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Big Feelings #5
Sometimes I Kaploom
Another heartfelt and tender story about dealing with BIG feelings from the bestselling author of Sometimes I'm Bombaloo and Sometimes I Grumblesquinch , Rachel Vail. Katie Honors is a really brave kid. She can go to bed with just one small night light. She can hold her tears in when it’s time to say goodbye to her mom at school. But sometimes Katie isn’t ready to say goodbye and doesn’t feel brave at all. When this happens, she Kaplooms ! She refuses to let go of her mom, and everything is flurried as she begins to cry. Her emotions feel frightening. It’s not the Katie Honors she wants to be. But her mother assures Katie that she can be both brave and sad, brave and crying, brave and scared. Sometimes I Kaploom masterfully explores how hard it can be for children when they’re nervous or scared and have to transition to new places and faces when they just don’t feel quite ready. In another poignant, honest, and insightful story, readers learn along with Katie that bravery and fear are not mutually exclusive.
40 pages, Hardcover
First published August 1, 2023
2 people are currently reading
65 people want to read
About the author
Rachel Vail
56 books456 followersBirth
I was born on July 25, 1966, in NEW YORK CITY, and grew up in New Rochelle, NY, with my mother, my father, and my younger brother Jon. (And down the street from my future husband, though of course I didn't know that until much later.)
Interests
Some details, I do know-I was very into reading and theater, so I read every book I could get my hands on (especially realistic fiction, either contemporary or historical) and took acting workshops and auditioned for every play in school, camp, or the community. I played Peter Pan, Miss Hannigan in Annie, Benny Southstreet in Guys and Dolls, the Scarecrow in The Wizard of Oz, and lots of extremely memorable chorus parts-for instance, I was "girl number two" in Fiddler on the Roof-the one who said "We heard about your sister, Chava". I didn't care -I just wanted to be on stage. Waiting backstage before curtain call, after giving my all in a performance, was the best feeling I knew. In seventh grade I started taking magic lessons, and by eighth grade I was making all my own spending money by performing at kids' birthday parties as a clown named Tallulah. I liked the freedom of wearing all that grease-paint-I could be as wacky and un-cool as I wanted. I tried dance but felt so clumsy. I faked a sprained ankle to get out of the recital. I took voice lessons which made me a little light-headed (and I was afraid of the voice teacher's growling, drooling Doberman) and both saxophone and piano, neither of which I ever practiced. I did well in school but started a lot of my work at the last minute, in a crazy mad dash, so that it was never late but there were usually careless errors or areas I had to fudge. I had this idea that to work hard at something was sort of a negative, an admission that I didn't have natural talent. If I wasn't going to be Mozart and have the music (or dance, or math, or social studies term paper, or whatever) channeled through me from God, then I was just embarrassing myself by all that workmanlike effort. I didn't get over that idea until after college, by the way.
Career Ambitions
I never really planned to be a writer. I planned to be a financial wizard after learning about option-spreading at age 10, then a poet after discovering Shakespeare at 11. After overhearing "the real power is held by the lobbyists" on a class trip to Albany, I planned to become a lobbyist. Secretly, of course I always imagined myself as an actress, but that didn't seem hard or important enough, and also I worried I wasn't naturally gifted enough.
Parents
My parents were always great. I liked to make them proud, and they trusted me and supported my efforts and interests, which was sometimes weirdly tough. There was so little for me to rebel against.
As a Kid
When people ask me what I was as a kid, I always feel like my answer is at best incomplete.What are you like, as a kid? I'm still trying to figure out what I'm like as an adult.
Socially
Well, things went in waves. Sometimes I felt very "in", very aware of and tied in to the whole scene, excited by who liked whom, all the gossip, some of it less than kind. Other times I felt so alone-like there was nobody like me, nobody who liked me, nobody to talk to. And much of the time it was somewhere in between. A best friend when I was lucky, and a few people in each crowd I liked and who liked me. I resisted being classified as a brain or a jock or alternative or popular-too limiting. I would have to shut down too many parts of myself to be just one type.
Adolescence
I went through a very intense stage in middle school (Junior High). I worried about being too ordinary. I also worried about being too weird. I also worried about changing states of matter, my inability to be morally certain, ignorance (my own and world-wide), and making a fool of myself.
http://us.macmillan.com/author/rachel...
