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Emotions
Observing faces, feelings and experiences builds emotional literacy
Captain Starfish
Emotions
Alfie wants to participate in the best parts of being a kid, from his friend Antoinette’s birthday party to the relay races at school. But his shyness keeps him from engaging. When Alfie wakes up with That Feeling on the morning of yet another big event—the underwater costume parade—his mom takes him to the aquarium.
There, Alfie meets a starfish who shines so boldly Alfie feels small. But suddenly, a tiny clownfish swims up to Alfie for a quick hello and retreats again. Alfie begins to understand that there’s a happy medium between hiding away and being the star, and that he needs to come out of hiding every once and awhile to make meaningful connections.
Feelings
Emotions
Who is that little cutie in the mirror? It’s me! Babies and toddlers will love exploring every interactive mirrored page featuring sweet animal friends expressing an emotion. Act silly like a giraffe, look surprised like a monkey, and pretend to sleep like a koala! Playful art and a mirror bring every expression to life in this fun and imaginative story designed to help little ones better understand their feelings.
Lamaze books are designed to spark little triumphs at every stage of baby’s development. Created in conjunction with child development experts, Lamaze books inspire interactive, healthy learning. The high quality, bright colors, friendly faces, and tactile and contrasting patterns of Lamaze books make them a favorite of parents, babies, and experts.
-Story entertains while rhyming text teaching repetitive language patterns to babies and toddlers to help strengthen language development
-Mirrors are great for childhood development and introduce babies to early earning concepts. They help babies explore, learn to see their own faces, and start to recognize their reflections. Mirrors help babies develop self-awareness, a key part of their overall social-emotional development
-Sturdy board pages are easy to grasp and great for practicing fine motor skills. Mirrors inspire babies to reach, pat, and point, also increasing fine motor skills
-Little ones will adore looking at their reflection on every page! A perfect interactive book that teaches children to practice visual tracking and grasp emotions
-Shiny mirrors in every animal scene spark imagination and creativity.
Grumpy Monkey
Emotions, Modern Favs
The smash-hit #1 New York Times bestselling picture book about feeling your feelings is now available as a board book!
Jim the chimpanzee is in a terrible mood for no good reason. His friends can't understand it--how can he be in a bad mood when it's SUCH a beautiful day? They encourage him not to hunch, to smile, and to do things that make THEM happy. But Jim can't take all the advice...and has a bit of a meltdown. Could it be that he just needs a day to feel grumpy?
Suzanne and Max Lang's hilarious approach to this very important lesson is now in a toddler-friendly board book format! It is an excellent case study in the dangers of putting on a happy face and demonstrates to kids that they are allowed to feel their feelings (though they should be careful of hurting others in the process!).
How Do Dinosaurs Say I'm Mad?
Emotions
R-O-A-R! What happens when little dinosaurs get mad, mad, MAD? And how do they take a deep breath and calm down?
When little dinosaurs get angry, they sometimes misbehave. Readers will laugh aloud and relate to all the dinosaur-sized antics, from stomping and yelling to tantrums and meltdowns. But after a dinosaur storms around the house, it's time to calm down. That's when a dinosaur knows to count to ten, clean up the mess... and give big hugs, of course! Mama and Papa don't like outbursts but they always love their children.
The award-winning team of Yolen and Teague have created a fun, engaging book sure to help children handle anger and frustration. Everybody gets mad sometimes. Parents, educators, and children can talk about it.
With the same warmth, charm, and humor in all the bestselling How Do Dinosaurs books, here is the perfect way to say, "I'm sorry -- and I love you." Now in board book, perfect for little hands!
Hugs
Emotions
Introduce your little one to all things hugs in this adorable lift-a-flap sturdy board book that celebrates the universal embrace we all know and love! Packed with fun surprises under every flap and fuzzy animal families, this heartwarming book highlights all the kinds of hugs used to express affection. From bear hugs to warm hugs, babies will love seeing their favorite animals including kittens, giraffes, monkeys, sloths, cheetahs, panda bears, hedgehogs, elephants, and llamas embrace to show their love for one another. Simple sentences reinforce language structure while grasping and lifting the sturdy flaps helps develop fine motor skills. A sweet animal introduction both babies and toddlers will adore that strengthens a love for animals and teaches empathy. A must for little animal lovers!
Collect the entire Babies Love Chunky Lift-a-Flap Board Book series from Cottage Door Press!
Introduces little ones to early social-emotional learning concepts. Touches on themes of empathy and unconditional love.
Sturdy Lift-a-Flap board books with surprises under every flap!
Durable board pages and chunky flaps designed to withstand traditional wear and tear from babies and toddlers
Lifting flaps strengthens hand-eye coordination and fine motor skills of little boys and girls
Perfect gift for baby showers, birthdays, Valentine's Day, holidays, and more!
I Am Smart, I Am Blessed, I Can Do Anything!
Self-Esteem, Diverse Leads, Emotions
Based on a viral video comes the story of one boy's positive energy and how a sunny outlook can turn everything around.
