When Things Aren't Going Right, Go Left

by Marc Colagiovanni, Peter H. Reynolds (Illustrator)

From #1 New York Times bestselling creator Peter H. Reynolds and talented debut author Marc Colagiovanni comes an inspirational story about optimism, overcoming adversity, and forging your own path.

"One day for no particular reason, nothing was going right. Absolutely positively, nothing was going right. So, I decided to go left..."

Told through creative language play, and with depth and whimsy, this picture book reminds readers of their own agency and the power they have to direct their own path. Marc Colagiovanni’s lyrical text and Peter H. Reynolds's stunning art create an enduring message of strength and perseverance that is both universal and personal, and one that readers will be drawn to over and over again.

This first of two new picture books created in collaboration with Marc and Peter will inspire, affirm, and reassure readers at key milestone moments in every young reader's life. When Things Aren't Going Right, Go Left makes an inspiring graduation gift as well as a must-have, uplifting read sure to bring positivity to all who read it and remind us that even when nothing is going right… we can always choose to go left.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Fiction, Emotion, Inspirational, Mental Health, Growth Mindset

32 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 1, 2023

Reviews

[Kellee Moye]

Well meaning and with beautiful 5 star illustrations, but I worry it might downgrade anxiety for those children who cannot control it like the book suggests.

[Dolly · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm a big fan of the books created and illustrated by Peter H. Reynolds, so I was thrilled to discover this book in the children's section of a local bookstore.

The narrative is inspiring and encouraging, but a bit too metaphorical for younger children, so I'm a little confused about the target demographic.

Loved the illustrations, but it's just good, not a great book.

[Relyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hmmmm...

I have nothing negative to say about this book. It just didn't grab me. I wonder what my students would think of it. I can see it starting some great conversations in a small group.

[Liz · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautiful book about finding inner strength in the face of difficulties, and challenging the self-imposed limits that anxiety can produce. Fantastic for both children and adults alike.

[Rosa · Rating 5 out of 5]

People who don’t understand that picture books are for all ages will think this book too everything. In an age where we forget that yes 8,9, 10 etc… year old kids enjoy picture books because we too are mimicking the schools new mantra of children must read chapter books asap in order to develop true reading skills or higher learning skills.
Picture books can help with all that. This picture book helps illustrate visually the different levels of anxiety children often have. It’s a great opener for all who want to teach not only ourselves but also the youth of today how to work on our EO.
Love the story, love the visuals 🥰

[Patricia Rose · Rating 5 out of 5]

This endearing children's book by Marc Colagiovanni had me smiling on every page. What a wonderful message for children--for everyone, actually. I loved the illustrations by Peter J. Reynolds, too. But what was most special was the story. The resolution in When Things Aren't Going Right, Go Left! Is so true!

[Feliciana · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great for preK-1st.

[Em Neufeld · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a perfect book and it found me at the perfect time.

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love how this book acknowledges that it is normal to have frustrations, fears, doubts, and worries when you are doing something.

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's an uplifting book by Marc Colagiovanni, one I imagine that could be read aloud with such enthusiasm to a group or to someone dear who needs advice in solving a problem or two. It's a new way to learn for anyone, young and old. It's time to lessen those doubts and worries, fears and frustrations, no matter how much they wish to grow! You can handle them if only you "go left". Peter H. Reynolds shows a young boy pondering all those things as he learns to leave the bags of doubts behind. The small creatures, like a suitcase of 'fears', scream "Don't do it!" and "Stop!" as he is about to attempt a high-dive. He "simply turned and gave them a wink" while climbing the ladder. It's a terrific book!
Thanks to Scholastic for this Advanced Copy! This has a March pub date!

