An Impactful New Series: Read Our Review of the Follow Your Feelings series by Kitty Black, illustrated by Jess Rose

Follow Your Feelings is a touching, funny, and charming new series about getting to know and love our emotions, from emotional acceptance champion Kitty Black and illustrator Jess Rose. The first two books in the series are Max and Worry and Lucy and Sad.

Rose is a UK-based illustrator and designer. Black is a children’s author and qualified children’s counsellor. After talking to kids about their feelings, Black found that stories are the most important things in the world. Together, Black and Rose have created Follow Your Feelings, a poignant and impactful series. It’s my favourite new series released this year.

Both books are about children who are accompanied by different emotions. In Max and Worry, when Max has a hard time starting his maths work, he’s joined by someone new: Worry. But Worry doesn’t give Max the help he needs. With the help of some deep breaths and a vow to just try his best, Max can say goodbye for now to Worry, and hello to someone new…

And in Lucy and Sad, Lucy’s finding it tough to make friends when she’s joined by Sad. Sad isn’t the company Lucy had hoped for. It feels like Sad will never leave. But with the help of some flowers, cookies, a bedtime story and a big hug, she also finds someone new…

To me, the highlight of the series is the personification of emotions. It’s an impactful reminder that some emotions can consume us and follow us around, and that’s okay, but they should be temporary characters in our life replaced with a positive feeling. For example, in Max and Worry, worry is replaced with resilience – that’s a trait I’d want to stick around.

Each book also ends with an author’s note from Black discussing the emotion focussed on in the book. I’d recommend this book for readers of all ages – you’re never too young or old to balance your feelings. As an adult, there was a necessary reminder in Lucy and Sad that’s it’s okay to be sad, but having some courage will lead to bigger and better things. I’ll be recommending this series to everyone I know!