I Am Okay to Feel

Netflix’s Queer Eye culture expert Karamo Brown and his son, Jason “Rachel” Brown, follow up their previous collaboration by focusing on big feelings and emotional intelligence. Told through dialogue between the two brown-skinned figures as they enjoy an outdoor stroll amid people shown with varying skin tones, the story sees young Jason shift from sun-shining happy to storm-cloud-level stressed, worried and fearful about making it home. As the external and internal storms grow, and the child identifies, names, and communicates his feelings, his father acknowledges his emotions, assures him he’s not alone, and guides him through coping mechanisms, including grounding exercises. Debut illustrator Cerna’s textural illustrations visualize the book’s ups and downs. It’s a heartfelt, useful text for socioemotional learning and self-knowledge that gently focuses on emotional discussion between a father and son. Ages 4–8. (Nov.)