Hazel smiled at his enthusiasm. ‘‘Isn’t it, Benny? Your Aunt Poppy sent it as a gift. It has all sorts of wonderful recipes we can try together.’’
Benny’s eyes sparkled. He loved helping his mom bake. But then, an idea struck him, and his excitement morphed into a different kind of energy. He ran and grabbed a crayon from his basket, its vibrant red tip begging to meet the beautiful pages.
‘‘Can I draw on it, Mom? Just a little bit? I never drew anything on such a beautiful book! Pleeeease!’’
Hazel’s smile faltered slightly. ‘‘Oh, sweetie,’’ she began, gently placing a paw over the book, signaling a clear obstacle. ‘‘This book is a special gift, and I’d be a little sad if it got scribbled on. But how about you draw something amazing on a piece of paper instead? We can even use some of the crayons to match the colors in the book!’’
Benny’s ears drooped. He loved his crayons, but the pristine pages of the cookbook held a certain allure. A frown creased his brow. ‘‘But Mom, I want to draw on this one! It’ll look even more beautiful with my drawings!’’
Hazel knelt down to his level, her voice calm and understanding. ‘‘I know you’re excited, Benny, and it can be tempting to draw on something new and pretty. But this book is something we can all enjoy looking at together, with all its beautiful pictures intact. How about we make a special drawing together on a big piece of paper?’’

Benny crossed his arms, his lower lip trembling slightly. ‘‘But I want to make my drawing on THIS book!’’ He thumped his tiny foot, frustration bubbling in his chest.
Hazel saw the storm brewing in her little bunny’s eyes. She took a deep breath. ‘‘It sounds like you’re feeling really disappointed, Benny,’’ she said gently. ‘‘It’s okay to feel upset when you don’t get what you want. Can you tell me more about why you want to draw on this book so badly?’’ she asked, giving him an opportunity to express his feelings.
Benny sniffled. ‘‘Because it’s so pretty! And I want to make it even prettier with my drawings!’’ He paused, tears welling up in his eyes. ‘‘And besides, I never get to draw on anything important!’’ Saying those last words, Benny burst into painful tears, feeling sad because it seemed that his mom couldn’t understand his good intentions to make the cookbook prettier. And he even said ‘Please’!
Hazel’s heart ached for her little one. She understood his desire to create something special, something he felt held value. ‘‘Oh, Benny,’’ she said, pulling him into a warm hug. ‘‘You get to draw lots of important things! Remember the picture you made for Grandpa’s birthday? He loved it
so much, he hung it on his wall!’’
Benny pondered this for a moment, his sobs subsiding into sniffles. ‘‘Yeah,’’ he mumbled, wiping his eyes. ‘‘But that was different. Grandpa likes
everything I make.’’
His mom crouched beside him. ‘‘Oh, sweetie,’’ she said softly, ‘‘I know you’re disappointed. How about this: we can draw on a big piece of paper and make the most amazing drawing with all the colors, or we can continue baking the carrot cake together and even add those sprinkles that you like. What would you like to choose?’’
But Benny was feeling a bit stubborn and grumpy today. ‘‘But I want to draw on the cookbook SO BAD!’’ He thumped his foot again, tears spilling down his cheeks. ‘‘I hate you!’’

...

Just like Benny, have you ever felt so frustrated or angry that you said something mean to your parents? What happened? How did you feel
afterward? How did your parents feel? (This question helps readers connect with Benny’s feelings and reflect on their own experiences with anger. By sharing a time they felt upset and how they coped, they can learn from their own experiences and see that there are ways to move past disappointment.)