Picture books tagged with: emotions

Nowhere Hair

A picture book that steps in to support anyone that needs to explain cancer treatment and its effects to a young child. It also serves as a good reminder that we should not judge or tease people for the way they look, it's what inside that counts the most, and parental love is unwavering, even in the most difficult circumstances.

The River

A beautiful, hopeful picture book that supports and acknowledges children struggling with complex emotions. The boy in the story experiences (and recovers from) a prolonged period of sadness following the death of his pet dog, but the themes in the story would be useful for many scenarios.

Charlie and the Dog Who Came to Stay: A Book About Depression

This gentle and reassuring story should chime with any young child who is living with depression, whether it is themselves or someone else who has been affected by it. A useful tool to help children to understand depression and how it can change people's feelings and behaviour, containing practical non-preachy guidance and coping strategies.

The Perfect Shelter

A beautiful picture book that explores the complicated and sometimes contradictory emotions that children can feel when they have a loved one with a serious illness.

Me and My Fear

A beautifully imagined exploration of fear and how it can change a child's behaviour and perception of the world around them. An excellent springboard for a discussion about emotions, empathy, talking through your worries with others and coping with change.

Ask First, Monkey!

An important introduction to consent and boundaries for young children.

The Fix-It Man

A touching portrayal of how a young girl deals with the loss of her mother.

Through the Eyes of Me

A useful picture book to simply explain autism to children, it is a positive exploration of how a young girl with autism perceives the world.

Sweep

This captivating picture book is a thought-provoking exploration of a young boy's bad mood and how it takes hold of him.

The Garden of Hope

A poignant yet positive story about a grieving daughter and father and how tending a garden together helps them to begin the healing process and find hope for the future.

Benny’s Hat

A beautiful, sensitively written book that could be used to support and comfort children who have a seriously ill sibling or friend, or have experienced bereavement.

How to be a Lion

A brilliant and entertaining story with a strong and clear message: Don't be afraid to be yourself; embrace the differences in yourself and others.

What’s worrying you?

A great picture book to help children explore their worries. While it is normal to feel anxious now and then, when anxiety escalates and can't be controlled, sitting down with your child and reading this book together should help.

The Dot

A wonderful picture book that encourages children to try new or challenging things, to explore their creativity and to have confidence in their abilities.

The Red Tree

A sensitive and honest insight into feeling lost, confused and alone, with an uplifting reminder that things will be okay. Hope is always there, waiting to be found.

Isaac and His Amazing Asperger Superpowers!

Explains Asperger's syndrome in a simple, gentle and positive way to very young children.

The Koala Who Could

An entertaining story that encourages children to try something new. Perfect for children who find change difficult.

Grumpy Frog

A thoroughly entertaining and engaging book which explores some important themes: forgiveness, tolerance, co-operation, and how moods and behaviour affects others.

A Safe Place for Rufus

This book would be a good choice for children who have experienced trauma in their lives which has left them feeling anxious in new situations. Also relevant for children who are struggling with transitions such as moving house, changing school or moving from one family to another.

We’re All Wonders

This story shows how one child copes with his own differences, and other people’s reactions to them. The reader will find comfort in Auggie’s imaginative tactics, and his positivity about being able to change the way others see him.

Michael Rosen’s Sad Book

An honest and realistic description of the pain of grief (and the healing process that follows it)

Is It Because…?

A good starting point to introduce the subject of bullying and why it happens. It may encourage children to explore the feelings of the bully as well as the victim.

A Bit Lost

Bella and Monty: A Hairy Scary Night

May comfort a child who is anxious about the dark, spiders, ghosts or monsters, and make them realise they are not alone.

The Bear and the Wildcat

This book covers themes of grief, loneliness and loss in a clear and touching way.

The Lonely Tree

This book may be useful to help a child how death is an inevitable part of ageing, and life continues after the sadness of bereavement. It also may be a good starting point to talk about how to cope with loneliness or isolation.

Funny Face

A good starting point to chat to a very young child about emotions, for example, how they feel during a tantrum.

The Monster Who Ate Darkness

This book elegantly 'neutralises' fear of monsters by portraying a non-threatening (and ultimately caring) one. It also provides a fun and poetic explanation to why darkness is so necessary at night time.

The Copper Tree

This book approaches the difficult subject of grief with sensitivity and sound judgement. The perfect story for children who have lost a much-loved figure in their life.

The Great Big Book of Feelings

A child struggling with negative emotions may find great comfort in this sympathetic, entertaining and reassuring book which explores many different feelings: happy, sad, excited, bored, interested, angry, upset, calm, silly, lonely, scared, safe, embarrassed, shy, confident, worried, jealous and satisfied.

A Day With Dad

Shows how the love between a child and an estranged parent can remain strong regardless of how far apart they are. Reinforcing the pride a father and son can have for each other.

Muddles, Puddles and Sunshine (Winstons Wish)

This activity book was devised to help bereaved children by offering a structure and an outlet for the many difficult feelings that inevitably follow the death of a loved one.

Halibut Jackson

Reassuring anxious or shy children that others experience similar emotions. Providing a positive role model who learns to accept his shyness.

No Matter What

May provide reassurance for an insecure or anxious child that their parents' love for them is unconditional and constant, despite the circumstances. It sensitively reinforces the message that love carries on, even after someone dies.

What Makes Me Happy?

May help a child to identify emotions they are experiencing and encourage them to discuss any they feel uncomfortable with. Reassures children that it is normal to experience a wide range of emotions.

Tinysaurus

This picture book may help a child who is feeling fed up about being the youngest and not being able to do some of the things an older sister or brother gets to do.

The Happy Book

A great starting point for talking about both positive and negative feelings with very young children. This book may gently encourage co-operation and good behaviour.

Harry and Hopper

To comfort a child who has lost a loved one. It may be a good starting point for a discussion about bereavement and grief.

Some Secrets Should Never Be Kept

This is a skilfully written and beautifully illustrated book which covers the subject of keeping young children safe from sexual abuse. Written as a tool to help parents, caregivers and teachers broach the subject in a non-threatening way, it sensitively weaves the important facts into a story that young children will find accessible.

Looking after Louis

Explaining to young children how autism can affect behaviour and promoting tolerance and understanding of others.

Small Bunny’s Blue Blanket

Young children who have a comfort blanket or other special toy may identify with this story.

Milo’s Monster

This is another book in the Big Bright Feelings series by this author which deals with friendship, jealousy and what happens when a new friend comes along. It looks at what happens when the friendship dynamic changes and how to deal with this in a child friendly way.

Brody The Lion: The Shopping Flip

Teaching positive behaviour strategies to children experiencing big emotions, this fun picture book is particularly helpful for children with autism or sensory processing disorders.

Daddy’s Time Out

Having a loved one in prison can be bewildering and distressing for a young child. They may feel shame, guilt, separation anxiety, and a host of other challenging emotions, or feel that they are no longer loved by (or feel that it is no longer appropriate for them to love) the estranged person. This simple, age-appropriate story helps to reassure, educate and comfort.

Look Up!

In a world where it is common to be distracted by technology, it's easy to miss what is happening in front of our eyes. This book tells the story of Rocket, a little girl desperate for her older brother's attention, but all he seems to be able to see is his mobile phone... For anyone struggling with phone addiction, this book gives an important insight into what can too easily be missed in this world, if we are always looking down.