Sometimes I Get Stuck: A "Sunday Spotlight" Children's Book Review

It’s time for “Sunday Spotlight”, where I highlight a children’s book that I genuinely love, sharing my perspective as both a mom and a counselor. You’ll find an honest review, along with simple and meaningful ways to weave social-emotional learning (SEL) into story time, whether you’re reading at home, in a counseling office, or in a classroom.

At the end of each post, I include a link to purchase the book if you’re interested. These are affiliate links, but there is never any pressure to purchase. Clicking and buying through them does not add any extra cost to you or affect the author; it’s simply one optional way to support this blog.

This Week’s First: Sometimes I Get Stuck, written by Bursey Twin Stories and illustrated by Enakshi Goswami

Sometimes I get stuck, and so do kids.

This book came recommended by one of last week’s featured authors, and I’m so grateful she shared it. From the very first read, it was clear that the Bursey Twins’ intention behind their work aligns beautifully with one of the core goals of this Sunday Spotlight series: highlighting stories that deliver social-emotional learning messages in ways that are accessible, relatable, and empowering for kids.

About This Story

In this playful and thoughtful story, we first meet the main character getting stuck in very literal, physical ways, in mud, gum, glue, and other sticky situations that many children will instantly recognize. These moments open the door to problem-solving: trying new strategies, thinking creatively, and learning when it’s okay (and important) to ask for help from others.

As the story unfolds, the idea of being “stuck” gently shifts into more emotional and cognitive experiences, such as feeling overwhelmed, having trouble finding something, or facing tasks that feel too hard. Here, the character learns that planning ahead, practicing gratitude, staying organized, using positive self-talk, and making thoughtful choices can help move them forward.

Finally, the book explores what it means to feel stuck in big emotions, anger, crankiness, sadness, or moments of harsh self-talk. The character models skills like expressing gratitude, letting go of hurt feelings, repairing mistakes, offering kindness to others and to themselves, and holding onto hope as tools for getting unstuck emotionally.

Throughout the story, one message remains clear and reassuring: feeling stuck is temporary, and there are always tools and supports available to help us through it.

A Note on the Illustrations

The illustrations by Enakshi Goswami are bright, expressive, and full of movement. They do a wonderful job of conveying both the physical chaos and emotional shifts the character experiences. The playful style helps children feel connected to the story, while the vibrant colors and clear emotional cues make it especially engaging for young readers.

From a Counselor’s Chair: Social-Emotional Learning Connections

From a social-emotional learning perspective, this book is an absolute goldmine. Each scenario naturally lends itself to discussion, reflection, and skill-building. Because the concept of “being stuck” is so universal, children can connect to the story in deeply personal ways, whether they’re struggling with frustration, overwhelm, transitions, or self-esteem.

This is the kind of book that can be used again and again across different settings and developmental stages, with each reread offering something new.

Ways to Expand Social-Emotional Learning with Sometimes I Feel Stuck

Here are several simple, effective ways to extend learning and support social-emotional development using this book:

1. “Stuck or Unstuck?” Sorting Activity

   After reading, have children identify moments in the story where the character felt stuck and what helped them become unstuck. Extend this by letting children share their own examples.

2. Problem-Solving Brainstorm

   Pause during the physical “stuck” scenes and ask, “What could we try next?” This encourages flexible thinking and collaborative problem-solving.

3. Feelings Check-In

   Use the emotional scenarios to help children name feelings and notice where they feel them in their bodies. Pair this with coping strategies modeled in the book.

4. Positive Self-Talk Practice

   Identify moments when the character is stuck in unkind thoughts. Practice turning those thoughts into kinder, more helpful statements together.

5. My Get-Unstuck Toolbox

   Have children create a simple drawing or list of tools that help them when they feel stuck, people they can ask for help, calming strategies, or words that give them hope.

If you need more ideas, reach out to me!

Final Thoughts

Sometimes I Get Stuck is one of those books that feels both comforting and empowering. It normalizes struggle without minimizing it and reminds children that they are capable of moving through hard moments with support, skills, and kindness toward themselves.

As a counselor, I appreciate how clearly the coping strategies are modeled without coming across as preachy. As a parent, I love how relatable and reassuring the message is. This is a book I can easily see becoming a favorite in homes, classrooms, and counseling spaces alike.

If you’re looking for a story that gently builds resilience while honoring big feelings, this one is well worth adding to your collection.

Want to See a Book Featured?

For “Sunday Spotlight”, my goal is to review 1–3 children’s books each week. If you have a book you’d love to see featured, are a children’s book author yourself, or know an author who might enjoy having their story reviewed, I’d love to hear from you.

Feel free to reach out anytime at guidedbygiggles@gmail.com 💛

Let’s keep celebrating stories that help kids grow, one giggle (and page) at a time.

Click the picture to grab your copy of Sometimes I Get Stuck.