It's a new day and Ayaan has woken up on the wrong side of the bed, where nothing feels quite right. What if he doesn't know the answer at school? What if he messes up? But as he sets out that morning, all it takes is a few reminders from his mom and some friends in the neighborhood to remind him that a new day is a good day because...
HE IS SMART,
HE IS BLESSED,
AND HE CAN DO ANYTHING!
I Can Handle It
Emotions
Kids learn well through repetition, and simple easy to 'get' language.
Your children will incorporate the mindful mantra I Can Handle It almost immediately after reading this book!
In a tough situation, they will think 'I can handle it', and when they are dealing with tough emotions, they will think 'I can handle it!'. Even if they aren't saying the words out loud, if they learn and practice this mantra it will become a part of their self-talk.
Positive self-talk is incredibly important for improving and maintaining mental health and the mindful mantra books are a way to plant that positivity right into a child's head!
Help your child learn to handle difficult emotions along with Sebastien, and provide a tool for lifelong confidence.
Depression and anxiety don't discriminate and our kids need help. I Can Handle It equips children with a necessary skill to alleviate everyday anxieties that arise in their lives.
I Feel...
Emotions
I Feel...is a simple, silly book that helps kids recognize, express, and deal with the roller coaster of emotions they feel every day and understand that it's alright to feel them all!
Sometimes I feel happy.
Sometimes I feel sad.
Sometimes I feel angry and want to be bad.
So many emotions. How do I deal?
I need to remember, it's okay that I feel
Celebrated by therapists, psychologists, teachers, and parents, DJ Corchin's I Feel... series is a wonderful tool to help children develop self-awareness for their feelings and those of their friends. With fun, witty illustrations, straightforward text, these social-emotional books for kids makes it easy for children to identify their emotions—and have fun too!
I Feel... Anxious
Emotions, Worrying
Explore the complex world of feelings with the uplifting and acclaimed I Feel... series! Help children understand the confusing and sometimes scary feelings they experience with I Feel… Anxious.
Sometimes I feel anxious. Sometimes I feel worried. And sometimes these unsettling feelings can grow until they feel totally overwhelming! It's hard to feel this way, but there are lots of things to do to help me feel better. I'll just take it one step at a time!
With fun, witty illustrations and simple, straightforward text, I Feel...Anxious addresses the common feelings that come with being a child. This book makes it easy for kids to identify how they're feeling―and have fun too.
Own the whole series!
I Feel...
I Feel... Different
I Feel... Awesome
I Feel... Lonely
I Feel... Meh
I Feel... Too!
I Feel... Sick
I Feel... Allergic
I Feel... Angry
I Feel... Something
I Feel... Different
Emotions
This series helps kids recognize, express, and deal with the roller coaster of emotions they feel every day. It has been celebrated by therapists, psychologists, teachers, and parents as wonderful tools to help children develop self-awareness for their feelings and those of their friends.
Sometimes I feel different. Like I'm slightly too tall.
Or unusually big and I don't fit at all...
Everyone is different in their own special way, but sometimes that can make us feel odd or left out. It's important to remember that our differences are what make us who we are, and that's wonderful!
With fun, witty illustrations and simple, straightforward text, I Feel...Different helps kids understand that sometimes we feel different than everyone else, and that's okay! These books make it easy for kids to identify their own emotions―and have fun too. Explore the complex world of feelings with the I Feel... series!
I Feel... Something
Emotions
This series helps kids recognize, express, and deal with the roller coaster of emotions they feel every day. It has been celebrated by therapists, psychologists, teachers, and parents as wonderful tools to help children develop self-awareness for their feelings and those of their friends.
Sometimes I feel something. It's hard to explain.
It's not quite a feeling. It's not quite a pain.
The things that I'm feeling make no sense in my brain!
Sometimes our bodies send us signals that are hard to define and express. What do we do when we feel…hungry? When our arms are tingly and uncomfortable? When we have an itch?
With fun, witty illustrations and simple, straightforward text, I Feel...Something introduces kids to the concept of interoception (the ability to understand the signals our body sends us). This book makes it easier for kids to identify and express those bodily signals―and have fun too.
In My Heart
Emotions
Sometimes my heart feels like a big yellow star, shiny and bright.
I smile from ear to ear and twirl around so fast,
I feel as if I could take off into the sky.
This is when my heart is happy.
Happiness, sadness, bravery, anger, shyness . . . our hearts can feel so many feelings! Some make us feel as light as a balloon, others as heavy as an elephant. In My Heart explores a full range of emotions, describing how they feel physically, inside. With language that is lyrical but also direct, toddlers will be empowered by this new vocabulary and able to practice articulating and identifying their own emotions. With whimsical illustrations and an irresistible die-cut heart that extends through each spread, this unique feelings book is gorgeously packaged.
The Growing Hearts series celebrates the milestones of a toddler’s emotional development, from conquering fears and expressing feelings to welcoming a new sibling.
