Tom Percival

From the creator of Perfectly Norman comes a sensitive and reassuring story about what to do when a worry won’t leave you alone. Meet Ruby–a happy, curious, imaginative girl. But one day, she finds something unexpected: a Worry. It’s not such a big Worry, at first. But every day, it grows a little bigger . . . And a little bigger . . . Until eventually, the Worry is ENORMOUS and is all she can think about. But when Ruby befriends a young boy, she discovers that everyone has worries, and not only that, there’s a great way to get rid of them too . . . This perceptive and poignant story is the perfect springboard for talking to children about emotional intelligence and sharing hidden anxieties.

Ruby Finds a Worry

Jennifer Adams

Alison Oliver

Step into the drama filled world of Jane Austin’s Emma: A BabyLit Emotions Primer. Your little one will learn about the meddling Emma Woodhouse, who takes it upon herself to become the village matchmaker, creating all sorts of feelings in others. Her friend’s emotions include Mr. Elton being angry, Miss Taylor becoming happy, while Jane Fairfax is tired.

Emma

Judith Viorst

Lee White

From the beloved and internationally bestselling author of Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day, Judith Viorst comes a collection of wry and witty poems that touch on every aspect of the roller-coaster ride that is childhood. Did you wake up this morning all smiley inside? Does life taste like ice cream and cake? Or does it seem more like your goldfish just died And your insides are one great big ache? From school to family to friends, from Grrrr to Hooray!, Judith Viorst takes us on a tour of feelings of all kinds in this thoughtful, funny, and charming collection of poetry that’s perfect for young readers just learning to sort out their own emotions.

What Are You Glad About? What Are You Mad About?

Shelly Becker

Eda Kaban

emotional intelligence

All kids have trouble getting a grip on their emotions, sometimes—even young superheroes! But what do they do when they’re having a bad day? Colorful action-packed illustrations and a dynamite rhyming text reveal the many ways superheroes (and ordinary children, too) can resist the super-temptation to cause a scene when they’re sad, mad, frustrated, lonely, or afraid. From burning off steam on a bike or a hike, to helping others, this energetic picture book has plenty of fun ideas to help kids cope when they’re feeling overwhelmed.

Even Superheroes Have Bad Days

Carrie Finison

Brianne Farley

generosity and giving

counting and numbers

A generous but increasingly put-upon bear makes batch after batch of doughnuts for her woodland friends without saving any for herself in this delightful debut picture book about counting, sharing, and being a good friend.

LouAnn (a bear) is making a doughnut feast in preparation for her long winter’s nap. But just before she takes the first bite, DING DONG! Her friend Woodrow (a woodchuck) drops by. LouAnn is happy to share her doughnuts, but as soon as she and Woodrow sit down to eat, DING DING! Clyde (a raccoon) is at the door. One by one, LouAnn’s friends come over–Topsy (an opossum) and then Moufette (a skunk) and then Chip and Chomp (chipmunks)–until it’s one big party. Louann welcomes her surprise guests and makes batch after batch of doughnuts, always dividing them equally among her friends. But she makes one BIG miscalculation. Soon LouAnn’s kitchen is bare, winter is near, and she’s had nothing to eat at all!

Dozens of Doughnuts

Leslie Patricelli

stuffed animal friends

facing fears

fears

Shadows, strangers, thunder and lightning! Sometimes a toy doggie gets scared. Don’t worry, Doggie, Baby is here. Baby’s toy doggie is scared of many things: shadows, swimming pools, strangers, loud noises. Boom! Good thing Baby is there to help, with a trusty blankie (which sometimes works). Baby also comforts Doggie at daycare and at the playground when Mommy steps out of their sight. But when Doggie himself goes missing, could that be too scary even for brave Baby? Leslie Patricelli gives a fearless new spin to a universal toddler experience–and offers a few suggestions for things that can help the scary go away.

Doggie Gets Scared

Anna Llenas

“This sensitive book . . . encourages young ones to open up and discuss how they feel, even when their thoughts are confusing.” —Parents  

We teach toddlers to identify colors, numbers, shapes, and letters—but what about their feelings? By illustrating such common emotions as happiness, sadness, anger, fear, and calm, this sensitive book gently encourages young children to open up with parents, teachers, and daycare providers. And kids will LOVE the bright illustrations and amazing 3-D pop-ups on every page!

The Color Monster: A Pop-Up Book of Feelings

Fran Pintadera

Ana Sender

This sensitive, poetic picture book uses metaphors and beautiful imagery to explain the reasons for our tears, making it clear that everyone is allowed to cry, and that everyone does.