I was born on July 25, 1966, in NEW YORK CITY, and grew up in New Rochelle, NY, with my mother, my father, and my younger brother Jon. (And down the street from my future husband, though of course I didn't know that until much later.)
Interests
Some details, I do know-I was very into reading and theater, so I read every book I could get my hands on (especially realistic fiction, either contemporary or historical) and took acting workshops and auditioned for every play in school, camp, or the community. I played Peter Pan, Miss Hannigan in Annie, Benny Southstreet in Guys and Dolls, the Scarecrow in The Wizard of Oz, and lots of extremely memorable chorus parts-for instance, I was "girl number two" in Fiddler on the Roof-the one who said "We heard about your sister, Chava". I didn't care -I just wanted to be on stage. Waiting backstage before curtain call, after giving my all in a performance, was the best feeling I knew. In seventh grade I started taking magic lessons, and by eighth grade I was making all my own spending money by performing at kids' birthday parties as a clown named Tallulah. I liked the freedom of wearing all that grease-paint-I could be as wacky and un-cool as I wanted. I tried dance but felt so clumsy. I faked a sprained ankle to get out of the recital. I took voice lessons which made me a little light-headed (and I was afraid of the voice teacher's growling, drooling Doberman) and both saxophone and piano, neither of which I ever practiced. I did well in school but started a lot of my work at the last minute, in a crazy mad dash, so that it was never late but there were usually careless errors or areas I had to fudge. I had this idea that to work hard at something was sort of a negative, an admission that I didn't have natural talent. If I wasn't going to be Mozart and have the music (or dance, or math, or social studies term paper, or whatever) channeled through me from God, then I was just embarrassing myself by all that workmanlike effort. I didn't get over that idea until after college, by the way.
Career Ambitions
I never really planned to be a writer. I planned to be a financial wizard after learning about option-spreading at age 10, then a poet after discovering Shakespeare at 11. After overhearing "the real power is held by the lobbyists" on a class trip to Albany, I planned to become a lobbyist. Secretly, of course I always imagined myself as an actress, but that didn't seem hard or important enough, and also I worried I wasn't naturally gifted enough.
Parents
My parents were always great. I liked to make them proud, and they trusted me and supported my efforts and interests, which was sometimes weirdly tough. There was so little for me to rebel against.
As a Kid
When people ask me what I was as a kid, I always feel like my answer is at best incomplete.What are you like, as a kid? I'm still trying to figure out what I'm like as an adult.
Socially
Well, things went in waves. Sometimes I felt very "in", very aware of and tied in to the whole scene, excited by who liked whom, all the gossip, some of it less than kind. Other times I felt so alone-like there was nobody like me, nobody who liked me, nobody to talk to. And much of the time it was somewhere in between. A best friend when I was lucky, and a few people in each crowd I liked and who liked me. I resisted being classified as a brain or a jock or alternative or popular-too limiting. I would have to shut down too many parts of myself to be just one type.
Adolescence
I went through a very intense stage in middle school (Junior High). I worried about being too ordinary. I also worried about being too weird. I also worried about changing states of matter, my inability to be morally certain, ignorance (my own and world-wide), and making a fool of myself.
http://us.macmillan.com/author/rachel...
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Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
August 17, 2023
I am a big fan of Sometimes I'm Bombaloo by Rachel Vail, and I am happy to report I am just as big a fan of Sometimes I Kaploom.
When I was a kid my mom would call those big all consuming feelings small kids have "oogieflips" so the fact that there are now books using made up and silly words for feelings that are just too big for little ones to parse makes perfect sense to me. And I love it. In Sometimes I Kaploom, Vail tackles the all too familiar drama of going to school. We meet Katie Honors, who is usually VERY BRAVE. But sometimes when her mom drops her off at school Katie feels tight, and scared and goes KAPLOOM. Hyewon Yum's illustrations bring that scared rage into tangible being. When a child doesn't want you to go they get so prickly and also want you so much, a particularly tough combo. We see this when Katie starts to give off literal sparks and goes from feeling smooth to feeling sharp. But with help from mom, Katie knows that even when going kaploom she can also still be brave. Katie can get an extra hug and feels the kaploom still there but also knows it will pass and soon she will feel a lot better. Being brave doesn't mean never crying, being brave means working through your kaploom.
A great read and I always enjoy seeing picture books that address that you can feel many feelings at once. (Reviewed by Jenna I.)
