Teaching kids about emotions is important, but it can also be overwhelming. Emotions can be difficult for us to handle as adults, so imagine how hard it is for kids. This list includes kid’s books about emotions that will help you to talk to your little ones about the big emotions that they are feeling, and how to handle them.

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LaLa Feels Blah-La

Written by Tela Kayne and illustrated by Goran Vitanovic

LaLa is a little girl who wakes up one day feeling terrible. She doesn’t know why, but she is in a horrible mood. As she stomps around, her mother tries to make her day better, but LaLa refuses each attempt. But then her mother offers her a solution that just may turn her bad day around. This sweet story offers kids a way to actively turn their bad days into better days, and to see that they can take charge of their emotions. The vibrant illustrations include imagery that depict how LaLa is feeling, which may help little ones relate to her.

LaLa’s Angry Pizza

Written by Tela Kayne and illustrated by Goran Vitanovic

LaLa is back in this sweet story about angry feelings. When LaLa gets home from school, she is furious. Her mother offers her hugs and an opportunity to talk about what is bothering her, but LaLa doesn’t think it will help. Instead, she takes out her playdough and starts taking her frustrations out on it. She ends up creating something that makes her feel a lot better. The book shows kids how they can use their strong emotions for something active, and it even includes a recipe for homemade playdough.

Related Post: Children’s Books for a Bad Day

I Feel Teal

Written by Lauren Rille and illustrated by Aimée Sicuro

This colorful book explores a wide range of emotions and ties them each to a different color. The simple text shows how we can experience a variety of emotions, and be made of many different colors, and how each of those makes us who we are. The illustrations follow a young girl through her day and showcase the different emotions she feels in various situations. The shades and the main character’s expressions help kids to see what she is feeling, allowing them to explore the different emotions along with her.

The Scary Sleepover

Written by Ellie O’Ryan and illustrated by Aardvart

This book is part of a series featuring an adorable set of feelings detectives named the Moodsters. Each Moodster specializes in a specific emotion, and they use their knowledge to help Zach, a little boy struggling with everyday emotions. In this story, Zach and his little sister Zoe are finally having a sleepover in their treehouse. But as the sun sets, Zach suddenly starts to feel afraid. With the help of his Moodster pals, he learns to face his fears and have some fun. The story not only introduces the emotion of fear to kids, but teaches them how to face it. Shop more Moodsters products here!

Learn how the Moodsters toys helped us to reduce tantrums!

A Whole Bunch of Feelings

Written by Jennifer Moore-Mallinos and illustrated by Gustavo Mazali

This informative book explores 44 different feelings. Each two page spread focuses on a different emotion, and features a short scenario, a colorful illustration, and a question that encourages the reader to imagine themselves feeling the same emotion. Each little story puts different animals or little kids into situations that the reader can identify with, increasing their understanding of each emotion. The illustrations feature a diverse cast of kids, and the images do a great job of highlighting the emotions that each child is feeling.

Stubby the Fearless Squid

Written by Barbara Davis-Pyles and illustrated by Carolyn Conahan

Stubby is a squid who is scared of everything. One day he decides to be brave and get a pen pal. But he and his pen pal start writing letters full of big stories and adventures that Stubby can’t back up. When his new pen pal tells him that he is coming for a visit, Stubby tries to put on a brave face. But when his new friend is put in danger, will Stubby be able to step up and feel as brave as his letters show him to be? This sweet story explores the idea that we can stand up and be brave when we need to be, even if we don’t like being brave.

My Name isn’t Oof!: Warren the Warbler Takes Flight

Written by Michael Galligan and illustrated by Jeremiah Trammell

Warren is a little fledgling who jumps from the tree and tries to take his first flight. But he soon crashes to the ground with a loud “oof!”. The other animals in the forest gather around him and try to give him advice about how to fly, but he admits that he was scared. He decides to take the advice from all of his animal friends and try again. This story introduces the emotions of bravery and pride, and shows how friends can help you to be brave.

Related Post: Children’s Books about Bravery

Wally Whale’s Mighty Tale

Written by Kim Linette and illustrated by James Loram

This book is part of a series called the EQ Explorers, which aim to teach kids about emotional intelligence and how to live a happy life. The story follows Koa, a young boy who dives into the ocean to find Wally Whale, who he believes has the secret to a happy life. But when he finds Wally, the words on his tail are smudged. Wally encourages him to guess what he thinks the answer is. After several guesses and discussions about happiness, Wally finally tells Koa the real answer. The message in the book is a great one for young kids, and the examples of happiness are easy for kids to relate to.

100% of the proceeds from EQ Explorers books go to help underserved children via the non-profit Kapalua Cove Foundation.

Compare Bear’s Double Dare

Written by Kim Linette and illustrated by James Loram

This book is also part of the EQ Explorers series of books. Compare is a bear who doesn’t do the things that normal bears do, because he doesn’t think that he does them as well as other animals. But every time he compares himself to another animal, a part of his body changes. Soon he is unrecognizable. A young boy named Danny starts daring him to face his fears and try the things that he is afraid to do. As he tries all of these new things, he learns an important lesson about being true to himself and not comparing himself to others.

What are your favorite kid’s books about emotions? Share in the comments below!

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