This author/illustrator loves drawing animals, and this charming and very beautiful picture book shows not only her ability with ink and watercolour, but also her way with words. She is a poet, in fact. Told by a narrator whom we never meet, the person tells us in well-known similes (strong as an ox, cunning as a fox, curious as a cat, etc.) about how we feel about our emotions, both positive and negative. The brave lion will sometimes know 'that when the roar of the storm seems frightening...I know it will pass and so will my fear'. The book is circular in the sense that we begin with feeling 'big as a bear' and end with a timid mouse who know that if he can 'stand tall and find my inner courage' he will 'come to feel...as big as a bear'. Tender and gentle and lovely in every way, this will be treasured by children and adults alike.