Picture books about feelings for young children

A cute creature explores the feeling of being surprised, with simple text and bright, expressive illustrations. Part of a series that would be useful to read with toddlers in order to talk about their feelings. 

Happy as a Lamb is a really clever and well-thought-out board book, but it’s really more of a tool for enabling communication about feelings with children which feels fun and has a toy-esque quality that children will love. Highly recommended. 

Bear has a lot of feelings and he knows a useful trick to help release them. Simple and effective, this is a charming picture book.

This puppy is so happy, it feels like laughing out loud and even climbing on a cloud! Simple rhyming text encourages readers to explore their own emotions – and celebrate them.

Follow the cartoon-style adventures of two monkeys. One of them has a banana and the other one wants it – but what is the magic word?

Nick and Sue have very different tastes: Nick likes red apples, Sue prefers green pears; Nick likes orange hair, but Sue likes purple hair.

Two little girls go walking in bluebell wood and rescue a Bog Baby.

With its gruff hero, vibrant, strong colours, bold design and spare text, this story about looking beyond appearances has a satisfying punchy simplicity and jazzy feel.

This light-hearted picture book is a welcome addition to the Simon and Casper series, and touches on some common issues experienced by many toddlers, such as jealousy, unfairness and sibling rivalry. 

Are your thoughts kind, or are they sometimes confusing? This practical, comforting book offers ways for children to deal with negative self-talk. 

Mark the shark can get snappy when things don’t go to plan. Can he learn to channel his big emotions? A funny rhyming story about feelings and behaviour. 

A girl describes her many, varied feelings. A useful book to explore emotions with a young child.

An endearingly funny story, featuring Lauren Child’s heart-warming illustrations, about the arrival of a new sibling and the havoc that ensues.

This brilliant book manages to deal with bullying, fear of being different, frustration at underachieving, and the fact that while some things may appear small from the outside, they can feel unconquerable to those experiencing them.

Rajiv doesn’t know why he’s thrown his toy against the wall, so his dad shows him a way to identify his feelings. Gentle and beautiful, this could spark conversations about emotions with pre-schoolers. 

Geoffrey’s jitters are out of control! How can he get rid of them? Told with humour and great empathy, this picture book from the author-illustrator of Barbara Throws a Wobbler is both funny and helpful.

Peace on earth – what a wonderful idea that would be! The idea of a sparkling, joyful world is a beautiful one. Yet, sometimes, we can hurt each other, and feel the fires of rage burn deep within us. At times like that, it’s hard to find a sense of peace. 

Max and Poppy have turned into rampaging Wildlings! But to go to the park, they need to be children again. Can they work together to turn back into kids? A useful tool for discussing emotions and sharing. 

Finn is in a horrible mood and doesn’t want to talk about it – he’d rather hide under the bedcovers. But, Grandpa persuades Finn to come for a walk outside – Finn can even stay under the blanket and use it like a comforting, protective cloak.

How are you feeling today? This warm-hearted and thoughtful picture book explores a whole range of emotions that children might experience.

Something Else is a lonely creature, excluded from everything because he is different. This is the perfect book for reassuring any child that being different can be a very positive thing.

Emigrating to America, a girl loses the trunk that contains her beloved dress. The dress then embarks on an epic around-the-world journey to find her. A poetic and exquisitely illustrated story about love, loss, the passing of time and the power of memory.

A beautiful, sensitive picture book about what happens when we feel anxious. 

A fun and humorous rhyming picture book about feeling cross when we get hungry. 

A subtle story about love and loss enhanced by delightful illustrations.