Feelings – Page 5

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.

Alone in the Forest

Anxious children will be comforted by its story of irrational fears which turn out to be nothing but a trick of the mind.

Jump!

One of a vibrant series of books (Crawl!, Jump!, Climb! and Run!) that focusses on children's love of movement.

Duck, Death and the Tulip

All Kinds of Feelings: a Lift-the-Flap Book

Our Stripy Baby

Encourages children to accept the fact that everyone is different. This book may help a child who is struggling to come to terms with having a sibling with special needs.

Collywobble

The story shows that appearances are not always as they seem. It has an underlying message that even the youngest and weakest can achieve great and unexpected things with enough determination.

Milo Armadillo

Learning to love things for what they are Enjoying having something that is not the same as what friends have

Chill

Acknowledges that everyday situations may give rise to negative emotions in young children. The story offers some practical suggestions that young children can use to ease anxiety and frustration, such as deep breathing.

Giraffes Can’t Dance

The story would be a good starting point for a discussion on self-esteem and persistence, or the positive side of being different. It also has an anti-bullying/acceptance message.

Worried Arthur

May be reassuring to children who suffer from anxiety and help them to realise that others have similar experiences.

The Cow That Laid an Egg

A great choice to cheer up a child going through difficult times - they will probably be giggling out loud by the end of the book! There's also an underlying theme of acceptance, and may even strike a chord with adopted children.

Dogs Don’t Do Ballet

I Don’t Care!: Learning About Respect

The book explains what respect means and shows a child the different ways respect can be shown and received. It also explains how negative it is when you are not respected or do not respect other people.

It’s Not Fair (Your Feelings)

Explores the concept of unfairness in a child-friendly way and encourages children to come to terms with this emotion. Also touches upon the subject of anger and violence as the child in the story feels like 'hitting out' when she considers things to be unfair.

Catherine’s Story

Promoting tolerance and understanding of those with physical or mental disabilities. Highlights the positive traits of disability.

Smile (A Sunny McCloud Book)

At Daddy’s on Saturdays

This book may help a child struggling with difficult emotions surrounding a parental divorce.

Darkness Slipped in

May help to dispel children's fear of the dark by describing the darkness in a child's room in a refreshingly positive way.

Beegu

A story for anyone who has ever felt lonely, lost and unloved. Children who have experienced loneliness may empathise with Beegu. This book teaches the importance of being kind to others, particularly those who have moved from a different place and may be feeling homesick and anxious.

Little Princess – I Don’t Want to Go to Bed

Helping children to understand why it's important to go to bed on time.

Grandma and Grandpa’s Garden

A well-written and touching book about the death of a grandparent. This would be a good choice for a child who has lost a loved one.

Everybody Matters: A First Look at Respect for Others

This non-fiction picture book introduces children to the concept of respect, fair treatment and anti-discrimination. It explains that you can earn respect by being polite, honest and by listening to others: qualities that will ultimately lead to making the world a better place.

Odd Bird Out

Whilst generally children want to fit in with their peers many others either cannot or do not want to be like everybody else.

There’s No Such Thing as a Ghostie

Little Penguin Lost

Providing comfort for children who have lost a favourite toy

Let My Colors Out

This book is published by the American Cancer Society to help young children of cancer patients

Lamb-A-Roo

A comforting look at adoption and accepting that you don't have to look alike and be the same to be loved.

All Kinds of Fears: a Lift-the-Flap Book

Smudge’s Grumpy Day

May help a child deal with a bad mood understanding that running away does not help and how important home is.

Mr Big

Ready, Steady, Grow!

Describing to the very young positive things they can do to help their bodies grow strong and healthy. May also reassure a child eager to 'be grown up' that each day, little by little, they are moving towards this. Personal safety issues, healthy eating and good hygiene are also touched upon.

Sleepover (First Time)

A good choice of book to set a child's expectations of what happens at a sleepover. The simple conversational text and lively illustrations may encourage them to talk about the experience and ask questions.