Books about anger and temper tantrums

Jack and the Giant Tantrum is a helpful take on tantrums, with guidance at the back of the book for parents of kids that may be experiencing their first ones: a gentle and relatable read for little ones who will no doubt be able to see themselves in Jack.

This engaging picture book, with delightful canine characters, explores difficult emotions with young children, helping them to develop empathy and emotional awareness.

This fun rhyming tale acknowledges the big emotions that little ones experience and enables 2 to 4 year-olds to find a vocabulary for the way they feel when they get cross.

This is a funny and relatable picture book about tantrums for parents and carers, who know all too well how little things can escalate – from wanting a biscuit to having a full-scale meltdown. Perfect for little ones who can feel overwhelmed by their emotions. 

Tiny Tiger really wants all the cake and the ice cream and he wants to live on the moon, drive the car, and wear pyjamas to school. Why can’t he do everything he wants?

Taylor creates a magnificent structure from building blocks and is devastated when it is destroyed by a passing flock of birds. Sensitive and insightful, this poignant story provides an ideal starting point for discussion about how it feels when things go wrong. 

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. 

Ed Vere’s adorable illustration and sense of humour tells a wonderful story about little Frog overcoming his own anger and trying to think about others. There are also sweet and funny touches that help make this a very special book.

When being the youngest and smallest gets too annoying, Ravi roars and turns into a tiger! But who wants to play with a tiger? An entertaining book about losing your temper and recovering from it.

Nadia Shireen’s brilliant book about temper tantrums is a definite must-have for any parents of 3–5 year olds who may have had a wobbler or two. As ever, Shireen’s humour and empathy with little ones shines through.

A brilliant picture book about anger with clever rhymes, a repeated refrain and rib-ticklingly funny illustrations which are instantly appealing.

This colourful picture book cleverly addresses many of the everyday temptations we all face, exploring a different theme on each spread. It reminds children (and adults!) to see how there are always options and to consider that there can be some very real benefits to trying to make more positive choices. 

Max is being naughty, and his mother sends him to bed without dinner, calling him a ​“wild thing.” As Max sits in his fury, a boat appears, taking him to a world of monsters and wild things with big claws and teeth. A classic picture book and one of the first to explore a child’s feelings of anger.

Cookie is very angry, and she’d prefer it is you just went away! Laura Dockrill’s text is brilliantly quirky and friendly, and little ones will definitely identify with Angry Cookie. It’s a perfect book for talking about emotions.

Shinsuke Yoshitake’s quirky book has a cartoonish feel and a sweet, appealing way of working through a little girl’s fantastical yet meaningful ideas around sadness and anger. It’s visually appealing with lots to look at as well as recognising the importance of feeling our feelings.