The ABCs of My Feelings and Music, Edgar/Bohm

Authors: Scott & Stephanie Edgar 
Illustrator: Nancy Sosna Bohm 
Format: Hardcover, 32 pages 
Publisher: GIA Publications (2021) 
ISBN: 9781622774623 

Music and art can help us feel and express deep emotions. We can be happy or sad, but that is only the beginning. This beautiful book explores the powerful link between art, music and emotion, and is ideal for deepening Social Emotional Learning (SEL) and building a fuller emotional vocabulary. 

Built on the principles of SEL, each page of The ABCs of My Feelings and Music offers an emotion word in a piece of colorful artwork, one for each letter of the alphabet. Below each illustration are three classical music suggestions to listen to while observing the art. Use the questions provided and a link to playlists to help unpack what children are seeing and feeling. The questions can also jumpstart meaningful discussions about how art and music can affect and help us express our emotions. We hope this book helps you and your children and students expand their emotional vocabulary, have meaningful discussions about emotions and think more deeply about how music and art makes us feel! 

About Scott N. Edgar: 

Scott N. Edgar is Associate Professor of Music, Music Education Chair and Director of Bands at Lake Forest College. Dr. Edgar is the author of Music Education and Social Emotional Learning: The Heart of Teaching Music and is an internationally sought-after clinician on Social Emotional Learning and music education. 

About Stephanie Edgar: 

Stephanie Edgar is an active choral singer, performing with the Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra Chorus, the University Musical Society Choral Union (Ann Arbor, Michigan) and the Chicago-based Peregrine Vocal Ensemble. Stephanie works as Coordinator of the Center for Academic Success at Lake Forest College in Illinois. 

About Nancy Sosna Bohm: 

Nancy Sosna Bohm is a retired academic librarian and lifelong artist with experience in a variety of media, styles, and subjects.