Kids are weird. One minute they are screaming because their toast was cut into triangles instead of squares, and the next they are laughing at a cloud that looks like a potato. It's exhausting. But back in 1998, Jamie Lee Curtis—yes, the Halloween actress—decided to bottle that chaotic energy into a picture book called Today I Feel Silly and Other Moods That Make My Day. It wasn't just another celebrity vanity project. It actually changed how we talk to kids about their brains.
Honesty matters here. Most children’s books try to teach a "lesson." They want the kid to be kind or share their toys. This book is different because it doesn't try to fix the child. It just lets them be messy.
The Chaos of Today I Feel Silly and Why It Works
If you’ve ever looked at the illustrations by Laura Cornell, you know exactly what I’m talking about. They are frantic. There are curly-haired kids, grumpy cats, and mismatched socks everywhere. It looks like a playroom five minutes before a meltdown. This visual style is the perfect pairing for a story that explores the "all-over-the-place" nature of childhood emotions.
The Today I Feel Silly book follows a young girl through a week of wild mood swings. On Monday, she’s silly. On Tuesday, she’s cranky because her best friend isn't playing with her. By Wednesday, she’s discouraged.
The rhyme scheme is bouncy, almost like a jump-rope chant. It feels fast. That’s intentional. Small children experience emotions in rapid-fire succession. They don't have the "emotional lag" that adults develop. When a four-year-old is sad, the entire world is ending. When they are happy, they are vibrating with light. Curtis nails this pacing. She doesn't judge the "bad" moods. She just names them.
Naming the Feeling is Half the Battle
Psychologists often talk about a concept called "affect labeling." Basically, it’s the idea that putting a name to an emotion reduces the activity in the amygdala—the part of the brain that handles the "fight or flight" response. When a kid reads about the character feeling "discouraged" because they can't kick a ball, they realize two things:
- There is a word for this heavy feeling in my chest.
- Someone else has felt it too.
It’s a massive relief for a kid. They aren't "bad." They're just having a Tuesday.
The "Mood Wheel" Genius
One of the best physical features of the original hardcover version of the Today I Feel Silly book is the interactive mood wheel at the end. You can turn a little cardboard gear to change the eyes and mouth of a character on the back cover.
It sounds simple. It's actually a brilliant diagnostic tool for parents.
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I know parents who use this book every single night. They don't even read the whole story anymore. They just skip to the wheel. They ask their kid, "Which face are you right now?" Sometimes a kid can't say "I'm frustrated because you made me stop playing Minecraft," but they can point to the face with the gritted teeth and the furrowed brows. It opens a door that would otherwise stay locked behind a "I don't know" or a tantrum.
Why Jamie Lee Curtis Actually Knows Her Stuff
People forget that Jamie Lee Curtis has written over a dozen children's books. She’s been doing this for decades. She isn't just slapping her name on a script written by a ghostwriter. She writes about adoption, self-esteem, and the passage of time.
In Today I Feel Silly and Other Moods That Make My Day, she taps into something very specific: the internal monologue of a child.
The narrator in the book acknowledges that her mood might change by lunchtime. That’s a sophisticated observation. It teaches resilience. It tells the reader that emotions are temporary states, not permanent identities. You feel silly; you are not just a silly person forever. You feel cranky; you are not a mean kid.
This distinction is the cornerstone of healthy emotional development. If we tell kids they are "angry kids," they lean into it. If we tell them "you're having an angry moment," they know it will pass.
Breaking Down the Moods
The book covers a lot of ground in just a few pages. Here is the reality of what the protagonist goes through:
- Silly: Making faces and wearing funny clothes.
- Cranky: Everything is wrong, and the world is annoying.
- Excited: The "can't-sit-still" energy that usually leads to spilled milk.
- Discouraged: The heavy, slow feeling of failing at a task.
- Quiet: The need for space and a break from the noise.
Each of these is treated with equal weight. The "quiet" mood is especially important. In our loud, over-scheduled world, telling a kid it’s okay to just sit and be still is a radical act of self-care for toddlers.
The Art of the "Messy" Illustration
Laura Cornell’s art is a huge reason why this book stays on "best-of" lists. Most kids' books are too clean. They have perfect lines and pastel colors. Cornell uses watercolor and ink to create scenes that feel lived-in. There are crumbs on the floor. There are pets doing weird things in the corner of the frame.
