Making concrete the important attachments in a child’s life. Great story with separation anxiety, school, move, grief, travel and time away from child.
Patrice Karst
The Invisible String
Sweet, elegant example of active listening, what to do when someone is upset, and how to go about recognizing and coping with emotions.
Cori Doerrfeld
The Rabbit Listened
This playful portrait of fear and bravery empowers young readers to confront once-scary situations and, with charming illustrations.
Jo Witek
Brave as Can Be
Deepening attachment links between children and their parents. Helps to manage separation anxiety and other daily times of separation (daycare, school, travel, trips).
Audrey Penn
The Kissing Hand
This beautiful exploration of a child’s feelings stands out as unique, not just listing emotions, but portraying how they feel inside, too.
Jo Witek
In My Heart
An eagle soaring among the clouds, a star twinkling in the night sky, a camel in the desert, or a boat sailing across the sea . . . Yoga has the power of transformation.
Susan Verde
I Am Yoga
Alexander knew it was going to be a terrible day when he woke up with gum in this hair. And it got worse...
Judith Viorst
Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day
Looks at naming emotions and normalizing their presence, even when they are big!
David Milgrim
Wild Feelings
A child with his own spirit, ideas and will. Wise grandparents reassure parents of the beauty of knowing one’s own mind and finding his own path.
Leslie Helakoski
Woolbur
A face can tell you what someone is feeling. In this expressive photo-essay, simple text and photographs introduce basic emotions and how people show them.
Shelley Rotner
Lots of Feelings
Great resource to help children name different emotions. The illustrations contribute greatly in this book. Children gravitate towards this book.
Janan Cain
The Way I Feel
Sadness can be scary and confusing at any age! Eva Eland brilliantly approaches this feeling as if it is a visitor.
Eva Eland
When Sadness is at Your Door
An artful mixture of fantasy and reality, humor and heart, Maya Was Grumpy celebrates the power of imagination and humor to improve moods.
Courtney Pippin-Mathur
Maya was Grumpy
Just like how lifting weights helps your muscles get stronger, trying new things without giving up strengthens your brain.
Joann Deak
Your Fantastic Elastic Brain
How it feels on the inside of a tantrum. The parent stays to hold the child in futility.
Deborah Blumenthal
Chocolate-Covered Cookie Tantrum
Child comes home from school frustrated. Parent finds creative way of providing space to express emotions and accompanies down the path of expression.
Thierry Robberecht
Angry Dragon
Child comes home from school frustrated. Parent finds creative way of providing space to express emotions and accompanies down the path of expression.
Betsy Everitt
Mean Soup
Feelings in anticipation of the first day of school in a new school.
Julie Danneberg
First Day Jitters
For the complete list of suggested children's literature:
Suggested literature for children