GRAY SPOTS IS THE SECOND IN THIS SERIES OF CHILDREN'S BOOKS. WHILE BLUE SPOTS TACKLED SADNESS AND GRIEF, GRAY SPOTS FOCUSES ON FEAR, ANXIETY, AND BULLYING. I CAN REALLY APPRECIATE THE INTENT OF THE MESSAGES BEING SENT IN THESE TWO BOOKS BACK TO BACK. I DEFINITELY FEEL IT RESONATES IN TODAY'S WORLD AND YES I REALIZE THESE ARE CHILDREN'S BOOKS, BUT SOMETIMES ADULTS NEED REMINDING AND CAN BENEFIT GREATLY AS WELL FROM READING SUCH BOOKS WITH THEIR CHILDREN. THIS BOOK SERVES NOT ONLY AS A REMINDER, BUT A CALL OF INSPIRATION TO CONQUER YOUR FEARS OR WHATEVER MIGHT BE CAUSING YOUR ANXIETY. IT ALSO PROMOTES AN ANTI-BULLYING STANCE AND FOR PEOPLE TO COME TOGETHER TO DEFEND THOSE WHO NEED DEFENDING, WHICH I FEEL IS EVEN MORE IMPORTANT IN TODAY'S SCHOOLS ESPECIALLY WITH THE PRESENCE OF CYBER BULLYING. AGAIN, I THINK IT IS very IMPOrtant for children and teens to realize that there is life beyond their current situation or current state that may exist in their school. It does get better and it is so beneficial to have a positive thought process. I believe it is also just as important to be surrounded with positive energy that exude from family, true friends, and a faith network to help oneself deal and get through their anxiety, fear, or bullying issues. I personally enjoyed this book even more than the first one, and the reference to comic book superheroes.

It can be so hard to describe different emotions to younger kids and what they mean. Gray spots does a wonderful job of showing younger children what anxiety and fear can not only look like but feel like. It also touches on the topical subject of bullying and what it means to stand up for those who are unable to stand up for themselves. This would be a wonderful resource to keep in your classroom for elementary aged students.