In a soft voice, Mario asks, “Mother, why do we cry?” His mother thinks for a moment, and then begins to tell him about the many reasons for our tears. We cry because our sadness is so huge it must escape from our bodies. Because we don’t understand the world, and our tears go in search of an answer. Because we can’t find the right words, and our tears speak a universal language. Most important, she tells him, we cry because we feel like crying. And, as she shows him then, sometimes we feel like crying for joy.

By exploring the causes of our tears, Fran Pintadera’s thoughtful, poetic picture book story defends the right to cry and reinforces crying’s importance as a way to release our pain, to calm us and to help us grow. Though the question is asked by the boy, the illustrations of his mother’s answers feature her as a child, adding a layer of empathy to her message. Ana Sender’s artwork uses color and symbolic images along with facial expressions and body language to beautifully capture the mood and emotion being described on each spread. This warm, reassuring hug of a book provides just the response every adult would want to have to the central question. Supporting social-emotional learning, it makes an excellent choice for discussions about feelings and crying. To extend the concepts in the story, back matter describes the physical aspects and benefits of tears and provides two activities.

Why Do We Cry?

anger

Flipping from sad to mad can make for a bad day, but Baby is learning some tricks for getting the happy back. Sometimes Baby is sad. And sometimes mad, mad, MAD! Baby screams and falls to the floor, and a spectacular tantrum follows, from furious crying to the final flop. What happens when Baby wants to stop, but even hugging a beloved blankie doesn’t dissolve the cranky? Maybe a walkabout is in order, with some mindful breathing to boot? Master of toddler expression Leslie Patricelli turns the focus to feelings in a relatable episode offering some tips for helping the mad go away.

Mad, Mad, Mad

Jamie Lee Curtis

Laura Cornell

From the #1 New York Times bestselling team of Jamie Lee Curtis and Laura Cornell, authors of I’m Gonna Like Me and Where Do Balloons Go?, Today I Feel Silly helps children understand and appreciate their shifting moods.

Jamie Lee Curtis’s zany and touching verse, paired with Laura Cornell’s whimsical and original illustrations, helps kids explore, identify, and, even have fun with their ever-changing moods.

Silly, cranky, excited, or sad—everyone has moods that can change each day. And that’s okay! Follow the boisterous, bouncing protagonist as she explores her moods and how they change from day to day.

Today I Feel Silly: And Other Moods That Make My Day

Janan Cain

Feelings are neither good nor bad, they simply are. Kids need words to name their feelings, just as they need words to name all things in their world. The Way I Feel uses strong, colorful, and expressive images which go along with simple verses to help children connect the word and the emotion. Your child will learn useful words, and you will have many chances to open conversations about what’s going on in her/his life. Recommended by parents, teachers and mental health professionals, The Way I Feel is a valuable addition to anyone’s library. This book is ideal for children with autism.

The Way I Feel

Kanae Sato

Ruth Austin

This adorable book of feelings encourages babies and toddlers to explore the world around them with confidence and joy. The playful illustrations and key words introduce you and your little one to a shared language of empathy, connection, and emotional intelligence. A fun and gentle way to support early communication skills; ideal for sharing at playtime or story time.

• Features words like “surprised,” “brave,” and “loved” to give your child the language to explore emotions.
• A board book to encourage babies to explore and connect with the world around them with playfulness, confidence, and emotional intelligence
• Perfect for ages 0—2
•Gifting occasions: baby shower, new baby, early birthdays

Happy Grumpy Loved: A Little Book of Feelings

empathy

feelings and emotions

making friends

Meet a boy with feelings so big that they glow from his cheeks, spill out of his eyes, and jump up and down on his chest. When a loud truck drives by, he cries. When he hears a joke, he bursts with joy. When his loved ones are having a hard day, he feels their emotions as if they were his own. The boy tries to cope by stuffing down his feelings, but with a little help and artistic inspiration, the boy realizes his feelings are something to be celebrated. Written by debut picture book author Britney Winn Lee and boldly illustrated by Jacob Souva, The Boy with Big, Big Feelings is relatable for any child, but especially for children experiencing anxiety and extreme emotions, or who have been diagnosed with autism or as a Highly Sensitive Person.

The Boy with Big, Big Feelings

Bela Barbosa

Edel Rodriguez

mindfulness

A stunningly illustrated guide to simple affirmations for young children, building self-esteem and confidence.

