Feelings Picture Books for Preschoolers and Early Elementary Children

When Sophie Gets Angry--really, Really Angry...

Bang, Molly.

Happy

Hout, Mies van.

Dive into this book and be swept along with some remarkable fish; from curious to sad; from shy to proud; and from angry to happy"--Back cover.

A Kiss Means I Love You

Allen, Kathryn Madeline.

Explores the meanings of different actions, expressions, words, and sounds, from a kiss and a clap to a wave and a yawn.

Maya Was Grumpy

Pippin-Mathur, Courtney.

Maya doesn't know why she's grumpy. She's just in a cranky, grumpy, grouchy mood. Luckily, Gramma isn't ruffled by Maya's mood. She reminds Maya of all the fun things she might miss out on because of her grumpiness. Will Gramma's silly suggestions coax Maya out of her miserable mood?

My Blue Is Happy

Young, Jessica

Invites readers to explore the infinite possibilities of emotional expression through color, discussing how people respond differently when seeing colors and how these experiences help broaden the world in wonderful new ways.

Pete The Cat And His Magic Sunglasses

Dean, James

Pete the Cat wakes up feeling grumpy--nothing seems to be going his way. But with the help of some magic sunglasses, Pete learns that a good mood has been inside him all along"--

In My Heart

Witek, Jo

A young girl explores what different emotions feel like, such as happiness which makes her want to twirl, or sadness which feels as heavy as an elephant.

Show Me Happy

Allen, Kathryn Madeline.

Explores simple actions and concepts that children learn as they start to socialize and communicate"--

When Sophie's Feelings Are Really, Really Hurt

Bang, Molly.

Sophie is hurt when the other children laugh at her painting of her favorite tree--but when she explains her painting everybody understands what she was trying to do.

The Class

Ashburn, Boni

Twenty young students, some eager, some nervous, some grumpy, prepare for their very first day of kindergarten"--

I Am (not) Scared

Kang, Anna

Two fuzzy creatures go to an amusement park and discover that being frightened may not be as scary as one thinks.

Niko Draws A Feeling

Raczka, Bob

No one understands the abstract pictures that Niko draws until a new friend sees the thought and feeling within his shapes and forms"--

Places To Be

Barnett, Mac

We have so many places to be! Places to be loud and lovely and scared and jubilant. With an elegant simplicity, this picture book celebrates all our wide-ranging emotionsand the adventures that await us each day." --

Big Hid

Swales, Roisin

Big and Little are the very best of friends. They do everything together! That is until one day, when Big suddenly hides away inside his shell . . . Little tries every method to get Big to come out and play again—he bakes him his favorite cake, he even asks all of his friends for help—but nothing seems to be working! What could possibly be wrong?

The Bad Mood And The Stick

Snicket, Lemony

Curly's bad mood travels from person to person, unexpectedly leaving opportunities for forgiveness, laughter, and love in its wake.

When Sophie Thinks She Can't...

Bang, Molly

Sophie is discourgaged because she always struggles with math and puzzles--until her teacher shows her the hidden value of "try" and "yet.

The Rabbit Listened

Doerrfeld, Cori

When Taylor's block castle is destroyed, all the animals think they know just what to do, but only the rabbit quietly listens to how Taylor is feeling"--

Crunch, The Shy Dinosaur

Dunlap, Cirocco

Advises the reader on how to interact with a very shy dinosaur.

Grumpy Monkey

Lang, Suzanne

Jim Panzee wakes up in a bad mood one beautiful day, but he keeps denying he is grumpy even as his friends give advice for feeling better.

I Feel Teal

Rille, Lauren

Encourages the reader to enjoy all of the colors, representing feelings, that may be experienced in the course of a day.

The Color Monster

Llenas, Anna

Emotions, including happiness, sadness, anger, fear, and calm, are described through the actions of a monster sorting them out.

Me And My Fear

Sanna, Francesca

When a young girl has to move countries and start at a new school, her fear tells her to be alone and afraid. How can she hope to make friends if she doesn't understand anyone? Surely no one else feels the same way.

When Sadness Is At Your Door

Eland, Eva

A comforting primer in emotional literacy and mindfulness that suggests we approach the feeling of sadness as if it is our guest. Sadness can be scary and confusing at any age! When we feel sad, especially for long periods of time, it can seem as if the sadness is a part of who we are--an overwhelming, invisible, and scary sensation. In When Sadness Is at Your Door, Eva Eland brilliantly approaches this feeling as if it is a visitor. She gives it a shape and a face, and encourages the reader to give it a name, all of which helps to demystify it and distinguish it from ourselves. She suggests activities to do with it, like sitting quietly, drawing, and going outside for a walk.

I'm Sad

Black, Michael Ian

Flamingo learns that it is okay to be sad sometimes and that her friends, the little girl and Potato, will stand by her no matter how she feels.

When You Are Brave

Miller, Pat Zietlow

Relates how to find your courage and use it when life seems frightening or you start something new.

Angry Cookie

Dockrill, Laura

Cookie has woken up on the wrong side of the bed and is very angry. You want to know why? Well, you'd have to keep reading to find out, but now Cookie's calling you annoying and telling you to mind your own business. If by chance you do stick around, you might hear about a certain roommate's terrible musical skills, why you should never let your barber try out a "new look," how it's impossible to find a hat that fits a cookie, and why an ice-cream parlor that's out of your favorite treat can be a source of desolation. Then there's the matter of a hungry bird who tries to snack on you. . . . Propelled by quirky humor and woes that every young child can relate to, Angry Cookie suggests that sometimes the best way to cheer up a grumpy lump is simply by being there -- and lending your ears."--Amazon.

What Am I Feeling?

Straub, Joshua

Cookie has woken up on the wrong side of the bed and is very angry. You want to know why? Well, you'd have to keep reading to find out, but now Cookie's calling you annoying and telling you to mind your own business. If by chance you do stick around, you might hear about a certain roommate's terrible musical skills, why you should never let your barber try out a "new look," how it's impossible to find a hat that fits a cookie, and why an ice-cream parlor that's out of your favorite treat can be a source of desolation. Then there's the matter of a hungry bird who tries to snack on you. . . . Propelled by quirky humor and woes that every young child can relate to, Angry Cookie suggests that sometimes the best way to cheer up a grumpy lump is simply by being there -- and lending your ears."--Amazon.

The Unbudgeable Curmudgeon

Burgess, Matthew

Have you ever seen a curmudgeon that looks like your brother, but is in such a bad mood you hardly recognize him? You can try all the peanut butter sandwiches and brownies you have, but he is not moving. Nothing works, especially nudging, and he just makes you so grumpy that eventually you have no choice but to fight back--and then... Have you ever become a curmudgeon that just won't budge?"--Amazon.

Nope! Never! Not For Me!

Cotterill, Samantha

A young child refuses to try a bite of broccoli until her mom guides her through a careful exploration of the new food"--

Grumpy Duck

Dunbar, Joyce.

Duck is grumpy in light of the fact that the pond is dry and when she complains to her friends, they each welcome her to play with them.

The Many Colors Of Harpreet Singh

Kelkar, Supriya

Harpreet Singh has a different color for every mood and occasion, from pink for dancing to bhangra beats to red for courage. He especially takes care with his patka--his turban--smoothing it out and making sure it always matches his outfit. But when Harpreet's mom finds a new job in a snowy city and they have to move, all he wants is to be invisible. Will he ever feel a happy sunny yellow again?"--Amazon.com.

Kevin The Unicorn

Von Innerebner, Jessika

Even sparkly unicorns that are filled with magical awesomeness and bring glitter and happiness to everything around them can have a bad day.

This Beach Is Loud!

Cotterill, Samantha

A sensitive boy gets overwhelmed by all the sights, sounds, and sensations at the beach, but his dad has a trick to help his son face these unexpected obstacles"--

The Happy Book

Rash, Andy

Best friends Camper and Clam work through their feelings"--

Soaked!

Cushman, Abi

A hula-hooping moose, a badger with a bumblebee umbrella and a rabbit in a cashmere sweater, show their grumpy bear friend that a day of fun does not have to depend on sunshine and blue skies.

