A curated reading list focused on helping young children identify, name, and sit with their feelings. Aligned with emotional intelligence and conscious parenting.
| Book Title | Buy on Amazon | Summary |
|---|---|---|
| The Colour Monster: A Story About Emotions – Anna Llenas | Buy on Amazon | A confused monster wakes up with all his feelings jumbled together. With a child's help, he sorts emotions by colour — happiness is yellow, sadness is blue, anger is red. Makes abstract feelings visual and concrete. Ideal for ages 2–5. |
| In My Heart: A Book of Feelings – Jo Witek | Buy on Amazon | A girl guides readers through the layers of her heart, exploring emotions from joy to sorrow. Heart-shaped die-cut pages run through the book. Beautifully links feelings to physical sensations. e.g. anger makes the heart feel like it will burst. |
| The Feelings Book – Todd Parr | Buy on Amazon | Bold, simple illustrations paired with short statements about all kinds of feelings, from loud and silly to quiet and sad. Todd Parr's accessible, non-judgmental style makes this a go-to for 2–3 year olds just beginning emotional vocabulary. |
| Book Title | Buy on Amazon | Summary |
|---|---|---|
| Grumpy Monkey – Suzanne Lang (Board Book) | Buy on Amazon | Jim the chimpanzee is in a terrible mood for no reason. His well-meaning friends keep trying to fix it — but the real lesson is that sometimes you just need a day to feel grumpy. A brilliant, funny book on emotional validation and sitting with feelings. |
| The Boy with Big, Big Feelings – Britney Winn Lee | Buy on Amazon | A poetic, beautifully illustrated story about a boy whose emotions spill out of him. Rather than being afraid of them, he learns to understand and celebrate his big feelings. Especially lovely for sensitive children. |
| Book Title | Buy on Amazon | Summary |
|---|---|---|
| The Rabbit Listened – Cori Doerrfeld | Buy on Amazon | When a child is upset, every animal suggests a different response. roar like a bear, laugh like a hyena. But the rabbit simply listens. A profound lesson in empathy for both children and parents. Also models what children actually need from us. |
| Llama Llama Mad at Mama / Misses Mama – Anna Dewdney | Buy on Amazon | Preschooler Llama Llama navigates big emotions through rhyming text and warm humour. Mad at Mama covers frustration and tantrums; Misses Mama covers separation anxiety. Relatable situations make these instant favourites. |
| Book Title | Buy on Amazon | Summary |
|---|---|---|
| Listening to My Body – Gabi Garcia | Buy on Amazon | Written by a licensed counsellor and mama, this interactive book helps children name physical sensations alongside feelings — wiggly, squirmy, heavy, still. Builds a body-based vocabulary for self-regulation. Kid-friendly activities are woven throughout. |
| Book Title | Buy on Amazon | Summary |
|---|---|---|
| My Many Colored Days – Dr. Seuss | Buy on Amazon | Using a vibrant spectrum of colours and playful animals, Dr. Seuss captures a range of moods and emotions in his signature rhyming style. A gentle, joyful way to open conversations about feelings with toddlers. |