Feelings – Page 4

Picture books about Feelings from the Little Parachutes reviews library

Picture books that encourage young children to explore their feelings such as sadness, anger, disappointment and fear. Emotional intelligence, or being able to understand and manage feelings, is really important for children as they grow and develop. Children tend to feel happier, more confident and less anxious when they are able to identify, understand and manage their emotions well. Some books describe a character who has learned to manage a big emotion successfully. Others offer strategies to help a child deal with strong feelings such as anxiety, shyness, sadness and fear.

Animal Phobias

Books which either show animals such as mice, spiders and insects in a positive light, or which tackle the fears and phobias that some children experience when coming face to face with certain animals and insects.

Anxiety

Children’s picture books that explore anxiety, worry and stress.

Being Different & Being Yourself

Many children get anxious if they feel that they ‘don’t fit in’. These picture books promote the message that being different is a good thing.

Fear of The Dark

Books which acknowledge fears and phobias associated with the dark. Some titles aim to neutralise fears by promoting darkness as a positive and necessary aspect of the night.

Ghosts and Monsters

Books that acknowledge childhood fears of ghosts and monsters. Some books attempt to neutralise fears by featuring characters who seem frightening at first but ultimately reveal friendly qualities.

Sadness

Books to comfort children going through periods of sadness. Some books explain that feeling sad occasionally is normal, and offer practical ways to make the child feel happier.

Shyness

Books that either have a character who is shy, or reassure shy children that they can cope with this emotion.

Wanting to be Grown Up

Books that reflect the common childhood desire to be ‘grown up’. Many children can’t wait to be bigger, expecting this to lead to more excitement, control and variety.

“Oh, No,” said Elephant

Helps a child to see that not everyone is good at the same thing. Individuals have different strengths, and everybody is good at something!

Be a Friend

Reassures children that it is normal to be different! Encourages the reader to celebrate these differences and understand that there are other people who feel the same way, who are out there waiting for friendship, too. This story would help children with mutism or other communication issues, who struggle to relate to those around them.

Monster in the Hood

This story tackles the fear of the unknown, and helps a child to consider that situations they might initially think are scary can turn out to be harmless, and even enjoyable. It also challenges prejudice.

On The Wings Of A Butterfly

A colourful and heart-warming approach to tackling the loss of a loved one, with practical suggestions for coping with loss.

The Tigon and the Liger

Encourages the child to see differences in a positive way, whether in themselves or in others, and shows the merits of diversity.

The Wolf Who Cried Boy!

Challenges preconceptions that may be associated with unfamiliar situations, and promotes tolerance of other ways of life.

Odd Bods

By celebrating the fact that every child alive is an ‘odd bod’, with their own set of idiosyncrasies which should be accepted as the things that define them. Nobody is perfect, and who would want to be anyway?

Introducing Teddy

This book may strike a chord with children struggling with gender identity. There are also other clear messages: accepting people for who they are/celebrating diversity and encouraging children to share worries with friends rather than keep them bottled up.

I Don’t Want To Talk About It

For children whose parents are getting divorced

See You Later Mum

Comforting for children starting playgroup or nursery.

I Feel Frightened (Your Emotions)

This useful book helps children to think about their emotions

Moonbird

Showing that there are many ways of communicating between adults and children

Under the Bed

Explores the themes of ghosts and monsters, fear of the dark and bedtime.

The Very Busy Spider

A story that portrays spiders in a positive way. This book may also encourage children to persevere with difficult tasks.

Witches and Fairies

Children can sometimes form friendship circles which exclude others, which can be difficult for the children left on the outside. This book focusses on Clotilda, a little girl who doesn't really fit into the group of fairies and group of witches she longs to play with.