Honest, Gentle Stories That Make Talking About Feelings Easier
Kids have feelings. Big ones. Loud ones. Confusing ones.
And somehow they manage to have all of them before breakfast.
Books about emotions help turn those overwhelming moments into something manageable. A story can name a feeling, normalize it, and open the door to conversations kids don’t yet have the words for. This list focuses on picture books about emotions for kids that are thoughtful, age-appropriate, and genuinely helpful — not preachy, not overwhelming, and definitely not pretending kids are calm all the time.
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Raising Beau: A Puppy’s Journey by Michael Slupski
A heartwarming puppy picture book about courage, kindness, family, and belonging. Raising Beau: A Puppy’s Journey follows a young dog as he learns new skills, makes mistakes, builds confidence, and…
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Who Do You See? by Rebecca Winkler
A heartfelt picture book that helps children build self-worth, confidence, and a positive self-image. Through a gentle story about looking beyond the mirror, Who Do You See? encourages young readers…
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Catch of the Day by Dina M. Hardt
A touching children’s book about a young boy fishing on his own for the first time while remembering his grandfather’s lessons about patience, perseverance, and faith. Catch of the Day…
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Family Kisses by Caitlin Roeder
A warm picture book set during Chinese New Year that explores family traditions, personal boundaries, and consent in an age-appropriate way. Through Mei-Li’s story, young readers learn that it’s possible…
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BeBe the Not-So-Brave Butterfly by Kimberly Robinson
When BeBe wakes up with butterfly wings, she isn’t sure she’s ready for such a big change. This gentle picture book explores anxiety, self-trust, and finding courage one small step…
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Fun with a Monster by Ann Fleming
Fun with a Monster by Ann Fleming takes that classic bedtime fear and gives it a clever little twist. Instead of trying to prove that the monster is not there,…
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The Sick Fairy by Drew Brunner
Every parent knows the drill: your little one is under the weather, their body desperately needs a nap, but they are fighting sleep with every fiber of their being. Enter…
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Chocolate Milk by Chris Moore
Billie knows exactly what she wants: a tall, cold glass of delicious chocolate milk. There’s just one tiny problem… Billie seems to have completely forgotten her “Good Manners.” No matter…
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Princess Lyria’s Last Collection by Mary-Jean Harris
Princess Lyria is a master collector. From shimmering mermaid lanterns to delicate flutes and grand telescopes, her castle is filled with treasures. But now, she has her heart set on…
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Maddy’s Towers by Inbal Alon
Maddy and Mei are best friends—until the unthinkable happens. Mei shares a secret that wasn’t hers to tell, and just like that, Maddy’s heart feels like a tower of blocks…
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A Friend for Hope by Amie White
Being the “new kid” is never easy, but for nine-year-old Zoe Meadows, it feels even lonelier. As a homeschooled student in Ivy Creek, her days are filled with lessons, while…
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Where Beau the Beach Bunny Burrows by Lolisa Marie Monroe
Meet Beau. He’s a tiny marsh bunny living on the vast, sparkling shores of Florida’s Space Coast. As he watches giant rockets soar into the sky and sea turtles make…
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Monster Trucks Stay Humble Too by Renee Smith
Race day has arrived! The engines are rumbling, the dust is flying, and Chrome is ready to prove he’s the fastest truck on the track. But when the checkered flag…
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Love Grows Here by Dean Menso
Gardening isn’t just about the harvest, it’s about the “waiting.” In Love Grows Here, a father and daughter embark on a simple mission: planting a tomato seed. But as they…
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Ellis Learns to Let It Out by Amanda Neary
Monday morning has arrived, and for little Ellis, the transition from weekend play to weekday routine is feeling… loud. His feelings are bubbling over, and everything feels a bit too…
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Tara’s Four Seasons by Roni Horovitz
Have you ever felt the seasons changing inside of you? From the vibrant sparkle of Summer to the quiet, slowing wisdom of Winter, Tara learns that her feelings—even the heavy…
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The Feel-good Button by Diana Avram-Anghel
Meet Fox. He lost his toy, and he’s feeling… well, upset. We’ve all seen that “brewing storm” in our toddlers, right? Enter Hedgehog, the wisest little leaf-friend in the forest,…
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Joe Bunny Springs to Life by Jen Montgomery-Rice
“WHOOSH!” One minute, Joe is a quiet stuffed rabbit, and the next, his fur feels electrified. Joe Bunny isn’t just a toy; he is Morgan’s best friend, and when life…
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Being Kind is Cool by Rebecca Almeida
Welcome to Shapes Academy! This year, Ms. Hart is excited to meet a very diverse group of students. Among them is the Big Blue Circle, who is struggling with a…
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The Lonely Flower by Taylor Joy
In a garden bursting with vibrant life, one little flower feels completely invisible. Shrouded in the shade of self-doubt, she hides her petals, convinced she’ll never be as beautiful as…
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What’s Wrong with Tom? by Gal Chivvis
Thomas LeBrat is your typical fun-loving, joy-spreading cat—until a sudden health emergency turns his world upside down. When Tom gets sick, it’s up to his devoted family and the expert…
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Please Cloud, Don’t Cry by Leanne Beardsley
All she wanted was a day of sunshine and play, but a big, grumpy-looking cloud has other plans. At first, it seems like the cloud is just there to ruin…
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The SPRiTELEES: Rane’s Rescue by Marcia Stankard: The Perfect Book for Random Acts of Kindness Week
The SPRiTELEES teaching kids empathy through magical “sparkpacks” and supporting childhood cancer research!
