Book Review: Emma Jean Johnson Is in a Mood by M. Jane Hawkins

Emma Jean Johnson Is in a Mood is a lively, kid-true picture book about what happens when a usually sunny child wakes up feeling… not sunny at all. Emma Jean, introduced as “both of them,” the bubbly version and the moody version moves through her school day with a grumpy cloud overhead, snapping at colors, food, and even fun. The story follows her from art class to lunch to recess as well-meaning adults and classmates offer familiar advice: “shake it off,” “knock it off,” “straighten up.” None of it sticks.

The book’s biggest strength is how accurately it captures a child’s emotional experience. Emma Jean’s sour one-liners (“Yellow is yucky,” “Poo on periwinkles,” “Waffles are wacky”) feel like real kid logic—funny on the surface, but also a clear signal that something inside is off-balance. Hawkins doesn’t over-explain the mood or force a lesson too early; instead, she lets readers sit with the discomfort and recognize it.

The turning point is gentle and smart: Emma Jean notices another child, Harmony, who is also struggling. Rather than being “fixed” by correction, Emma Jean finds relief through connection. The two girls stomp, yell, twirl, and laugh, showing kids an important truth: sometimes feelings need movement, space, and a friend, not a lecture.

Themes and takeaways

This is a strong social-emotional read about:

• Big feelings that don’t have an obvious cause

• The limits of “just stop” advice

• Empathy and friendship as a path back to regulation

• Trying again together

The ending lands with warmth and simplicity: Emma Jean’s mood passes, and she gains a new friend, without pretending that moods never return. This book is perfect for teaching feelings to young children and adds a much needed SEL component to the classroom.- written by Kim Davis, Gifted Education Teacher

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