Mariessa Shein is a first-time children's book author based in New York City. After years of working in publishing and helping shape books behind the scenes, she's now bringing her own playful ideas to life for young readers. When she's not writing and editing, Mariessa volunteers at an animal rescue and fosters dogs—often drawing inspiration from her furry companions and their heartwarming adventures.Shiane Salabie was born in Jamaica and raised in New Jersey. She graduated from the prestigious Ringling College of Art and Design in Sarasota, Florida. Her drawings are characterized by clean line work and vibrant palettes. “I'm an island girl at heart so I draw a lot of inspiration from the ocean, fish, and tropical flora,” she says. She is also inspired by fairytales, folklore, and nursery rhymes because she read so many of them as a child who “practically lived at the library.”

"PreS-Gr 1–A simple, expressive introduction to emotions. Louie is a dragon with a rainbow of feelings inside—rather than breathing fire, he exhales colorful smoke that reflects his emotions. Yellow puffs signal happiness, red bursts show anger, and other hues appear as Louie experiences a range of everyday situations that spark different feelings. Each scene is designed to introduce and reinforce emotional ¬vocabulary for young readers. Cartoon-style illustrations are vibrant, cutesy, and full of color, making Louie’s shifting emotions visually engaging and easy to follow. While the concept is appealing, the story at times feels constructed to ensure every feeling is included, resulting in a somewhat forced narrative progression. Still, each emotion is clearly tied to a relatable situation, helping children make meaningful connections. Though the text does not explicitly label the colors alongside the emotions, caregivers can easily supply this language, creating opportunities for interactive reading and color recognition. ¬VERDICT A good addition for collections needing SEL books; also, a complementary tool for emotion- or color-based ¬activities." —Kirsten Caldwell, School Library Journal

Mariessa Shein is a first-time children's book author based in New York City. After years of working in publishing and helping shape books behind the scenes, she's now bringing her own playful ideas to life for young readers. When she's not writing and editing, Mariessa volunteers at an animal rescue and fosters dogs—often drawing inspiration from her furry companions and their heartwarming adventures.Shiane Salabie was born in Jamaica and raised in New Jersey. She graduated from the prestigious Ringling College of Art and Design in Sarasota, Florida. Her drawings are characterized by clean line work and vibrant palettes. “I'm an island girl at heart so I draw a lot of inspiration from the ocean, fish, and tropical flora,” she says. She is also inspired by fairytales, folklore, and nursery rhymes because she read so many of them as a child who “practically lived at the library.”

"PreS-Gr 1–A simple, expressive introduction to emotions. Louie is a dragon with a rainbow of feelings inside—rather than breathing fire, he exhales colorful smoke that reflects his emotions. Yellow puffs signal happiness, red bursts show anger, and other hues appear as Louie experiences a range of everyday situations that spark different feelings. Each scene is designed to introduce and reinforce emotional ¬vocabulary for young readers. Cartoon-style illustrations are vibrant, cutesy, and full of color, making Louie’s shifting emotions visually engaging and easy to follow. While the concept is appealing, the story at times feels constructed to ensure every feeling is included, resulting in a somewhat forced narrative progression. Still, each emotion is clearly tied to a relatable situation, helping children make meaningful connections. Though the text does not explicitly label the colors alongside the emotions, caregivers can easily supply this language, creating opportunities for interactive reading and color recognition. ¬VERDICT A good addition for collections needing SEL books; also, a complementary tool for emotion- or color-based ¬activities." —Kirsten Caldwell, School Library Journal

Mariessa Shein is a first-time children's book author based in New York City. After years of working in publishing and helping shape books behind the scenes, she's now bringing her own playful ideas to life for young readers. When she's not writing and editing, Mariessa volunteers at an animal rescue and fosters dogs—often drawing inspiration from her furry companions and their heartwarming adventures.Shiane Salabie was born in Jamaica and raised in New Jersey. She graduated from the prestigious Ringling College of Art and Design in Sarasota, Florida. Her drawings are characterized by clean line work and vibrant palettes. “I'm an island girl at heart so I draw a lot of inspiration from the ocean, fish, and tropical flora,” she says. She is also inspired by fairytales, folklore, and nursery rhymes because she read so many of them as a child who “practically lived at the library.”

"PreS-Gr 1–A simple, expressive introduction to emotions. Louie is a dragon with a rainbow of feelings inside—rather than breathing fire, he exhales colorful smoke that reflects his emotions. Yellow puffs signal happiness, red bursts show anger, and other hues appear as Louie experiences a range of everyday situations that spark different feelings. Each scene is designed to introduce and reinforce emotional ¬vocabulary for young readers. Cartoon-style illustrations are vibrant, cutesy, and full of color, making Louie’s shifting emotions visually engaging and easy to follow. While the concept is appealing, the story at times feels constructed to ensure every feeling is included, resulting in a somewhat forced narrative progression. Still, each emotion is clearly tied to a relatable situation, helping children make meaningful connections. Though the text does not explicitly label the colors alongside the emotions, caregivers can easily supply this language, creating opportunities for interactive reading and color recognition. ¬VERDICT A good addition for collections needing SEL books; also, a complementary tool for emotion- or color-based ¬activities." —Kirsten Caldwell, School Library Journal