Green-Eyed Monster Attack? Way Past Jealous by Hallee Adelman

I MADE MY BEST PICTURE EVER, BUT NOBODY NOTICED.

DEBBY DREW A DOG, AND EVERYONE LOVED IT.

I FELT JEALOUS.

Yaz feels mad and sad and mean as she watches the other kids crowd around to admire Debbie's drawing and sees Miss Pimmy put it up at the top of the bulletin board. She tries drawing dogs like Debby's, but someone says her dogs look like bumblebees. Yaz feels awful. Even when Debby saves a seat for her at lunch, she sits at a different table and slips into the empty classroom to take down Debby's drawing.

I DIDN'T FEEL SO GOOD.

"I'M SORRY. I WAS JEALOUS." SHE SAYS.

"THAT'S MEAN!" SAID DEBBY.

At home Dad notices that Yaz is sad and gives her a hug, listens to her story, and wisely lets her decide how to handle it all.

Jealousy is an difficult emotion. If it is justified, that is, if someone has litle talent for something they want to do, it's hard on the ego. On the other hand, if someone's work has merit which is unfairly ignored, it violates that innate dislike of injustice we all share. In some areas, like artwork, there is some room for difference of opinion; in others, like competitive sports, there are clear winners, and as the saying goes, "To the winner go the spoils"--admiration and attention.

In Hallee Adelman's newest, Way Past Jealous (Great Big Feelings) (Albert Whitman Publishing, 2021), Yaz decides that keeping a friendship is more important than a spot at the top of the bulletin board, but this is a subtle issue that deserves the exploration of feelings from parents and teachers that this story can encourage. Karen Wall's sensitive spot-art illustrations reveal feelings honestly and gently portray the resolution of strong emotions through understanding between friends. Says Booklist, "... an excellently crafted behavioral story that addresses a very specific but universal moment in emotional development, and it deftly, healthily, and subtly navigates through the familiar, murky waters of envy."

This duo are also the creators of the companion books, Way Past Mad (Great Big Feelings) and Way Past Sad (Great Big Feelings).