When I was a kid my mom would call those big all consuming feelings small kids have "oogieflips" so the fact that there are now books using made up and silly words for feelings that are just too big for little ones to parse makes perfect sense to me. And I love it. In Sometimes I Kaploom, Vail tackles the all too familiar drama of going to school. We meet Katie Honors, who is usually VERY BRAVE. But sometimes when her mom drops her off at school Katie feels tight, and scared and goes KAPLOOM. Hyewon Yum's illustrations bring that scared rage into tangible being. When a child doesn't want you to go they get so prickly and also want you so much, a particularly tough combo. We see this when Katie starts to give off literal sparks and goes from feeling smooth to feeling sharp. But with help from mom, Katie knows that even when going kaploom she can also still be brave. Katie can get an extra hug and feels the kaploom still there but also knows it will pass and soon she will feel a lot better. Being brave doesn't mean never crying, being brave means working through your kaploom.
A great read and I always enjoy seeing picture books that address that you can feel many feelings at once. (Reviewed by Jenna I.)
August 9, 2023
This picture book has a lot of made-up words, and the sentence structure is weird. I get that the author is trying to capture a child's-eye view of the world, but I mentally stumbled over this as I read, often going back over sentences to figure out what they were saying.
I'm not sure how well this will work with children. The author's way of expressing things won't necessarily make sense to or resonate with a kid, and since the book isn't introducing real vocabulary, parents will have to come up with their own explanations if the made-up words don't work for their kid. I much preferred the author's previous book, Sometimes I Grumblesquinch, which flowed more naturally and had a more powerful message.
I'm not sure how well this will work with children. The author's way of expressing things won't necessarily make sense to or resonate with a kid, and since the book isn't introducing real vocabulary, parents will have to come up with their own explanations if the made-up words don't work for their kid. I much preferred the author's previous book, Sometimes I Grumblesquinch, which flowed more naturally and had a more powerful message.
May 31, 2023
I received a digital ARC of this book from the publisher for my honest opinion.
The child in this book is brave, but are they still brave when they Kaploom with emotions? I loved so much about this book. Both of my sons have gone through these emotions, especially my three-year-old. He is one of the fearless kids I know, but also is known for his huge Kaploom moments. I have often struggled with how to deal with those moments and I think Vail has given me another tool to use in this book. I also love that child voices their self-doubt and the Mom not only listens but corrects her words, showing the child that adults do listen, but also sometimes make mistakes. I also feel that the illustrations and colors are spot on in depicting the emotions from both the child and parent perspective. A great book for any child, family, school, or counselor to help kids understand their emotions.
The child in this book is brave, but are they still brave when they Kaploom with emotions? I loved so much about this book. Both of my sons have gone through these emotions, especially my three-year-old. He is one of the fearless kids I know, but also is known for his huge Kaploom moments. I have often struggled with how to deal with those moments and I think Vail has given me another tool to use in this book. I also love that child voices their self-doubt and the Mom not only listens but corrects her words, showing the child that adults do listen, but also sometimes make mistakes. I also feel that the illustrations and colors are spot on in depicting the emotions from both the child and parent perspective. A great book for any child, family, school, or counselor to help kids understand their emotions.
November 15, 2023
I adore the message, as explained concisely in the author's note: "You can be brave and sad. Brave and crying. Brave and scared. Reminding yourself that soon you'll feel better can help you feel brave now."
The made-up words and funny sentence structure in this book work, mainly because the narrator's voice is so strong: "My name is Katie Honors and I'm a really brave kid."
This story gets you in the mind of a little kid having a meltdown when their emotions build up inside them and explode. She doesn't want to be like this! She wants to be smooth! But instead she's made of sparks.
The book is electric and lively itself, with colorful pencil drawings and expressive faces and bodies.
The made-up words and funny sentence structure in this book work, mainly because the narrator's voice is so strong: "My name is Katie Honors and I'm a really brave kid."
This story gets you in the mind of a little kid having a meltdown when their emotions build up inside them and explode. She doesn't want to be like this! She wants to be smooth! But instead she's made of sparks.
The book is electric and lively itself, with colorful pencil drawings and expressive faces and bodies.
Read
August 3, 2023Good book to show kids that it's ok to have big feelings and that separation can be hard, but good then to show adults that maybe they need some help self-regulating those emotions. Also good to show grown ups that you child will eventually be ok in a classroom. Great undies. Unfortunate that the jacket says the illustrator won the Erza Jack Keats award instead of the Ezra Jack Keats award.
