Gail Silver: News and Reviews

Anh is left out of a recess play session, and his companion, Anger, a red-haired fellow wearing shoes remarkably like Anh’s, suggests a way of getting back at the boys who have left Anh out of their game. But Anh finds something else to do with his Anger: walking meditation, which yields some unexpected connections. This offbeat story makes the potentially cerebral topic of dealing appropriately with anger simple and delightfully visual. Krömer’s predominantly green palette in collages combined with brush and pencil drawings is almost contagiously soothing, and makes the red of Anger visually exclamatory. The children represent non-Caucasian ethnicities, which is a pleasant change from standard depictions. In their second collaboration, Silver and Krömer (Anh’s Anger) have developed a winning series. Ages 4–7. (Oct.)

Silver and Krömer pair their considerable talents to create a successful second title in the Anh’s Anger series.Silver’s dialogue-driven text is likely to provoke meaningful discussions about dealing with disappointment and controlling tempers. Preschoolers and primary-grade students will appreciate Krömer’s visual feast of pencil, paint and tactile collage elements used to vividly illustrate Anh’s story. Steps and Stones is sure to fill a niche for those tackling potentially thorny social situations, this straightforward and enlightened approach will appeal to many.

Steps and Stones: An Anh's Anger Story by Gail Silver,  will help children learn to understand the causes of their own strong emotions and teach them peaceful ways to resolve difficulties through mindfulness and meditation; Ages 6-11. 

A gentle and wise teaching-story, charmingly told and with wonderful pictures of a boy working with his anger.