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This mirrors the internal state of a child. Their brains are cluttered. Their rooms are cluttered. Seeing that reflected in a book makes the message feel more authentic. It says, "Your life doesn't have to be perfect for your feelings to be valid."
Honestly, I think adults need to hear that too.
Why Schools Love This Book
If you walk into a kindergarten or first-grade classroom, there is a 90% chance this book is on the shelf. Teachers use it for Social Emotional Learning (SEL) circles.
It’s an easy entry point. A teacher can read the page about being "lonely" and then ask the class, "Has anyone ever felt like the character here?" Suddenly, thirty kids are talking about their feelings instead of poking each other. It creates a common vocabulary. When everyone in the class knows what "discouraged" means because they saw the girl in the book fail to kick the ball, the teacher can use that word later in the day when a student is struggling with math.
The Controversy of "Celebrity Authors"
Look, we've all seen the trend. Every celebrity with a kid suddenly thinks they are the next Dr. Seuss. Most of these books are... fine. They are usually a bit preachy or lack a real story arc.
But Curtis is the exception.
The Today I Feel Silly book works because it isn't trying to be high art. It’s trying to be a mirror. It doesn't use big, flowery language to describe a sunset. It uses "I'm grumpy and I don't want to talk." It’s visceral. It’s real.
The nuance is in the acceptance. The book ends with the girl acknowledging that she doesn't know how she'll feel tomorrow, but she knows she’ll be okay. That’s the "actionable insight" for the kid. Life is a series of waves. You just have to learn how to surf.
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How to Actually Use This Book With Your Child
Reading a book is one thing. Using it to actually help a kid regulate their emotions is another. If you want to get the most out of this story, don't just read it once and put it away.
First, look for the small details in the art. Ask your child what the cat is doing on the "cranky" page. Usually, the cat’s mood matches the girl’s. It’s a fun way to show how our moods affect those around us without being lecture-y about it.
Second, use the "Mood Wheel" as a daily check-in. Maybe do it at dinner. Instead of asking "How was school?" (which always gets the answer "fine"), ask "Which page of the Silly book were you today?"
Third, normalize the "bad" moods. When you are feeling stressed or tired, tell your kid, "Hey, I'm feeling a little bit like the 'discouraged' girl today. I need a minute to myself." This models the behavior you want to see. It shows them that even grown-ups have to manage their "weather."
Practical Steps for Emotional Literacy
If you're looking to build on the themes of the Today I Feel Silly book, here’s what you can do right now:
- Create a "Feelings Corner": Put the book in a specific spot with a couple of pillows. When a kid is feeling overwhelmed, they can go there to "find their mood."
- Draw Your Own Page: Ask your child to draw what they look like when they are "frustrated" or "surprised." Give them permission to use "ugly" colors or messy lines.
- The "Tomorrow" Game: Talk about how moods change. "Today you were sad because it rained, but remember how happy you were yesterday? Tomorrow will be a new mood."
- Focus on the Body: While reading, ask where the character might feel that mood in their body. Does a "cranky" mood feel like tight fists? Does a "silly" mood feel like bubbles in the tummy?
Final Thoughts on the Legacy of a Mood
At the end of the day, Today I Feel Silly and Other Moods That Make My Day isn't just about kids. It’s about the human condition. We are all just walking piles of hormones and reactions trying to make sense of a weird world.
The book has stayed relevant for over 25 years because it doesn't lie. It doesn't tell kids that they should be happy all the time. It tells them that they are allowed to feel everything—the good, the bad, and the weirdly silly.
It’s a small book with a massive heart. If you have a child who feels "too much," or if you're just looking for a way to start a conversation about mental health before they’re old enough to even know what that means, this is the gold standard.
Put it on your shelf. Use the wheel. Let things be messy. It’s a much healthier way to live, honestly.
What to do next
- Check the copyright date: Ensure you have a version with the interactive wheel, as some later paperback editions or digital versions might lack the tactile experience that makes the book so engaging for toddlers.
- Pair with other titles: If your child responds well to this, look into It's Hard to Be Five or I'm Gonna Like Me, also by Curtis and Cornell. They follow a similar visual and emotional rhythm.
- Observe and Validate: The next time your child is in the middle of a "big feeling," reference a specific page from the book. "This feels like the 'discouraged' page, doesn't it?" This simple validation can often de-escalate a looming meltdown faster than any "time out" ever could.