[Πάνος Τουρλής · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ένα παιδί αποφασίζει να ξεφορτωθεί τα άσχημα συναισθήματα που το βαραίνουν και να προχωρήσει στη ζωή του, να τολμήσει, να ρισκάρει. Θα στραφεί όμως κάποτε πίσω σε αυτά που ένιωσε; Αν ναι, τι θα αντικρίσει;

Ο Marc Colagiovanni έγραψε μια καταπληκτική ιστορία που δίνει θάρρος, αυτοπεποίθηση και δύναμη στους μικρούς αναγνώστες ώστε να καταφέρουν να κάνουν πράγματα που τους φοβίζουν ή αμφιβάλουν ότι θα φέρουν σε πέρας. Με μια συναρπαστική και ανατρεπτική γραμμική εξιστόρηση, μια μέρα όπου, χωρίς ιδιαίτερο λόγο, τίποτα δεν πηγαίνει σωστά, ο ήρωας της ιστορίας αρχίζει να ρίχνει στο έδαφος τις ανησυχίες του, μετά από έναν ξεκαρδιστικό διάλογο μαζί τους («-Περίμενε, γύρνα πίσω!»). Ναι αλλά τότε αρχίζει να νιώθει αμφιβολίες, τις οποίες φυσικά επίσης εγκαταλείπει. Τώρα μπορεί να σκεφτεί καθαρά και να κάνει πράγματα που κάποτε τον τρόμαζαν, αδιαφορώντας για τους φόβους που κι αυτοί ξώμειναν πίσω και κωφεύοντας στις φωνές των απογοητεύσεων. «Συνειδητοποίησα ότι όσο άφηνα πράγματα πίσω μου, τόσο πιο σίγουρος ένιωθα». Στην ιστορία όμως έχουμε και μια σημαντική ανατροπή που τονίζει με εύσχημο τρόπο πως «μπορούμε να προχωράμε μαζί» με τις αμφιβολίες, τους φόβους και τις ανησυχίες μας, «αρκεί να προσέχουμε να μη μας βαραίνουν». Αν πάντως ο φόβος και το άγχος μας δυσκολεύουν, τότε απλώς συνεχίζουμε τον δικό μας δρόμο.

Η εκπληκτική αυτή και αισιόδοξη ιστορία ζωντανεύει από την εκπληκτική εικονογράφηση του Peter H. Reynolds που ποτίζει τις σελίδες με χρώματα και χαρίζει ενδιαφέρουσες οπτικές γωνίες. Από το μωβ χρώμα της απογοήτευσης και του φόβου περνάμε σε πιο αισιόδοξες νότες κι όσο ο ήρωας της ιστορίας ξεφορτώνεται τα αρνητικά συναισθήματα τόσο πιο ζωηρά γίνονται τα χρώματα. Οι κόκκινες ανησυχίες, οι πράσινες αμφιβολίες, οι κίτρινες απογοητεύσεις και οι πορτοκαλί φόβοι έχουν χαριτωμένες φατσούλες και λάτρεψα τις απανωτές αντιθέσεις στο κρίσιμο σημείο της ιστορίας όπου ο μικρός μας ήρωας απογοητεύεται αλλά ξαναπροσπαθεί αδιαφορώντας για όσα άφησε πίσω του. Η καλογραμμένη ιστορία δε θα μπορούσε να τελειώσει με διαφορετική γωνία λήψης από αυτήν του εικονογράφου που αφήνει το παιδί να ατενίζει τον δρόμο μπροστά του με ονειροπόλο βλέμμα αλλά και ανυπομονησία.

Πρώτη δημοσίευση στο site μου: https://www.vivliokritikes.com/%CE%B1...

[Tiffany · Rating 4 out of 5]

Add me on BookTok here: https://www.tiktok.com/@blissandbooks

Book provided by publisher in exchange for an honest review

Doubts in children can come and go but author Marc Colagiovanni encourages young readers to grow their confidence to ignore those doubts in When Things Aren’t Right, Go Left a new picture book releasing in March 2023.

The phrase "when nothing goes right, go left" is a way of encouraging kids to keep an open mind and think creatively when faced with a difficult situation or challenge. So in the story, when a little boy realizes nothing in his day is going right, he decides to make a change. The book details what he did to his doubts that are constantly trying to take over, he leaves them, ignores them, and leaps into the rest of his day by leaving them in the past.

