Description A new story written together with the shadow within you. Welcome to the stage of the Emotion Circus! Deep inside our hearts lies a secret space that no one else knows about—a space so private that we often forget it even exists. But the shadow in our hearts loves to linger there. Rika, the hero of this story, has never given much thought to that hidden space, nor paid any attention to her own shadow. But one day, Rika's shadow starts acting strangely. At first, it's barely noticeable—the shadow's hand tilts slightly the wrong way, or its head bobs oddly. Rika tries to ignore the shadow moving against her will, but it isn't easy. The shadow only grows bolder, swallowing up all the darkness around Rika and swelling bigger and bigger, until it drags her into a strange, blurry place where everything looks like a shadow. Then, at last, it pulls her into a circus tent filled with shadows. Surrounded by shadows twisting and turning as if they know all her secrets and are mocking her, Rika feels fear and loneliness. Just then, one shadow steps closer to her—it's her own shadow. Only then does Rika truly look at it face to face. Up close, the shadow isn't so scary or wicked after all. Slowly, Rika begins to accept her shadow. And at last, she puts on a wonderful performance together with it, finally embracing the shadow as a part of herself. What kind of show will Rika and her shadow put on? Are you ready to dance with the shadow inside you too? Open the doors to the Emotion Circus right now! "Stop it! You have to do what I say!" Our Children, Facing Unfamiliar and Unexplainable Feelings We all sometimes get swept up in emotions we can't quite explain—feeling angry or sad for no clear reason, or acting in ways we don't fully understand ourselves. Children are no different. Deep inside, they too sometimes encounter unfamiliar feelings bubbling up from within. But not knowing how to handle these complicated emotions, they often try to push them down or hide them away, saying things like, "I didn't mean to," or "It was really an accident," as they struggle to explain feelings even they don't understand—though it usually just sounds like an excuse. Rika is just the same. When a sudden wave of negative emotion strikes, she becomes frightened and tries to avoid it. But that negative feeling—her shadow—refuses to leave her be. It acts out to grab her attention, puffs itself up bigger to scare her, and finally forces Rika, who tries to shut her eyes and ears to it, to face it head-on. Emotion Circus: Where I Face My Shadow encourages readers not to avoid or suppress the negative emotions swirling inside them, but to look at them honestly and accept them—even to dance along with those turbulent feelings. After all, once you've had a good, joyful dance with them, those emotions tend to fade away as if they were never there. If you know a child like Rika who tries to run away from sudden waves of negative emotion, share this book with them. They'll learn how to bravely face their own shadow—and dance with it joyfully. The New Work from Lidia Branković, Author of Emotion Hotel, Beloved by Picture Book Readers Worldwide in 24 Languages! Lidia Branković, author of Emotion Hotel: Where My Heart Stays—a book that moved not only children but adults as well, earning rave reviews from picture book critics around the world—returns with a brand-new work. Her previous book, which likened a wide range of emotions to guests checking into a "hotel" and gently explored how to handle each one, captured the attention of editors worldwide at the 2023 Bologna Children's Book Fair. It has since been translated into 24 languages, resonating deeply with readers of all ages. Now, the author invites us to a brand-new stage: the Emotion Circus. In this new work, Emotion Circus: Where I Face My Shadow...