Take a Break Books: The Rabbit Listened by Cori Doerrfeld

This is the most wonderful, special, and meaningful children’s book I’ve read in a while. And, I read A LOT of children’s books. The Rabbit Listened was given to Max on his 1st birthday by one of my dearest friends (you know who you are 😘) and I am SO grateful she introduced it to us. 

It’s about a child who builds an amazing block structure and is very disappointed when it gets destroyed. Different animals stop by to try to help the child feel better using their preferred coping strategies, but the child isn’t interested. Then, the rabbit comes and sits quietly with the child as the child moves through the feelings on his/her own. It’s beautiful and sweet and depicts exactly what I mean when I say to just be there with your children as they express their emotions. Meet your children where they are. It’s what makes them feel understood and loved. It builds self-trust, self-esteem, self-confidence, and self-regulation. 

I love this book for so many reasons. It’s gender neutral, so boys and girls can both relate to it. It can be used to process all different negative emotions - disappointment, frustration, sadness, grief, anger. It normalizes all responses - anger, retaliation, sadness, etc. and ends with hope and a reminder that we can build again. It’s perfect. 

This book encompasses everything I want to be as a therapist, a friend, a parent, and as a human being. I hope you go out and buy it!

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.