The illustrations by Peter Reynolds are fun sketches of the little boy leaving those doubts (sketched as red little birds) behind while he does the things that could be considered new and scary. There is a part where he jumps off a diving board and face-plants on the ground, but he picks himself up and tries again. The colors range from dark blues and violets when the little boy is attempting to ignore the doubts creeping in, leading to some final bright yellow pages of him successfully completing his goals.

[Thompson McLeod · Rating 5 out of 5]

A young boy is having a bad day...a really, really bad day where nothing is going right, so he makes the decision to go left. And he left his worries behind. He notices without the weight of his worries, he could accomplish much more.

When his fears got too loud, he leaves them behind, and you know what, he felt better! He left behind his worries, his fears, his doubts, and he felt better, lighter. He teaches the reader it's okay to have worries and fears and doubts, as long as they don't get too big or loud and take over your life. He says he's going to keep an eye on them and handle them, so, "when things aren't going, right, go left."

Choose to do the scary thing like diving off the diving board. The more you do the scary thing, the easier it becomes. Choose to set aside your worries even for a little while. Choose to silence your doubts and they'll get quieter.

When Things Aren't Going Right, Go Left is a lovely picture book intended for children, but everyone could use its advice. This would make a great gift idea for anyone leaving for college, anyone leaving the nest, anyone beginning a new and maybe scary journey.

I love, love. love this book! Illustrations by Peter H. Reynolds capture the sentiment of the boy's every decision and mood. Well done!

Highly, highly recommended pre-school to grade 4 and yes, adults.

[Way-Way Pee · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 There is just something about Peter H Reynolds art that makes my heart go squeeee 🥺 and the simplicity yet infinite depth of his stories have this long-lasting effect on me where I find myself thinking about the stories at odd times, oftentimes exactly when I need them. This book, with its message of embracing and letting go of lift’s burdens which he illustrated for Marc Colagiovanni, is no different.

This book is appropriate for young children but is just as relevant to teens, young adults, and, well, 40-plus year old moms on how to manage fears and anxiety. I like that the lesson was not to try and ignore the problems but that there is the ability to carry them with you, though perhaps less heavy and burdensome.

I can see Go Left becoming a mantra when a situation seems too daunting and overwhelming, much like how I think about The Dot and Ish often. I had already pre-ordered copies for my nieces and nephews from @greenbeanbooks (#shoplocal, y’all!), but I can see this one being the book I gift this year to Class of 2023 graduates and mom friends.

”When life’s burdens start to feel too heavy … don’t be afraid to put them down for awhile.” - Marc Cologiovanni

[Lafourche Parish Library · Rating 5 out of 5]

We all have fears, frustrations, worries, and doubts, but did you know you can make a choice when it comes to all of these feelings? This is what When Things Aren’t Going Right, Go Left by Marc Colagiovanni tries to remind us. In the story, a young boy is having a horrible day. Nothing is going right, but instead of becoming frustrated and giving up, he chooses to change directions. He decides to go left and leave his worries behind him. The rest of his day leaves him dealing with his worries, doubts, fears, and frustrations, but he chooses to leave all those negative feelings behind and continue to go left.

Even though this picture book is aimed for children, it is a great reminder for all ages that we do have a choice when it comes to our feelings and emotions even though sometimes it seems as if we don’t. The vibrant illustrations by Peter H. Reynolds will draw you in but the easy-to-read words and message will leave you wanting more and may inspire you to go left.

- Heather, Branch Manager

[Jessica Harrison · Rating 5 out of 5]

When Things Aren’t Going Right, Go Left, by Marc Colagiovanni and Peter H. Reynolds, encourages readers to let go of their burdens.

“One day for no particular reason, nothing was going right. Absolutely positively, nothing was going right. So, I decided to go left…”

When Things Aren’t Going Right, Go Left is the first of two new picture books created in collaboration with author Marc Colagiovanni and illustrator Peter H. Reynolds.