Swift Fox All Along

Thomas, Rebecca

What does it mean to be Mi'kmaq? And if Swift Fox can't find the answer, will she ever feel like part of her family? When Swift Fox's father picks her up to go visit her aunties, uncles, and cousins, her belly is already full of butterflies. And when he tells her that today is the day that she'll learn how to be Mi'kmaq, the butterflies grow even bigger. Though her father reassures her that Mi'kmaq is who she is from her eyes to her toes, Swift Fox doesn't understand what that means. Her family welcomes her with smiles and hugs, but when it's time to smudge and everyone else knows how, Swift Fox feels even more like she doesn't belong. Then she meets her cousin Sully and realizes that she's not the only one who's unsure--and she may even be the one to teach him something about what being Mi'kmaq means. Based on the author's own experience, with striking illustrations by Maya McKibbin, Swift Fox All Along is a poignant story about identity and belonging that is at once personal and universally resonant."--

The Boring Book

Yoshitake, Shinsuke

A child, bored by his toys, contemplates the emotion and concept of boredom, and whether or not it is boring to be an adult--or a child.

The Big Bad Wolf In My House

Fontaine, Valérie

The young girl tells us that her mom's new friend is just like the big bad wolf. At first the wolf is sweet and kind to her mom, though the girl notices the wolf's cold eyes from the very beginning. When her mom arrives home late one day, the wolf suddenly hurls angry words and terrible names at her. From that day on her mother doesn't smile anymore. The girl is careful to clean her room and brush her teeth and do everything to keep the peace, but the wolf is unpredictable, throwing plates on the floor, yelling at her mother and holding the girl's arm so tightly she is left with bruises. Whenever the yelling begins, she hides under the covers in her room. How will she and her mom cope as the wolf becomes increasingly fierce? Valérie Fontaine and Nathalie Dion have created a powerful, moving story about violence in the home that ends on a note of hope." --

Home Is In Between

Perkins, Mitali

Immigrating to America, a young girl navigates between her family's Bengali traditions and her new country's culture.

My Monster And Me

Hussain, Nadiya.

A touching story about a little boy whose worry monster follows him everywhere he goes. It's there when he gets dressed, when he wants to play with his toys, and even when his friends come over to visit. How can he escape his worries?"--

Can I Play Too?

Cotterill, Samantha

A young boy building a train track with his friend is headed for trouble until a teacher steps in and helps him learn social cues of anger and happiness"--

Tears

Delacroix, Sibylle.

Tears come in many forms. They can be big, small, heavy, fast, slow, quiet, and loud. They come from small kids, big kids, adults, and even scaly-skinned crocodiles. This book offers a compassionate way for kids to self-reflect on the different reasons they cry, stripping away stigma and shame, which stems from the association between crying and weakness. It sheds light on how tears make you stronger. It gently asks kids to check in on the emotions behind their tears (physical or emotional hurt, feeling overwhelmed, feeling lonely or crowded, from wanting attention or needing to escape attention). Ultimately, it is an ode to crying as a means of expressing what's going on inside, healing, and knowing when the tears have done their job--preparing kids for new adventures, rather than holding them back (which is shown on the final spread - "After we shed one tear, two tears, every tear we hold inside... we feel lighter, ready for new adventures."--

Bear Can't Wait

Wilson, Karma

As final preparations are being made for a long-planned surprise party, Bear gets so excited he nearly ruins everything.

It Was Supposed To Be Sunny

Cotterill, Samantha

Laila's birthday party, perfectly planned with her autism in mind, goes awry due to a change in weather and an accident with her cake, but with the help of her mom and her service dog, Laila knows she can handle this"--

Kalamata's Kitchen

Thomas, Sarah

Laila's birthday party, perfectly planned with her autism in mind, goes awry due to a change in weather and an accident with her cake, but with the help of her mom and her service dog, Laila knows she can handle this"--

Small Knight And The Anxiety Monster

Kasha, Manka

Small Knight would rather go on adventures with their best friend, Tiny Bear, than learn to be a perfect princess, but worrying about telling their parents creates a dreadful monster.