Children experience many different feelings and emotions, but they don't always know how to express themselves. The books on this page explain and describe different feelings and go into ways to help children explain and cope with the emotions they have.
A Place Inside of Me by
There is a place inside of mea space deep down inside of me where all my feelings hide. In this powerful, affirming poem by award-winning author Zetta Elliott, a Black child explores his shifting emotions throughout the year. Summertime is filled with joy--skateboarding and playing basketball--until his community is deeply wounded by a police shooting. As fall turns to winter and then spring, fear grows into anger, then pride and peace. In her stunning debut, illustrator Noa Denmon articulates the depth and nuances of a child's experiences following a police shooting--through grief and protests, healing and community--with washes of color as vibrant as his words. Here is a groundbreaking narrative that can help all readers--children and adults alike--talk about the feelings hiding deep inside each of us.
Nobody Hugs a Cactus by
Celebrated artist and lead character designer of Brave, Ratatouille, and Despicable Me, Carter Goodrich, shows that sometimes, even the prickliest people--or the crankiest cacti--need a little love. Hank is the prickliest cactus in the entire world. He sits in a pot in a window that faces the empty desert, which is just how he likes it. So, when all manner of creatures--from tumbleweed to lizard to owl--come to disturb his peace, Hank is annoyed. He doesn't like noise, he doesn't like rowdiness, and definitely does not like hugs. But the thing is, no one is offering one. Who would want to hug a plant so mean? Hank is beginning to discover that being alone can be, well, lonely. So he comes up with a plan to get the one thing he thought he would never need: a hug from a friend.
The Bad Mood and the Stick by
New York Times bestselling author Lemony Snicket sheds light on the way bad moods come and go. Once there was a bad mood and a stick. The stick appeared when a tree dropped it. Where did the bad mood come from? Who picked up the stick? And where is the bad mood off to now? You never know what is going to happen.
The Happy Book by
From the creator of Archie the Daredevil Penguin comes the unique story of two friends who can't escape all the feels. From the creator of ARCHIE THE DAREDEVIL PENGUIN comes the unique story of two friends who can't escape all the feels. Camper is happy as a clam and Clam is a happy camper. When you live in The Happy Book, the world is full of daisies and sunshine and friendship cakes . . . until your best friend eats the whole cake and doesn't save you one bite. Moving from happiness to sadness and everything in between, Camper and Clam have a hard time finding their way back to happy. But maybe happy isn't the goal--being a good friend is about supporting each other and feeling all the feels together. At once funny and thoughtful, The Happy Book supports social-emotional learning. It's a book to keep young readers company no matter how they're feeling!
The Unbudgeable Curmudgeon by
A BANK STREET BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR "For any kid or parent that's having a bit of a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day, this book is an instant pick me up. Great for siblings, too!" --Red Tricycle "After reading aloud, listeners might discover their own ways to unbudge curmudgeons."--Publishers Weekly "Playful language and a subtly rhyming text create an enjoyable read-aloud about frustrations and bad moods." --Booklist What do you do with a curmudgeon that just won't budge? Why, shake off the grumpy 'tude and embrace the fun! 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? Matthew Burgess's playful depiction of bad moods and sibling rivalry is matched perfectly by Fiona Woodcock's unique childlike art style.
The Chocolate-Covered-Cookie Tantrum by
Seized with a desire for a cookie while in the park, Sophie discovers that throwing a terrible tantrum will not get her what she wants.
Bernard the Angry Rooster by
A simple barnyard tale for very young children. Bernard, a proud, speckled rooster, takes his job of waking everybody up very seriously. And he's usually happy. But today he's been cross with the dog, the chickens, the pony, and even Lucy, who brings him food every day. What could be the matter? It turns out to be wounded pride: there's a new rooster weather vane on the farmhouse, and it's higher off the ground than Bernard's usual crowing perch. With a little help from his friends, Bernard sets things straight for his morning "Cock-a-doodle-doo." Mary Wormell brings realistic childlike emotions to light in the simplest of words and through her bold and colorful linoleum-cut pictures.
