Even as an adult, I often struggle with big feelings. Then, I think about how much more challenging it is to process waves of emotion when you’re still a kid! Fortunately, there are many great children’s books that help kids name their emotions. In this post, I share 12 picture books that help young children process and understand feelings like anger, jealousy, and worry.
Disclosure: For your convenience, this post includes affiliate links. If you purchase items through these links, I may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. I received a free copy of Bravo Anjali from Mango and Marigold Press in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own. You can read my full disclosure policy here.
13 diverse books about big feelings for young children
The Many Colors of Harpreet Singh by Supriya Kelkar and Alea Marley
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Harpreet loves colors, and he especially enjoys using them to express his feelings. When he feels cheerful, he wears a yellow patka (a Sikh turban.) On days he needs courage, he wears red. When Harpreet’s parents tell him they’re moving across the country, he knows he’ll need a lot of courage.
Once school starts, Harpreet wears a white patka over and over, because he wants to feel invisible. Will he ever feel like wearing the other colors again? (Recommended for ages 3 – 7. Indian-American author.)
Bravo Anjali by Sheetal Sheth and Lucia Soto
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Anjali loves drumming on her tabla. But when her friend Deepak accuses her of showing off, Anjali is hurt. She makes a mistake on purpose, but that doesn’t stop Deepak from telling people Anjali is only getting attention is tabla class because she’s a girl. Anjali is furious and hurt at the same time. She wants to win the upcoming music contest, but if she does will Deepak tease her even more? Anjali has to decide whether to “dim her light” or to shine like the star that she is. (Recommended for ages 4 – 8. Indian-American author.)
Related Post: 13 children’s books for all ages about courage and bravery
La Catrina: Emotions/Emociones by Patty Rodriguez and Ariana Stein
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Introduce toddlers to basic feelings words and their corresponding facial expressions with this adorable Dia de Muertos themed board book. (Recommended for ages 1 – 3. Mexican-American author.)
Related Post: 13 #ownvoices diverse books for toddlers
A Boy Like You by Frank Murphy and Kayla Harren
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As a mother of boys, I’m often frustrated by society’s narrow range of acceptable emotions for boys. This book challenges stereotypes, revealing lessons like “fear and bravery are partners. You can’t be brave without first being afraid.”
Crying is portrayed as a sign of strength, and listening as a key to connecting with others. (Recommended for ages 4 – 8. White author.)
Related Post: 19 children’s books that defy gender stereotypes
Pepper Zhang, Artist Extraordinaire! by Jerry Zhang and Trisha Hautéa
Pepper Zhang “is a girl of many strong emotions.” On the eve of her 3rd birthday, young Pepper has a meltdown to end all meltdowns after her parents say it’s time for bed. She pours all of her big feelings into a new paint set and easel that she got for her birthday. That night, an artist is born as she creates her first painting, “Red Dino Destroys Bedtime.” (Recommended for ages 3 – 7, Chinese-American author.)
Ruby Finds a Worry by Tom Percival
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Ruby is a perfectly happy kid, until one day a worry shows up. It starts off small, but slowly it grows. No one else can see the worry, so Ruby tries to pretend she can’t either. But it’s still there, keeping her from enjoying the things she usually loves. Is she the only one who has a problem like this? (Recommended for ages 3 – 7. White author.)
My Cold Plum Lemon Pie Bluesy Mood by Tameka Fryer Brown and Shane W. Evans
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In this book in verse, Jamie describes his many moods and feelings in a single day using colors. When he’s enjoying the day, bopping to the beat, his mood is purple. But when his big brother kicks him off the couch, a grey storm starts brewing inside him. Children will identify with how quickly our moods can change (especially when family is involved!) (Recommended for ages 3 – 7. Black author.)
Listening With My Heart: A Story of Kindness and Self-Compassion by Gabi Garcia and Ying Hui Tan
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Esperanza is eager to show kindness to others, from a new child at school to a stray cat. But she sometimes forgets to be a friend to herself, especially when she’s experiencing big feelings like embarrassment or disappointment.
There are several pages of kid-friendly guidance on showing yourself compassion from Garcia, who is a licensed professional counselor, after the story. (Recommended for ages 4 – 8. Mexican-American author).
Lola’s Fandango by Anna Witte and Micha Arher
Lola’s older sister seems so much more glamorous and talented than she is, and it’s hard not to be jealous. But when Lola finds her mother’s flamenco shoes, she discovers something about her own special gift.
Papi gives her secret dancing lessons on the roof while Mami and her sister Clementina are at the grocery store. Lola practices again and again, but will she have the duende (spirit) it takes to become a true flamenco dancer? (Recommended for ages 4 – 9. German author.)
Jabari Jumps by Gaia Cornwall
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When Jabari arrives at the pool, he announces to his Dad that he’s going to jump off the diving board for the first time. Jabari assures his Dad that he’s not scared at all, but his body language says otherwise.
Dad explains that sometimes doing something scary can feel like a surprise once we prepare ourselves. Since Jabari loves surprises, he decides to climb to the top of the diving board after all. (Recommended for ages 3 – 7. White author.)
B Is For Breathe: The ABCs of Coping with Fussy and Frustrating Feelings by Melissa Munro Boyd
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In this playful alphabet book, kids will find 26 strategies for expressing and coping with big emotions. Psychologist Melissa Munro Boyd not only wanted to help kids understand their feelings, but also provide a resource on feelings that children of color could see themselves in. (Recommended for ages 3 – 7. Black author.)
Related Post: 7 ways to practice mindfulness with young children
Ruby’s School Walk by Kathryn White and Miriam Latimer
On the first day of school, Ruby imagines that she’s seeing bats, witches, and goblins on the walk with her mother.
Ruby’s mother tells her these are just ordinary things, but Ruby knows “she’s wrong. I must be brave, I must be strong.” While Ruby has the courage to make it through her school walk, her bravery isn’t enough to bring her through the classroom door. There, her mother reminds her of all the adventures she’ll have at school, like “sailing ships across the sea and setting mermaids free.” (Recommended for ages 3 – 7. White author.)
Related Post: 10 multicultural back to school books
Anh’s Anger by Gail Silver and Christiane Krömer
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When Anh bursts into tears and screams because it’s time to stop playing for dinner, Grandfather asks him to “sit with his anger.” Anh has no idea what this means, but soon anger shows up to talk with him.
While anger is often a scary emotion for both children and their grownups, this beautiful, sensitive tale helps children see how they can “take care” of their anger. (Recommended for ages 5 – 9. White author.)
Emily’s Tiger by Miriam Latimer
Emily, like most young kids, can lose control when she gets angry. She gets so upset that she actually turns into a tiger! Her parents don’t know what to do, but luckily Grandma comes for a visit.
She can turn into a tiger too, but she shows Emily that it is possible to tame your tiger. Our son loves this book for its imagination. I love it because it gives us a chance to talk about better ways to channel our big feelings. (Recommended for ages 3 – 7. White author.)