August 31, 2023
This book looks at the big emotions children face. When Katie’s mom drops her off at school these big emotions come out and we see a different side of Katie. Katie is brave all of the time, but when she kaplooms? She is still brave. A great book to talk about big feelings and how we are still brave even when we are scared, sad, or kaplooming.
August 27, 2024
Illustration look like they are soft pastels.
A young girl explains how she tries to be brave when Mom drops her at daycare. Sometimes her feelings get so huge, she has to let them out--loudly and violently. Eventually, Mom explains that she can be both brave and sad. After awhile her "brave" gets a little stronger. Honest.
A young girl explains how she tries to be brave when Mom drops her at daycare. Sometimes her feelings get so huge, she has to let them out--loudly and violently. Eventually, Mom explains that she can be both brave and sad. After awhile her "brave" gets a little stronger. Honest.
May 29, 2025
I have a child who had huge emotions as a 2-5 year old (she still does, but has made huge strides in emotional regulation thanks to some super awesome teachers), so I can relate to this. Some kids are more prone to be more sensitive, to have those strong emotions they just don't know what to do with. I couldn't really relate to the whole "be brave" thing though.
August 22, 2023
A great book about how even brave kids sometimes have really big feelings. Perfect for kids starting nursery/daycare/preschool/kindergarten.
Themes: New Experience, Big Feelings, School
Age range: Preschool-Kindergarten
Themes: New Experience, Big Feelings, School
Age range: Preschool-Kindergarten
November 6, 2023
What do you do when your feelings go Kaploom? Vail shows readers what happens when Katie struggles with big feelings and explodes with a kaploom. I love the affirmation that this is brave too as Katie and her mom work together to resolve the feelings and move forward with the day.
November 16, 2023
This is a great story about "big feelings" and I definitely think its essential to include these books in your classroom library. I love the central message that this book had, you can feel and be many things at once.
January 20, 2024
Great choice for discussing separation anxiety with preschoolers and being brave - you can be brave and sad and scared at the same time! May help parents get through the gut-wrenching school drop-offs, too.
February 10, 2025
Fun and relatable
Parents and children can relate to this short story's big feels. The narrative uses words a child would speak to convey a relatable and powerful life lesson. Hard feelings are ok, and never alone.
Parents and children can relate to this short story's big feels. The narrative uses words a child would speak to convey a relatable and powerful life lesson. Hard feelings are ok, and never alone.
June 19, 2025
This is my first encounter with the "Big Feelings" series. I picked it up expecting a look at frustration/anger rather than fear. While the story as a whole works well with talking about fear and what it means to be brave, I just think the word 'kaploom' doesn't work well.
September 2, 2025
I really love this illustrator. I appreciated how when the little girl was feeling overwhelmed she couldn’t even see the adults’ faces clearly and they just became disembodied balloons saying nonsense to her.
May 9, 2023
SO great for kids experiencing nerves about school or separation anxiety!
May 17, 2023
A heartfelt, emotially honest look at how hard it can be for children when they’re nervous or scared and have to experience new places and faces before they're ready.
July 30, 2023
#relatable
Lovely addition to this feeling series and Hyewon Yum's illustrations are always among my favorite ever ever.
Lovely addition to this feeling series and Hyewon Yum's illustrations are always among my favorite ever ever.
August 25, 2023
Excellent excellent book!!
November 27, 2023
A great exploration of big feelings. Who hasn't kaploom-ed every now and then?
December 18, 2023
Such a good book about big feelings.
March 16, 2024
This would make a GREAT first day of kindergarten/daycare/school title for littles
March 28, 2024
This book was very interesting to read. It shows understanding and that everyone goes "Kaploom" every now and then.
June 10, 2024
Love love love this! It gives a name to big feelings (“Kaploom.”) With help from her mom, Katie learns that being brave doesn’t mean never going Kaploom; it means working through her Kaploom.
-Mama
-Mama
July 17, 2024
Katie is back with big feelings. Usually she's a very brave kid. But sometimes, she's not-so-brave, and everything goes Kaploom.
July 17, 2025
My first of the Big Feelings series & I'm really impressed by how expressive and yet simple this book is. I can imagine reading this book as a toddler would make you feel really seen. <3
January 31, 2025
Read this at my library and liked it so much I had to buy a copy
Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews