know that it will get better. I like that they show someone struggling and then it slowly getting better through out the book. This would be a great book for children of all ages.

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A simple idea about looking after your mental health. Young children will enjoy hearing about the struggles of the bus and adults will find it easy to start discussions with children that can compare the struggles of the bus to any the children maybe going through themselves.

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- No feeling is final.
- Any of your feelings are okay.
- You're not alone.
-Others feel it from time to time as well.
- They can help you, if you want them to.
- You can get through this. ---

Julie Koon tells a wonderful story - lovely illustrated - about a child who takes a trip on the Struggle Bus because things are really tough and too hard at the moment. The child learns that no one is alone with his or her emotions and sees how he/ she can make room for their own emotions, maybe with the help of e.g., friends. ---

At the end of the book, it explains what happens in the brain when you have negative feelings and why it's important to live through them. She gives the kids a list of things they can do to deal with them. ---

This is an excellent book to talk about struggling feelings, and perhaps an enrichment for many adults.

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It's okay if you don't feel well.
It's okay if you're sad.
It's okay if you're feeling stressed.
It's okay to struggle.
It's okay if you ask for help.

The illustrations and the wording are so wonderful, I adore the lyrical rhymes and so it is for children an easier way to "learn" the text and practice social-emotional skills. I think it's a good way to show what we (children oder adults, no matter) cannot put into words.

A very precious book for everyone!
Special recommendation for kindergartens and schools.

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The Struggle Bus is a short illustrated book that acknowledges the inevitability of life struggles and proposes ways of coping.

WHAT I LIKE ABOUT THE STRUGGLE BUS
The light-hearted nature of the book brings fresh clarity to a dark topic.

DISLIKES
None.

WHO IS IT FOR
Anyone.

Many thanks to Kind World Publishing for providing a review copy.

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This is a great book about perseverance and what to do when things are hard. The rhyming and rhythmic writing creates a gentle calm as you read, and the message is clearly communicated in a way that young people can understand, even through the use of metaphor. The story ends with some information and tips as well as some strategies for what to do when things are really tough. I think this would be a great book for parents of young children who have a fixed mindset or become upset when thing are hard, It would also fit in nicely in an early years classroom or an elementary school library, and even potentially in counselling or other educational support settings. I so appreciate Netgalley and the publisher for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book!

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Loved this book! It shows kids that they can go through a lot of hard emotions and then come out the other side. I love that the last page of the book offers ideas for coping skills.

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A fantastic book to address emotional changes in children (and adults) and how to navigate them. The illustrations went very well with the story and the content was easy to read / understand. The open ended questions throughout the book also allowed for further discussion.

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I enjoyed this book with its wonderful rhyming and adorable illustrations. It is a great way to have children understand hardships in a simpler way ad how asking for help and getting lost sometimes is part of the process.

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Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

The Struggle Bus by Julie Koon is a great children's picture book with a very important message. The story revolves around a boy who is getting on "The Struggle Bus." When things get too hard, you can get on the bus. But what happens when the bus breaks down? How do you keep going? According to the description, the author "uses the accessible theme of vehicles to make this social-emotional concept perfect for the preschool and early elementary crowd."

Overall, The Struggle Bus is an excellent children's picture book that will appeal to fans of Fill Your Bucket. One highlight of this book is how it talks about emotional support strategies in a way that children will understand. In today's times, it's very important for parents and teachers to talk with children about emotional awareness and emotional support. This book is very necessary, and it should be taught in classrooms everywhere. If you're intrigued by the description, I highly recommend that you check out this book when it comes out in March!

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Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an electronic copy to read in exchange for an honest review.

There are so many picture books about growth mindset and perseverance. This one carries the same message but with an emphasis on being in the struggle. It's brilliant in how it provides space for children to struggle and learn and grow. I can't wait to add this to my classroom library.

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