Doodlebark
Books are one of the easiest ways to talk about feelings with little kids. When it’s a character who’s mad or scared, kids can talk about it without feeling like they’re in trouble. Here are 12 well-loved picture books that help.
For naming feelings
- The Color Monster by Anna Llenas. A monster’s feelings are all mixed up, and a little girl helps sort them by color. Great for toddlers and preschoolers.
- In My Heart: A Book of Feelings by Jo Witek. Simple, sweet descriptions of what feelings feel like inside.
- The Way I Feel by Janan Cain. Bright pictures and short rhymes for lots of different feelings.
For anger
- When Sophie Gets Angry, Really, Really Angry by Molly Bang. Sophie runs outside, cools down in nature and comes back calm.
- Grumpy Monkey by Suzanne Lang. Jim is grumpy and doesn’t know why. It’s funny, and it shows that it’s okay to have a grumpy day.
For worry and fear
- Ruby Finds a Worry by Tom Percival. Ruby’s worry grows bigger and bigger until she talks about it.
- Wemberly Worried by Kevin Henkes. A little mouse who worries about everything, especially starting school.
- Llama Llama Red Pajama by Anna Dewdney. A bedtime classic for kids who feel scared when the lights go out.
For sadness and missing someone
- The Invisible String by Patrice Karst. We’re all connected by a string of love, even when we’re apart.
- The Rabbit Listened by Cori Doerrfeld. When something sad happens, the rabbit just listens. A good one for grown-ups too.
For new and nervous moments
- The Kissing Hand by Audrey Penn. A classic for the first day of school or any time apart.
- Llama Llama Misses Mama by Anna Dewdney. Llama’s first day at preschool and all the feelings that come with it.
How to read feelings books together
- Pause and ask. “How do you think she feels right now? Have you ever felt like that?”
- Point to the faces. Little kids learn a lot from looking at faces in the pictures.
- Read them on calm days. Kids take in the lesson better when they’re not in the middle of a big feeling.
- Read them again. Kids love repeats, and every read is more practice.
Penny’s feelings stories
Our own Penny Stories are short, printable picture books about the same big moments. Penny’s Big Mad is about anger, and Penny’s Big Worry is about worries at bedtime. Each one comes with a printable activity to use after the story.
Questions parents ask
What age are feelings books good for?
Simple ones like The Color Monster work for toddlers, and most of the books on this list are great for ages 3 to 7.
How do I use books to talk about feelings?
Pause and ask how a character feels, point to faces in the pictures and read the books on calm days, so kids can take in the lesson.
What’s a good book for a child who worries?
Ruby Finds a Worry and Wemberly Worried are two well-loved picks, and our own Penny’s Big Worry comes with a worry box activity.