Mad at Dad - Hardcover

by Janie Hao (Author), Janie Hao (Illustrator)

A one-of-a-kind, lift-the-flap picture book about some very big feelings.

When a girl gets SO MAD at her dad, she starts to storm around and slam doors, but soon realizes she doesn't really like being mad. She tries everything she can think of to be less mad. Counting. Taking deep breaths. Drawing some pictures. But it is so hard to NOT be mad! A long day of being mad really wears the girl out, though, and that makes her sad. And, strangely enough, when the girl is sad, her dad is pretty good at making her feel better!

Author-illustrator Janie Hao uses a unique interactive approach to explore the topic of anger in this engaging picture book. The lift-the-flap format allows the spreads to expand, making them big enough to contain the full size and many shapes of the girl's feelings. Hao uses bold images such as lightning bolts, squiggly lines and spirals; large, emphatic thick type; and the girl's expressive body and face to make the energy and depth of her feelings jump off the pages. The universally relatable topic is approached in a simple, yet impactful, way, and the child-centered narrative is sure to make this a favorite read-aloud. This book supports emotional intelligence in young children by validating their feelings, offers specific strategies for how to identify and manage anger in healthy ways, and portrays a positive parent-child relationship.

Author Biography

Janie Hao is a fun-loving, media-playing, idea-generating illustrator currently living in Toronto, though she has lived all over Canada. When she is not drawing, Janie enjoys devising stories and puns to amuse (or dismay) her loved ones. She holds a degree in illustration from Sheridan College and was among the winners of both the AI-AP International Motion Art Awards 8 and the Applied Arts Student Awards 2020. Her debut picture book, Mad at Dad, which she wrote and illustrated, was the winner of the 2025 CBC Kids Read competition.