Raising emotionally intelligent children is crucial, and what better way to help young ones understand and express their feelings than through storytelling? Children’s books about emotions can provide the language needed for kids to articulate their own feelings and learn empathy for others.
Here's a curated list of some wonderful books that parents, educators, and caregivers can use as tools to help children navigate the complex world of emotions.
1. "A Little Spot of Emotion" by Diane Alber
This series includes books that introduce children to various emotions such as happiness, sadness, anger, anxiety, and more. Each book focuses on a "spot" character that embodies an emotion, offering strategies to manage them effectively. These books are great for sparking discussions about emotional regulation.
2. "In My Heart: A Book of Feelings" by Jo Witek
This beautifully illustrated book explores a wide range of emotions, from happiness to sadness, bravery to fear, and everything in between. Each emotion is depicted in a whimsical and thoughtful way, encouraging children to both accept and express how they feel.
Each page of this book introduces different emotions, accompanied by poetic text and charming illustrations. This interactive book includes lift-the-flap features that reveal thoughtful questions about each feeling, encouraging children to think and talk about their own emotions.
4. "When Sophie Gets Angry—Really, Really Angry…" by Molly Bang
This book deals with anger, a sometimes difficult emotion for children to manage. Sophie gets angry and runs away, but eventually, she finds a way to calm down and come back home. It’s a great story for discussing coping mechanisms and the fact that it’s okay to feel angry sometimes.
5. "How Are You Peeling? Foods with Moods" by Saxton Freymann and Joost Elffers
Using a delightful and creative approach, this book features photographs of fruits and vegetables carved into various expressions to explore emotions. This playful book can help children identify and articulate their feelings in a fun and engaging way.
- Story by Josefina Loza, read more about her by clicking here.