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Panda is Missing! by Starrla Cray
Zinc’s room is a total disaster, but he has much bigger gears to grind: Panda is missing! Convinced that his beloved stuffed animal is playing a high-stakes game of hide-and-seek,…
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Montessori Life Skills Story Series by Kerry Howard
Practical Life Skills for Toddlers: The Ultimate Book Series for Raising Independent Little Humans
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Ziva the Great by Cindy J Vanous
Ziva is a majestic Maine Coon who is “Great” in spirit but guarded in heart. When a young girl named Elsie arrives at the same home, they both bring with…
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Mom’s Cloud and the Beach Adventure by Kendall Concini-Moore
Sometimes, a “cloud” settles over a home, and even the smallest family members can feel the change in the air. This moving and creative story helps children navigate the moments…
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Sometimes I Get Stuck by Bursey Twin Stories
Do you ever feel like you’re glued to the floor, trapped in a “big feeling,” or just plain stuck in bed? You’re not alone! Join Duckie, an adorable and relatable…
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Bring Back The Blurts! by Diane Henrique
Grade One is a world of rules: wait your turn, raise your hand, and—the hardest one of all—be a quiet listener. But Henny D is a girl with BIG thoughts…
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Sheep Shape by Adèle Tariel
Meet Chip. Chip is a sheep who loves his wool exactly the way it is—big, bouncy, and all his own! When shearing day arrives and the rest of the flock…
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I Could Be Eaten by a Shark by Marcela Ferreira
For Louie, the world changed the moment he saw a shark at the beach. Now, he’s convinced those finned foes are lurking everywhere. In the bathtub? Absolutely. At the park?…
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Men Cry by Joan Turu
“Men don’t cry… right?” That’s the big question Neil is trying to answer as he embarks on a mission to figure out exactly what it means to “be a man.”…
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The Cloud That Stuck by Karen Krossing
Whoosh! One blustery day, a stubborn little cloud decides to park itself right over Tansy’s head, blocking her sunshine. Tansy tries everything to lose her uninvited guest—yelling, racing it on…
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Ramesh’s Rage by Vicky Phillips
School can feel overwhelming when everything seems to go wrong at once. Ramesh’s Rage gently explores anger, frustration, and emotional regulation through the experience of a child who feels lost in the…
The ABC of Feelings
By Ameliessa Richardson, 2024 | Ages 2–5
This colorful A-to-Z guide introduces emotions through lovable monsters. Each letter stands for a feeling, making it fun and easy for little readers to build emotional vocabulary. A cheerful and engaging book to start meaningful conversations.
By Karen Kilpatrick, 2023 | Ages 3–7
What happens when a Monster keeps eating its emotions? A hilarious adventure featuring a loveable character who learns that maybe expressing feelings is better than holding them inside.
By Ben Clanton and Andy Chou Musser, 2023 | Ages 2–5
Meet a friendly cloud full of feelings in this interactive picture book. Can you help Ploof overcome their shyness? Play pretend? Make Ploof laugh with your funny faces, find their hiding spot, give them a high five!
By Felicity Brooks, 2023 | Ages 2–6
This fun, friendly and reassuring introduction to feelings is designed to help young children recognize, understand and name how they’re feeling and learn to talk about and manage their emotions in helpful ways.
A Little SPOT: My First Emotions
By Diane Alber, 2023 | Ages 2–3
This book was developed to help children learn about the various feelings and emotions we all encounter every day. Once children can identify their emotions, they can learn how to manage them in a healthy way.
The Big Feelings Book for Children
By Sharon Selby MA, 2022 | Ages 4–7
It’s normal for kids to experience feelings so big that they’re hard to manage! This book is filled with engaging exercises that show kids how to use mindfulness to work through tough emotions and feel happier.
By Tom Percival, 2021 | Ages 3–6
Ruby meets a worry that won’t leave her alone — until she discovers talking about it makes it smaller. A warm and comforting tale that reassures anxious little hearts. Ideal for kids dealing with new or overwhelming experiences.
By Toni Yuly, 2021 | Ages 1–3
Ollie the octopus has a lot of feelings and he struggles to understand them. But with the help of his good friend, Stella the starfish, Ollie is reassured and able to feel that he is ok, and that it is fine to have so many feelings.
By Anna Llenas, 2021 | Ages 2–5
Follow a little monster as he sorts out his jumbled emotions, each one represented by a color. The interactive style and expressive illustrations make emotions easier to understand. A top pick for emotional intelligence.
By Didi Dragon, 2021 | Ages 3–5
Little Red Fox discovers feelings and what an adventure they bring! She feels ALL different kinds of feelings throughout the day from happy to sad and angry to calm.
by Kelly Bourne, 2021 | Ages 2–5
Pig’s Big Feelings is a brilliant remedy for the “I don’t have the words” blues. It’s a fun, imaginative roadmap that helps kids graduate from the basic four emotions into a colorful world of 30+ new expressions.
By Rachel Bright, 2020 | Ages 4–6
A delightful story about a little dinosaur who learns to manage his worries by focusing on the present moment.
The Boy with Big, Big Feelings
By Britney Winn Lee, 2019 | Ages 3–6
Perfect for sensitive souls, this story follows a boy whose feelings seem too big — until he realizes others feel the same way. A heartfelt reminder that emotions are strengths, not weaknesses. A gentle hug in book form.
By Janan Cain, 2000 | Ages 2–5
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. Your child will learn useful words, and you will have many chances to open conversations about what’s going on in her/his life.
The right book won’t “fix” a child’s emotions and it shouldn’t try to.
What it can do is help children recognize what they’re feeling, feel less alone, and learn that emotions are something to understand, not hide.
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