When you are feeling scared of something new,  
Stand tall,  
Put your hands on your hips,  
and say:  

I Am Brave!

This brightly hand-lettered board book empowers young readers to lift themselves up! Ten relatable emotions are each followed by a centering exercise and a positive affirmation to be recited, as a practice in mindfulness. Young readers are encouraged to find their inner strength by recognizing and addressing their emotions, instilling a sense of power and self-confidence.

I Am!: Affirmations for Resilience

Lizzy Rockwell

Do you feel happy? Sad? Silly? Angry? This books helps children and parents talk about feelings! A Feelings Faces Poster is included! The playground is the perfect place to witness a wide range of emotions. A girl is happy when playing with a puppy. Another girl is angry when a boy knocks over her drink. And the boy is sorry. Readers learn to identify feelings in themselves and in others in this simple, but clever book by a prominent preschool nonfiction author-illustrator. Beautiful, detailed spreads show panoramic views, while close-ups focus on specific incidents, body language, and facial expressions. The art provides many opportunities for meaningful conversation and solid learning. Backing the book jacket is a Feelings Faces poster.

How Do You Feel?

Kelly Hill

A must-have board book for Anne of Green Gables fans, with charming, hand-embroidered illustrations. Iconic moments from the beloved L.M. Montgomery classic are celebrated in this adorable concept book. Artist Kelly Hill creates vignettes that showcase Anne’s wide array of feelings, including happy, brave and, of course, the depths of despair. Each feeling is brought to life through a memorable Anne scene, with simple text and tactile, gorgeous works of art created from cut fabric and embroidery. Part of a series of Anne concept books, Anne’s Feelings is a perfect way to introduce future fans to this winning character.

Anne's Feelings

Karen Kaufman Orloff

Ziyue Chen

“Some days are chocolate pudding pie days. Kites up in the sky days. Jumping super high days.” This rhyming picture book–from the author of the bestselling I Wanna Iguana series and Miles of Smiles–is a moving, powerful, delightful exploration of a child’s shifting feelings. Come along and follow a year in the life of a young boy and girl as they discover their many different and ever-changing emotions, including joy, fear, anger, jealousy, excitement, pride, disappointment, loneliness, and contentment. As children read about “angels in the snow days” as well as “need my mommy now days,” they’ll begin to understand how to cope with both positive and negative feelings.

Some Days

Michael Dahl

Oriol Vidal

Little Monkey is having a bad day. After a major melt down, he goes to his room and uses some coping techniques to calm down.

Little Monkey Calms Down

Diane Alber

A Little SPOT of Anger:A Story About Managing BIG Emotions

From the letter A to the letter Z, B is for Breathe celebrates the many ways children can express their feelings and develop coping skills at an early age. Fun, cute, and exciting illustrations, this colorful book teaches kids simple ways to cope with fussy and frustrating emotions. This book will inspire kids to discuss their feelings, show positive behaviors, and practice calm down strategies.

B is for Breathe: The ABCs of Coping with Fussy and Frustrating Feelings

Julia Cook

(Grades 2-5) Anxiety is a subjective sense of worry, apprehension, and/or fear. It is considered to be the number one health problem in America. Although quite common, anxiety disorders in children are often misdiagnosed and overlooked.  Everyone feels fear, worry and apprehension from time to time, but when these feelings prevent a person from doing what he/she wants and/or needs to do, anxiety becomes a disability.  This fun and humorous book addresses the problem of anxiety in a way that relates to children of all ages. It offers creative strategies for parents and teachers to use that can lessen the severity of anxiety.The goal of the book is to give children the tools needed to feel more in control of their anxiety. For those worries that are not in anyone’s control (i.e. the weather, ) a worry hat is introduced. A fun read for Wilmas of all ages! Softcover, 32 pages.

Wilma Jean the Worry Machine

Help children understand their emotions, build empathy, and learn the words they need to express themselves.

A little book about BIG feelings. 

Aah, the sloth is feeling relaxed. Wow! The panda is surprised. Sometimes the mouse feels sad. Every day brings a different set of emotions for us to recognize and process, but young children often have a hard time connecting their emotions with the words they need to describe them. Featuring animal characters that are associated with 24 different emotions, Happy Puppy, Angry Tiger helps toddlers develop empathy and compassion by connecting with their own emotional experiences. This book is an invaluable resource to start building emotional intelligence at an early age.

Top 10 Emotional Intelligence Books

Emotional Intelligence