Children can have man different fears - and it can be very difficult for them to manage or face those fears. The stories on this page all discuss what it feels like to be scared and offer solutions and ideas for helping children cope with fear.
Sam, the Most Scaredy-Cat Kid in the Whole World by
A TERRIFICALLY TERRIFYING TALE! Sam is afraid of anything and everything-except for his friend Leonardo, the terrible monster. Kerry is afraid of everything and anything-except for her friend Frankenthaler, the other monster. One day, the two scaredy-cat kids make a particularly scary discovery: each other! AAH! EEK! Something has to be done. Something BIG. But what?
Epossumondas Plays Possum by
Epossumondas is the silliest, most lovable possum south of the Mason-Dixon line. In his fourth book, will he still be his mama's sweet little patootie if he heads into the swamp, just where Mama told him not to go? After all, the swamp is home to the fearsome and legendary loup-garou! Epossumondas isn't a naughty possum, but he sure is forgetful, and into the swamp he goes. There he meets all manner of scary creatures--but are any of them the loup-garou? And will he ever make it home to Mama? Maybe he will, as long as he remembers to do what possums do best: play possum.
Bear Feels Scared by
Bear's animal friends come to his rescue when he becomes lost and frightened in the woods.
Life Doesn't Frighten Me by
Presents Maya Angelou's poem illustrated by paintings and drawings of Jean-Michel Basquiat. Features biographies of both the author and artist.
Mirette on the Highwire by
One day, a mysterious stranger arrives at a boardinghouse of the widow Gateau- a sad-faced stranger, who keeps to himself. When the widow's daughter, Mirette, discovers him crossing the courtyard on air, she begs him to teach her how he does it. But Mirette doesn't know that the stranger was once the Great Bellini- master wire- walker. Or that Bellini has been stopped by a terrible fear. And it is she who must teach him courage once again. Emily Arnold McCully's sweeping watercolor paintings carry the reader over the rooftops of nineteenth-century Paris and into an elegant, beautiful world of acrobats, jugglers, mimes, actors, and one gallant, resourceful little girl.
Jenny Is Scared! by
This is a comforting coping story for children who are aware of the threats of violence and terrorism in the world. A range of fears, feelings, and questions are explored. Safety, hope, and comfort are offered in terms that are honest and reasonable. Includes a "Note to Parents" by psychologist and author Ann Rasmussen, PsyD.
Splish, Splash, Splat! by
Splat does not want to have a playdate with Spike. Spike will break his toys and eat all of his candy fish! And he does not want to learn how to swim - water is horrible, scary, and wet! He's sure that this is going to be the worst day ever. But when the rest of their classmates rush straight into the pool, Splat and Spike find that they may have more in common than they thought. Will Splat overcome his fear of water and get into the pool? And how can he help Spike to do the same?
I Want to Be in a Scary Story by
Monster may think he wants to be in a scary story, but then again . . . A hilarious return by the team that brought us Hoot Owl, Master of Disguise. Our author would like to write a funny story, but his main character -- Monster -- has a different idea. He wants to be the star of a chilling, petrifying, utterly terrifying SCARY story. But scary stories . . . well, they can be very scary -- especially for their characters! Particularly when they involve dark forests and creepy witches and spooky houses . . . Oh yikes and crikes, this is definitely not the scary story Monster had in mind! Maybe he wants to be in a funny story after all!
Don't Worry, Little Crab by
From the award-winning creator of Shh! We Have a Plan comes a vibrantly colorful story about mustering the courage to try something new. Little Crab and Very Big Crab live in a tiny rock pool near the sea. Today they're going for a dip in the big ocean. "This is going to be so great," says Little Crab, splish-splashing and squelch-squelching along, all the way to the very edge. Then comes a first glance down at the waves. WHOOSH! Maybe it's better if they don't go in? With vivid colors, bold shapes, and his trademark visual humor, Chris Haughton shows that sometimes a gentle "don't worry, I'm here" can keep tentative little crabs sidestepping ahead -- and help them discover the brilliant worlds that await when they take the plunge.
