Feelings and emotions can be very confusing and tricky, especially for young children. They may find it hard to recognise what their feelings mean and don’t know how they should behave when they feel that way. Or they can bubble up all of a sudden and children can find it hard to recognise what those feelings and emotions are. Sharing stories about feelings just might help.
Hug – Jez Alborough
A warm, reassuring, almost wordless story with a satisfying ending. Bobo the baby chimp sees all the animals hugging their families but feels lonely himself. Finally he finds his mum – big hugs!
Age: 2+
How Do You Feel? – Anthony Browne
This book beautifully illustrates a variety of different feelings. A straightforward way to explore the way very young children are feeling.
Age: 1+
Babbity’s BIG Bad Mood – M Christina Butler and Frank Endersby
Babbity rabbit is in a bad mood and his friends do their best to cheer him up. Would be a useful book to discuss feelings with a young child.
Age: 3+
The Bad-Tempered Ladybird – Eric Carle
The bad tempered ladybird refuses to share the aphids. He meets bigger and bigger creatures, all of whom he wants to fight. He finally encounters a whale, who sends him back to the leaf with the aphids, which he now willingly shares with a friendly ladybird.
Age: 2+
Love Is My Favourite Thing – Emma Chichester Clark
Plum has lots of favourite things, but love is absolutely her very favourite. Plum loves her family and they love her, but trouble loves Plum too. Sometimes she cand help doing naughty things. Will her family still love her?
Age: 3+
Sweep – Louise Greig
Ed’s bad mood is beautifully depicted in this autumnal story. Although at the start he gets swept away he realises that it is his choice as to how he behaves.
Age 4+
A is Amazing – Wendy Cooling and Piet Grobler
An anthology of more than thirty poems from celebrated poets, all exploring feelings, moods and emotions.
Age: 5+
Grumpy Duck – Joyce Dunbar
Duck discovers that her pond is dry and then no-one will play with her. A little black cloud starts to follow her round. Will she be able to shake off her bad mood?
Age 4+
The Hippo Who Was Happy – Rachel Elliot and John Bendall-Brunello
Hippo is feeling fed up, so her mum gives her some jobs to do. During her busy day she meets new friends and, as the title suggests, comes home happy.
Age: 3+
The Tiger Who Was Angry – Rachel Elliot and John Bendall-Brunello
Tiger takes the Jungle Race very seriously and shouts at the other animals when they don’t train properly.
Age: 3+
The Zebra Who Was Sad – Rachel Elliot and John Bendall-Brunello
Zebra feels sad when his friend Giraffe moves away. Will his other friends and a letter from Giraffe make a difference?
Age: 3+
No Matter What – Debi Gliori
Small, a little fox, is in a bad mood and it makes him worried that his mum will stop loving him.
Age: 3+
I Feel Frightened – Brian Moses and Mike Gordon
Looks at emotion in story format with useful notes intended for teachers and parents to use.
Age: 4+
Turtle comes out of her shell – Sue Graves
Turtle overcomes her shyness to take part in the school talent show. There are notes at the back to help when sharing this book with a child.
Age 4+
My Mixed Emotions – Elinor Greenwood
A discussion book crammed with all sorts of emotions ending with how unique you are and to believe in a positive mindset.
Age 6+
Looking for Yesterday – Alison Jay
A young boy starts to ponder how he can go back to yesterday his best day ever! His grandfather persuades him to always look forward and never back as there is more happiness to come.
Age 6+
Dave the Lonely Monster – Anna Kemp
Dave has retired from being a monster of destruction. When a knight arrives at his cave determined to conquer him he realises that monsters have feelings too! A rhyming text perfect for sharing.
Age 3+
The Bad Mood and the Stick – Lemony Snicket
This shows how an emotion can pass from one person to the next. A different take on discussing emotions.
5+
Duck and Goose: How Are You Feeling? – Tad Hills
A look at feelings at a very simple level. The range of emotions is expressed effectively through the illustrations from hopeful and proud to loving.
Age: 2+
The Great Big Book of Feelings – Mary Hoffman and Ros Asquith
All sorts of children in lots of different circumstances respond to the question ‘How are you feeling today?’
Age: 3+
My Big Shouting Day – Rebecca Patterson
Bella is having a bad day – and it just makes her shout. Only her magic Mummy can make things better.
Age: 3+
Where The Wild Things Are – Maurice Sendak
The classic picture book about the use of imagination to control anger.
Age: 4+
I’m the Happiest – Anna Shuttlewood
All the animals want to be the best at something. Only Raccoon is happy for them all.
Age: 3+
Marvin Gets Mad! – Joseph Theobald
When Molly eats the apple that Marvin wants he gets so mad that he turns into a stamping, stomping monster. A funny story about the importance of keeping calm and not losing your temper.
Age: 3+
Anna Hibiscus’ Song – Atinuke and Lauren Tobia
Anna Hibiscus feels so happy this morning she things she might go pop! What is she going to do with all that happiness?
Age: 3+
Misery Moo – Jeanne Willis
Misery Moo is a very sad cow, even though Lamb tries lots of ways to cheer her up. A story about emotions and friendship.
Age: 5+
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