From its bold cover to its graphic endpapers, this new picture book will catch readers’ attention from beginning to end. Reynold’s deceptively simple illustrations are full of emotion and wit. They pair perfectly with Colagiovanni’s inspirational words.

When Things Aren’t Going Right, Go Left celebrates emotional intelligence, helping kids visualize concepts and working through feelings. It’s a lovely picture book that would work well in a classroom or as a gift.

[Jane · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sometimes adults don’t realize it but kids suffer from some of the same mental health/mindset issues as adults - worry, fear, frustration, etc. Marc Colagiovanni’s book When Things Aren’t Going Right, Go Left could help children leave behind the negative thought patterns that are holding them back.
Peter H. Reynold’s art work does a great job of illustrating to children the idea of leaving those negative thought patterns behind.
When Things Aren’t Going Right, Go Left would be a good addition to a K-12 Christian school library. The only thing that would have made it better for Christian schools would have been if the book had been written to include a reliance on God for help to leave behind the negative thoughts. The book is written for an early elementary audience but older elementary students could learn from it as well.
I received a complimentary copy of When Things Aren’t Going Right, Go Left. This is my honest review.

[Melanie Dulaney · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lawyer/writer Marc Colagiovanni pairs his encouraging words with illustrations by the gifted Peter H. Reynolds to yield a book with a positive message to be used with preschool kids and well into elementary school. We all, kids and the adults who love them, need to be reminded that we have a choice in how we respond to life’s worries, frustrations and “not right” days. This book is a reminder to deliberately go a different way and to drop the baggage that weighs us down when things go badly. Reynold’s fans will feel the added comfort of his familiar drawing style and can easily shelve this one with his books like The Dot, Ish, Happy Dreamer, Be You that always encourage readers that they are valuable just the way they are.

Thanks for sending me an arc of this beautiful book, Scholastic.

[Katie Hutchison Irion · Rating 4 out of 5]

When Things Aren’t Going Right, Go Left by Marc Colagiovanni and Peter H. Reynolds is a visual journey through the worries, anxieties, and fears that one small boy decides to unpack and leave so he can be courageous and adventurous.  The book follows this young boy as he decides to leave his worries, literally, behind.  It is a great visual representation of how worries and fears weigh us down and when we decide to leave them, their power is no longer attached to us.  I found the book to be quite illuminating, and I know my anxious 9-year-old found a lot of application to her life.  You can’t go wrong with Peter Reynolds and to add a great, stirring message to his illustrations just equals a homerun. 

[Meredith · Rating 2 out of 5]

When nothing seems to be going right, a boy decides to leave behind his worries, doubts, fears, and frustrations.

This story utilizes the pun of the word "left" as a direction and the past tense of the verb "leave."

The moral of the story is: "When life's burdens start to feel too heavy, don't be afraid to put them down for a while." It is based around the idea that the only thing one can control is how one reacts.

This book encourages readers not to let their worries, fears, doubts, and frustrations control them and shows the benefits of refusing to heed negative self-talk. While reinforcing negative emotions can cause them to grow, acknowledging them and continuing in spite of them can cause them to shrink.

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

When a young boy leaves his worries behind, and then soon, left his doubts behind as well. When he comes across a challenge his had failed before, he decides to leave his fears behind and try again, but he finds he carrying one more load - frustration. We have a choice to not carry these burdens.

Wow, I loved the message so much. It was a bit alarming when the boy splatted after a dive into a pool (he appeared to be ok). AJ and I had a nice discussion while reading this story, and the darling illustrations, which personify the burdens, make the concepts easy to explain and talk about.

cross-posted to http://kissthebookjr.blogspot.com

[Kevin McDaniel · Rating 4 out of 5]

When Things Aren't Going Right, Go Left by Marc Colagiovanni is a clever read that plays with the notions of left and right, making it a perfect choice for kids and even older students exploring the connotations of words. The book offers wise advice about not letting life's problems and doubts balloon out of control, all delivered in a lighthearted and engaging manner. The artwork by Peter H. Reynolds adds an extra layer of charm to the story. So, whether you're looking for a fun and insightful tale for young readers or seeking a creative way to teach language nuances, this book is a fantastic choice that'll have you happily heading left whenever things go awry!

