Hazel and the Really Bad Day: A Story About Big Feelings and Changing Plans

By Jerry Melton

Hazel has planned the perfect picnic ride to Sunshine Meadow. She and her friends Charlotte, Nathan, and Mackenzie are excited to spend the day together, and Hazel is sure everything will go exactly as she imagined. But one small problem after another begins to pile up. Mackenzie accidentally splashes Hazel with mud, a fallen branch blocks the quickest road, a strong gust carries the picnic blanket away, and then the rain begins to fall.

By the time another raindrop lands right on her face, Hazel has had enough. Frustrated and overwhelmed, she rolls away from the group and declares that it is a really bad day. When Moss finds her beside the trail, he gently reminds Hazel that she does not have to fix everything at once. She can stop, take a slow breath, say how she feels, and choose one small thing to do next.

With support from her friends, Hazel discovers that disappointment is something everyone feels and that changing the plan does not mean the whole day is ruined. Together, the friends create a new picnic inside Hazel's Garage, where Hazel realizes that an unexpected day can still hold a good moment.

Hazel and the Really Bad Day is a warm, reassuring picture book about emotional regulation, handling disappointment, accepting changed plans, and communicating difficult feelings. Through a gentle story and lovable motorcycle characters, young readers are encouraged to pause, breathe, ask for support, and make a thoughtful next choice when life does not go the way they hoped.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: B0HD2MH1W6
• ISBN13: 9798349520945
• Release Date: August 2026
• Publisher: Jerry Melton
• Length: 30 Pages
• Weight: 0.20 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.1" x 8.5" x 8.5"
• Age Range: 3 to 8 years
• Grade Range: Preschool to Grade 3