The Sad Potato by Rachael Friesen - a book about mental health, emotions, and calming down

My son, who is 7, reads this book EVERY DAY. He legitimately uses it to calm down / feel connected. He also has a sad potato stuffy that Rachael so wonderfully made him for his 6th birthday that he sleeps with every night and takes on all road trips. I cannot begin to explain the effect this book has had on his mental health and peace.

Both my 2 & 4 year old loved it, they were very invested in the sad little potato’s journey back to happiness l. At the end they asked which other emotions the potato would feel so I think you may need a series ;)

Our family loves this book!
A great little book that helps kids (and adults) recognize and regulate emotions. Loved the simple, non-judgemental nature of the book.

This book is the cutest! My 2 and 4 year old absolutely loved reading this, and honestly so did I. Such a great little story that provides a nice teaching opportunity about regulating emotions while also including the most perfect illustrations that will make you laugh. Such an adorable read, would definitely recommend!

My seven year old says she loved it and even practiced the calming techniques as the book was being read. She would read it a thousand times!! It's a cute book, easy to read and the rhymes and puns make it fun!

Emotions are sooo important for littles to understand, but it’s not an easy topic for them to fully grasp. The Sad Potato helps me as a parent start conversations surrounding emotions in a way my kiddos understand.

So fun!! I love how the book gently explores emotions, in a way that is so easy for kids to understand! I’ve used it in my elementary classroom health class with so much success!

So sweet and simple. I used it in my classroom and my students loved it!

Very cute story! I found myself relating to the little spud more than I expected. There's a genuine charm in its simplicity that makes it an easy, enjoyable read. We are all little potatoes that can get sad and need a little guidance and grace. Amazing book!

The Sad Potato is a cute, funny little story that helps both kids and adults learn that it's okay if you need to take a little breather when everything seems like too much.
It's full of fun little rhymes and jokes, and I especially liked the duel reference to Lord of the Rings and Rick Astley's Never Gonna Give You Up.

The sad potato is a great conversation starter with kids struggling with emotions and understanding them. The story line of the sad potato opens conversation on almost every page.
Thank you for a book that is easy to relate to and allows kids to learn from.

This book is perfect for little ones that are dealing with big emotions. It rhymes, and it is easy for them to understand and relate to if they are having a bad/sad day. Perfect to read at home, in classrooms, daycare, etc.

As someone who is on their own mental health journey the message in this book really brightened my day. Will probably have to bring out as a reminder on days when I'm not feeling my best.
Plus the illustrations were so cute. This book is ageless.

She knows it by heart but still asks to read it every night!

The most charming little book thats equally as fun for the kids, as it is for the adults reading it! Full of puns and cute pictures, this book is a great tool for teaching emotional regulation in an entertaining way. Definitely a must-have for classrooms, daycares, and parents of small children. We love this book and can't recommend it enough!