Give Kids the Tools They Need to Control Their Emotions. Allison Edwards' How to Crack Your Peanut helps kids understand why they sometimes lose control and make bad decisions. When kids learn how the brain works, they can begin to listen to their bodies and control their emotions. Diego doesn't understand why he always seems to lose his temper and lash out at people. He begins to feel like something is wrong with him and wonders if he is a bad kid...