"Cocca-Leffler's friendly mixed-media illustrations telegraph each child's emotions clearly, and her story underscores the idea that good and bad moods aren't mutually exclusive."—Publishers Weekly
"The situations his classmates describe are all easily relatable for preschoolers, and the bold, playful illustrations make the moods recognizable and the characters distinct."—Foreword Reviews
"It's refreshing to see that his classmates are supportive and help him to understand that mixed emotions are part of being a big brother. It's also refreshing that the children are encouraged to express their feelings, both positive and negative."—School Library Journal
"Both the text and the bright, expressive illustrations focus squarely on Theo and his friends, with a developmentally appropriate, low priority on the baby…Cocca-Leffler once again demonstrates her understanding of small children and the complexities of their emotions."—Kirkus Reviews
"The new-brother storyline adds a nice framework to the typical grocery list of feelings, and the storyline helpfully results in each mood's getting more than one possible motivation."—The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books
The Best Children's Books of the Year 2014, Bank Street College