School Library Journal Best Books of the Year (2022)

How to face your heart

Llewelyn loved scary books and horror movies, but he hated being scared.
So, we try hard to hide our fear, but the more we do, the more it grows.
Llewelyn bottles his fears and locks them away deep, deep inside.
Now I'm over my fears.
Then it really seemed like the fear was gone.
Llewelyn came up with a way to 'bottle' his feelings and his heart.
The author demonstrates the importance of processing invisible emotions in a way that children can intuitively relate to.
Are you perhaps ignoring my feelings or repressing them deep within? Take a moment to quietly encounter "my heart."
Because facing your heart is the first step to emotional training.

A journey of the mind to find a 'happy me'

Llewelyn, who had been suppressing all his feelings by putting them in bottles, pushed the bottles in with all his might and they all broke.
But when all the suppressed emotions disappeared, something unexpected happened.
Llewelyn, who had been feeling nothing for a while, felt happy and sad, excited and worried at the same time.
More than anything, I felt relieved.
Now, when Llewellyn is ready, he looks at each emotion, calls out its name, hugs it tightly, and then lets it go.
Llewelyn knew that letting go of one's emotions added beauty, color, and depth to life.


Author's Note

Emotions can be overwhelming, confusing, and uncontrollable at times, but they are not the enemy we must fight.
So, take heart and be courageous.
If you don't suppress your emotions but let them flow freely from the bottle that holds your heart, your life will become more beautiful, colorful, and profound.

Translator's Note

"Bottle with Heart" talks about the emotions we feel.
Emotions are a natural part of human nature, yet we consider it immature to be honest about our emotions, and we believe that knowing how to hide our true feelings is what makes us mature.
But suppressed emotions eventually become pain.
When we want to be free from any emotion that dominates our thoughts and lives, the first step is to accept, understand, and express our emotions as they are.
There are no unnecessary or useless emotions in the world.
Emotion regulation is about becoming familiar with our emotions, and only when we clearly face them can we bring a variety of colors to our lives.