[Patricia N. McLaughlin · Rating 1 out of 5]

Oh, if only the pesky reasons for homelessness and life’s other oppressive problems were so easy to leave behind. If only the agony of abandonment stung as badly as a bellyflop. If only the subtext of this morality tale about a “colored” boy lifting himself up by his nonexistent bootstraps weren’t so troubling. If only the oversimplifications in this story didn’t seem to render kids’ real problems and their feelings about them so insignificant as to fit in a box, a pillowcase, a suitcase, or a backpack. Stark illustrations depict the worries, doubts, frustrations, and fears with more empathy than the bereft, barefoot boy with the wide-eyed stare of a trauma victim.

[Marcie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book so much I took it to lunch to read to the teachers there. There is so much to love about this and the pictures are the best. I read it to the 5th graders, paired with Sonia Sotomayor's Just Ask. We had the most beautiful discussion of diversity and the many physical, mental, and emotional challenges we all face. What a great book to empower children to talk about their worries, doubts, fears, and frustrations. The best thing for me was the discussion of how important it is to pick them back up and keep them small enough so they do not become overwhelming.

[Panda Incognito · Rating 3 out of 5]

This picture book has lovely illustrations and an encouraging message about letting go of fears, worries, and frustrations so that you can try new things and have a better day. As the book ends, the main character recollects his thoughts from before and finds that his fears, worries, and frustrations are much smaller. This book will be a helpful emotional learning tool for many kids, although I wouldn't recommend this for a child suffering from an major mental health issue that they can't control.

[Julia · Rating 5 out of 5]

My supervisor at work read this to us & I immediately purchased it. Models emotional resilience and management with relatable cartoon illustrations. Reminded me of the movie “Inside Out”, but more
succinct & tender. Like a pat of encouragement on the back.
I gifted it to my college kids who are both majoring in education. Each Christmas Eve they receive a book, & it was sweet to hear it read aloud this evening. Left a good feeling in the air, like we can forge ahead through these next semesters in 2024!

[Payton Hunter · Rating 3 out of 5]

Adorable illustrations that can help students visualize their big feelings. I am a little worried about the message of just dropping your feelings and leaving them behind without really managing them. I feel this story could be better if the child took deep breaths or showed coping strategies to make his feelings smaller instead of just saying I dropped them on the ground because not many students would understand how to do that, and its not really healthy to just push emotions aside or ignore them, and for that reason I would not use this book in my classroom.

[Jane McCarville · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book! A picture book about optimism and overcoming adversity by leaving behind worries, doubts, and frustrations. When a child experiences a difficult day, they decide to "go left" by putting down their emotional burdens. This act makes them feel lighter and more capable of handling challenges, even a previously daunting high dive. The book's message is that it's okay to have negative feelings, but one can choose not to be overwhelmed by them and can always find a way forward by shifting their perspective.

[Miriam Kahn · Rating 5 out of 5]

For children of all ages with big emotions.

Author Marc Colagiovanni and illustrator Peter H Reynolds team up to create a story about emotions, frustrations, and more emotions. Amusing, funny, sad, and didactic, this slim book is perfect for reading and for starting a conversation about behavior both positive and negative.

As I read, it felt like a poem, a marching verse, and filled me with joy.

Thanks to Scholastic Books http://scholastic.com for a copy to read and review.

[Kate · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is actually something my husband says frequently. Keeping in mind that this book is
"for kids", I still feel the advice this book offers is also very relevant and helpful for adults as well.
We all need help sometimes with our fears, doubts and worries. I liked the way the author and illustrator put their advice forward with their words AND pictures. Worth reading, child or adult, period.