https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DFWXZ5Q4/
Author Interview: Questions for Jomo Jesus Thomas Suriel
about The Angry Vacuum: Sid the Super Happy Kid and Laura The Emotions
Explorer (Emotional Intelligence Series Book 2)
I was
inspired to have something different rather than a person as a villain, I
wanted to make sure that kids would have something fun to see an AI
robotic vacuum that turns good into bad as a result of anger. I decided to
have an angry robot vacuum because
it would be able to visually suck up a lot of emotions.
Can you share how Sid and Laura's ability to manage emotions helps them in their space adventure?
Emotional Intelligence is their superpower
to be able to control, change and transform emotions as well help other
kids. Emotional Intelligence as a
skill is needed by many children to help them control their emotions. I do
my best to explain coping strategies that help control emotions such as
breathing, going into a calm
space/environment, counting to 10, and giving yourself a self-hug.
What
challenges did you face while blending STEM elements with emotional
intelligence in your story?
I did
my best to incorporate gadgets that are used by both the superheroes and
the school children to show how important STEM elements are for learning
and the future.
How do
you think your book helps children understand their own emotions?
My books explain a lot about emotions
and situations where children confront anger, rage and emotional
meltdowns. These emotions are
natural and children have to understand how to manage them and control
them. An example that I use in the
book for children to stop, take a deep breath, think about your actions,
go into a safe space and count to 5 or 10.
What's the key message you hope young readers take away from The Angry Vacuum?
I hope that kids learn how to control their
emotions better and communicate how they feel with knowing that they can
resolve their issues without exploding or flipping their lid.
Why did you choose a space adventure for Sid and Laura's journey in this book?
I am interested in space and space
exploration. I like learning about
planets and stars.
In the
story, the vacuum gets stronger with every positive emotion it consumes;
what led you to this concept?
The vacuums are known to suck up
stuff. I made the angry vacuum be
able to suck up all emotions, including good emotions as well as bad
emotions. I realized that only calmness
and space away from the vacuum
would prevent the vacuum from sucking up emotions.
How do interactive elements in the book engage young readers?
It helps
kids stay active and that makes them want to learn more and be more
receptive to being taught new things.
Can you tell us more about the emotional growth tools that Sid and Laura use?
Sid and Laura realize how to use skills such as taking deep breaths
to calm down their own emotions.
They think positive and have positive self-talk and they also know
how to share and work together.
What
are your future plans for the Emotional Intelligence series—any sneak
peeks you can share?
I am going to
share with you my thoughts about Critical Critters that seem spooky and
scary to help children understand the power of positive self-talk and
mindful mantras. The Critical
Critters will be available before Halloween but this is more than just
about scary critters from Halloween. The Critical Critters don’t just live on the outside but also can
live on the inside in our brains and how we can use positive thoughts to
transform how we feel and tame negative emotions.