Have you ever seen a Dizzy Waggle?
These are tiny fluffy creatures with big eyes, ears and a tail covered with fluff right to it’s tip. They come in lots of different colours, and were born one night from a clear starry sky.
But there is one Dizzy Waggle that is different from all the others. All of the others have round fluffy tums, but Zozo’s tummy has a heart shaped spot right in the middle.
Not only does he look different, the heart shape shows just how he is feeling. When Zozo is happy, his heart glows bright like summer sunshine. When the other Dizzy Waggles point at him and talk among themselves, Zozo feels nothing but grey inside. It shows clearly through his heart shaped spot.
Zozo is also a kind Dizzy Waggle, making things for his friends. But when they are hurt, he experiences a new feeling. Anger. It’s not a nice feeling and neither is shame when the other Dizzy Waggles are cross with him.
Suddenly all these feelings are just too much for Zozo and he decides hiding them will be the best way to handle them. It takes a while to do this well, but they begin to build up like a storm inside. It’s only when his kindness jumps into action once more that the true Zozo and all his feelings are out on display again, and his fellow Dizzy Waggles are pleased to see him back.
This picture book is the first in a series of rhyming picture books about small, colourful, furry creatures called Dizzy Waggles.
The star of this episode is Zozo who feels emotions much more deeply than his fellows, and what makes it worse is the teasing for being different.
Some children feel things so deeply, they struggle to control them. Zozo has the same problem, and reading about his inner battles and solutions can help little listeners to talk about their own emotions.
This can open conversations where they can receive some understanding and help by an adult.
This is the first in a series:
‘Teaching Emotional Intelligence and Resilience Through Storytelling’
Author – Cloe Willetts
Illustrator – Fabienne Joni Sopacua
Picture Book
(2023, EQ Storytelling, Fluggy Creatures, Emotions, Feelings, Kindness, Wanting to hide, Teasing, Differences, Identity, Special, Series, New Zealand Author, Aotearoa NZ, Solutions)