Did You Hear Me?: Little Voices, Big Feelings by Jacqueline Moss

 

📖 Some children's books are meant to be read.

💭 Some are meant to be talked about.

I read Little Voices, Big Feelings: Did You Hear Me? with my niece, and what I enjoyed most was seeing how naturally she connected with Amari’s feelings. 🥹

There was no need for me to explain everything to her. She could see that Amari was trying to say something, people around her were busy and slowly that small feeling of being ignored became something much bigger. 💭

That is what made this book work for me. ❤️

It doesn't simply tell children, “Express your emotions.” It shows what can happen when those emotions aren't heard in the first place. 💛

Amari’s “DID YOU HEAR ME?” is such a simple line, but it carries so much weight. 🥺

And I really liked Auntie Nia. ❤️

Instead of immediately telling Amari to calm down or behave differently, she stops and listens. Their little “pause” signal was one of my favourite ideas in the book because it gives Amari something practical—a way to communicate that she needs to be heard before her feelings become overwhelming. 🤍

My niece seemed to understand that idea instantly. 😊

That experience made me appreciate something else about the book: it doesn't feel like a lesson disguised as a story. The emotions are woven into everyday family moments, which makes them easier for a child to recognise in their own life. 🌱

The illustrations help too. 🎨 They give the characters so much expression that you can often understand what Amari is feeling before you even reach the next line.

And there is something exciting about knowing this isn't intended to be a standalone journey. ✨ The author has shared that more books are planned for this series, which makes Did You Hear Me? feel like a beginning rather than an ending. I'm genuinely curious to see which emotions the upcoming books will explore. 📚💫

For me, this first book has already established something important:

Children don't always need bigger voices. Sometimes, they simply need someone willing to listen to the little one they already have. 🫶