Picture Books About Feelings & Emotions

Emotional literacy is "the ability to identify, understand, and respond to emotions in oneself and others in a healthy manner" according to the Center on the Social and Emotional Foundations for Early Learning (CSEFEL) at Vanderbilt University. Children with strong emotional literacy skills are able to cope with difficult situations and build strong connections with others in their lives.

Sharing books about emotions and feelings is a great way to build emotional literacy for children. Feelings and emotions are important, abstract concepts for young children to learn. Using books that prompt conversations about emotions are a great way to build up a child's emotional vocabulary which empowers children to be able to put their feelings into words.

Here is a selection of a few great titles in our collection:

Alexander and the Terrible, No Good, Very Bad Day by Judith Viorst

Can I Tell You A Secret by Anna Kang (fear)

The Feelings Book by Todd Parr (emotions in general)

Have You Filled A Bucket Today? By Carol McCloud (happiness)

Llama Llama Mad at Mama by Anna Dewdney (anger)

My Many Colored Days by Dr. Seuss (emotions in general)

The Most Magnificent Thing by Ashley Spires (frustration, anger)

Nobody's Perfect by David Elloit (patience)

Rosie Revere, Engineer by Andrea Beaty (embarassment, perserverance)

Sometime's I'm Bombaloo by Rachel Vail (anger)

Tiptop Cat by Roger C. Mader (fear)

Today I Feel Silly and Other Moods that Make My Day by Jamie
Lee Curtis (emotions in general)

Wemberly Worried by Kevin Henkes (worry, anxiety)

When Sophie Gets Angry... Really, Really Angry by Molly Bang (anger)

For more suggestions, check out this extensive book list by CSEFEL.