Angry Octopus Endorsements
- I’ve just recently learned of Lori Lite and her products and I am thrilled with each and every item I have purchased. I work as a special educator for children with moderate/severe disabilities, ages 8 – 10 years old. My students are children with autism, asperger’s and other disabilities, and their true challenges lie in self-regulation and social/emotional difficulties. These products have helped us as a classroom tremendously, especially The Angry Octopus (which happens to be the favorite!) We use this book, along with an octopus puppet, to really bring the story to life. My students follow the story along, practicing their breathing. I am now starting to see them use the breathing techniques throughout the day when they are angry or anxious. These products are a wonderful addition to my classroom curriculum. Thank you!
– K.M. Checo
- Brilliant images, simple and helpful story. I am an Expressive Therapist, so I use different arts-based modalities such as visual art, music, dance/movement, drama and poetry with my clients who have mental health issues, behavioral issues and other delays. I find the story quite effective, especially the how straight forward the message is, the clarity in the images and the playful presentation.
– C. Good
- I am a graduate student in clinical psychology that works primarily with children. I am also an aunt and a collector of children’s books. I have purchased three copies of Angry Octopus, to date. The illustrations are beautiful, the story is appealing to children, and the book functions as a way to teach relaxation and helps to soothe the child. I added this book to my own collection, and have purchased two as gifts for my niece (age 5) and cousin (age 6). They both love the book. My sister in law has told me that her daughter was having difficulties with tantrums, and after a few weeks of reading, is using the techniques with her daughter to help her relax before a tantrum escalates. The book is fun, a great story, and an appropriate way to help children identify and manage anger.
– E. Adams
- I am a Mom with a very sensitive 5 year old. I have trouble expressing my anger and have struggled teaching my son a healthy way to express his. I don’t want him to just hold it in like me because that isn’t healthy, but there have been times when his anger is so explosive I wonder how healthy that is as well. Angry Octopus has helped us both. It has given us both a healthy way of expressing and diffusing our anger. The illustrations in this book are fabulous. My son laughs at all the funny expressions on the Octopus’s face as he learns to tighten and then relax his muscles. He had me read the book twice last night.
– Maya A. Polli
- I am a psychotherapist and mother and find Angry Octopus indispensable. It does a wonderful job of guiding children (and adults) through a progressive relaxation exercise as well as conveying that angry feelings can be managed. It is clear, and the illustrations are inviting and helpful. For adults, it teaches relaxation skills in a down-to earth and non-intimidating fashion.
– Rhonda Bryhn, MSW
- I am a clinical psychologist who purchased this book for my children (ages 4 and 6). They love the book! The first time I read the book to them, they both engaged in the progressive muscle relaxation without any prompting from me. Several days after having read the book, my six year old spontaneously talked about how he could manage his anger by doing what the octopus did. This was exactly what I had hoped would happen when I purchased the book. I highly recommend this book as it effectively teaches PMR skills in an engaging story format that kids will remember. A must have for anyone with children or anyone who works with children.
– Dr. L. Teegarden
- I am a psychologist who works mainly with adult and adolescent patients who are experiencing health and behavioral problems, but believe that this story is great for people of all ages. While it is more geared toward children, my patients have enjoyed it and have been able to share it with their children making it a great family lesson. I have the book version of “Angry Octopus” and love the art and the story. I would highly recommend this book!
– A. Radcliffe
- I am a child therapist. Angry Octopus is a very creative way for children to learn breathing relaxation and muscle relaxation. It is done in away where kids can follow along and even use the techniques at home, school, or out in the community.
–N. Keeler
- I have used Angry Octopus to help students that I work with understand the concept of being in control of their bodies even when they are angry! My students are of various ages and cognitive/behavioral abilities and they often have difficulty controlling their behavior when they are upset or frustrated. This story is an easy, non-threatening way of teaching them an alternative to destructive behavior. The kids also seem to enjoy the colorful illustrations! Great way to teach muscle relaxation!
– H. Scheeringa
- Managing anger is an essential part of life. The Angry Octopus teaches children how to be in charge of the emotion called anger and by using their breath, shifting to a serene and calm space.
– Dr. Marilyn Powers, Vice President, The I AM Foundation
- I received Unstoppable Me and Angry Octopus on the same day. The principals in Unstoppable Me of making choices, being persistent, and self value are easy for children to grasp. I found myself looking for concrete answers to the questions the author poses: Can you think of things to do when you are sad? When you are worried or scared? And, What can you do to help your anger go away and feel peaceful inside? Luckily for me and my child Angry Octopus offered a surprise follow up response and an actual relaxation technique we were able to immediately apply to these thought provoking questions. These two books together are powerful. I applaud these authors for helping children learn to manage such complicated emotions.
– M. Agosin
