Stories for Growing
Cover of When Sophie Gets Angry—Really, Really Angry…Ages 5 to 7
Handling big feelings

When Sophie Gets Angry—Really, Really Angry…

Molly Bang

Ages 5 to 7
About this age guidance

Kirkus: 5–7; Publishers Weekly: 2–7

The age tag follows Kirkus review. Other sources may suggest different ages. This is audience guidance, not an independent reading level.

Called a classic book about feelings that any list of anger books will include. The parent says Sophie blows her top over a perceived unfairness, runs off and climbs a tree until she feels calm.

Sophie’s sister takes her favorite toy, her mother says it is the sister’s turn, and Sophie explodes. She runs out of the house, cries, and climbs a big beech tree. Looking out from the tree and noticing the birds and ferns calms her down, and when she goes home the toy fight is over and the family is at ease.

Good forBig feelingsAnger and tantrums

Recommended by What Do We Do All Day?

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What children see in the story

Sophie leaves the fight, gets her fury out by running and crying, then sits still in a tree until it settles, and only then goes home.

Why it’s on these shelves

Handling big feelings
When her sister gets the gorilla and her mother sides with the sister, Sophie slams the door and runs outside. She cries, climbs a beech tree, and watches the world until her anger settles. Then she goes home on her own, calm.

Why pick it up?

Sophie gets herself calm without any adult stepping in, and goes home when she is ready. The toy is not handed back to her as a prize; her sister simply moves on.

A note for parents

Kirkus: Sophie manages her anger without a helping adult; PW says the book offers no quick fix and treats the feeling with respect. The art is intense (red, fire and volcano images). Sophie runs out of the house alone into the woods, which some parents will want to talk through; the story shows no danger and she comes home on her own. Her mother takes the sister’s side at the start and does not comfort Sophie; the story does not return to that.

Where this recommendation comes from

What Do We Do All Day?

Called a classic book about feelings that any list of anger books will include. The parent says Sophie blows her top over a perceived unfairness, runs off and climbs a tree until she feels calm.

Read What Do We Do All Day?’s recommendation
Sources and review status

We have checked source descriptions and drafted the value mapping. We have not personally reviewed the full book. The value labels, situation assignments, and parent notes remain provisional.

Publisher or literacy resource · Original recommendation

Our explanation of the value fit is separate from the original reviewer’s judgment. Their inclusion here does not imply an endorsement of Stories for Growing.

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