Lilly's Purple Plastic Purse
Going to School, Emotions
Lilly loves all sorts of things. She loves school, she loves dressing up, she even grows to love her stinky baby brother, Julius. In fact, Lilly loves everything! But when Lilly brings her purple plastic purse to school and can't wait until sharing time to show off the purse and her movie star sunglasses, her teacher, Mr. Slinger, has to take away her prized possessions.
Lilly's fury leads her to draw a mean picture of her favorite teacher. It isn’t until Mr. Slinger gives her belongings back to her with a kind note and snacks that Lilly realizes she owes Mr. Slinger an apology.
Lilly, the star of Chester's Way and Julius, the Baby of the World, is back. And this time she has her name in the title—something she's wanted all along. If you thought Lilly was funny before, you are in for a treat. So hurry up and start reading. Lilly can't wait for you to find out more about her.
Lilly's Purple Plastic Purse is a picture book to share at home or in the classroom—Lilly is funny and unique, and her irrepressible joy is catching. Kids, parents, and teachers will all relate to the powerful emotions and appreciate the sweet and satisfying resolution.
Llama Llama Mad at Mama
Emotions
Yucky music, great big feet.
Ladies smelling way too sweet.
Look at knees and stand in line.
Llama Llama starts to whine.
Does any child like to go shopping? Not Llama Llama! But Mama can’t leave Llama at home, so off they go to Shop-O-Rama. Lots of aisles. Long lines. Mama is too busy to notice that Llama Llama is getting m-a-d! And before he knows it, he’s having a full-out tantrum! Mama quickly calms him down, but she also realizes that they need to make shopping more fun for both of them. Parents and children are sure to recognize themselves in this fun-to-read follow-up to the popular Llama Llama Red Pajama.
Making Faces: A First Book of Emotions
Emotions, Baby Faces
An interactive photographic board book about emotions from the creators of Baby Loves and Baby Up, Baby Down
This bold, beautiful board book introduces five essential expressions: happy, sad, angry, surprised, and silly. Each expression is introduced with a large image of a baby’s face. Readers are asked to mimic the face, then pick it out from a group of other babies. The very last spread includes all of the expressions from the previous pages, and a mirror so readers can watch themselves make any face they please!
My Body Sends a Signal
Emotions
How to teach kids about emotions and feelings?Like teaching them everything else - using clear words, familiar situations, exciting pictures and a lot of hands-on activities (games, puzzles, coloring pages, etc.) One can, of course, spend time and find various resources online. Or one can get just one book.This book is an excellent educational source that has is all. The book includes a cute story that kids can relate to, beautiful illustrations that capture children's attention, calming-down activities for kids, instructions to adults on the follow-up activities, emotions cards, feelings cards, coloring pages and related short stories to teach kids empathy.
Shady Baby Feels: A First Book of Emotions
African American Leads, Emotions, Celebrity Authors
Learn about feelings and emotions with Shady Baby in this board book created by the bestselling team of Gabrielle Union, Dwyane Wade, and Tara Nicole Whitaker!
Shady Baby is baking cupcakes, and she has some feelings about the process. From excitement or boredom, Shady Baby expresses nine common emotions. Perfect for the youngest of readers, this book will inspire kids to discuss their multitude of feelings in a kid-friendly, accessible format.
Great for:
-Introducing emotional literacy, self-awareness, and empathy to toddlers!
-Reading sequential yet simple storylines!
-Early childhood development!
-Tiny hands, due to its sturdy pages!
Shake My Sillies Out
Emotions, Movement
Shake, clap, jump, and wiggle your way through this classic Raffi sing-along book!
Join a group of happy campers on a fun moonlit night in this beloved Raffi Song to Read. The rhythm, rhyme, and repetition of singing support and encourage speech and listening skills, laying the foundations for later reading.
The Color Monster
Emotions
"This sensitive book . . . encourages young ones to open up and discuss how they feel, even when their thoughts are confusing." —Parents
We teach toddlers to identify colors, numbers, shapes, and letters—but what about their feelings? By illustrating such common emotions as happiness, sadness, anger, fear, and calm, this sensitive book gently encourages young children to open up with parents, teachers, and daycare providers. And kids will LOVE the bright illustrations and amazing 3-D pop-ups on every page!
The Feelings Book
Emotions
Sometimes I feel silly.
Sometimes I feel like eating pizza for breakfast.
Sometimes I feel brave.
Sometimes I feel like trying something new...
The Feelings Book vibrantly illustrates the wide range of moods we all experience. Kids and adults will appreciate Todd Parr's quirky intelligence as he pays special attention to the ever-changing, sometimes nonsensical emotions that we all feel. Targeted to young children first beginning to read, this book will inspire kids to discuss their multitude of feelings in a kid-friendly, accessible format, told through Parr's trademark bold, bright colors and silly scenes.
The Impatient Dinosaur
Emotions
Why is waiting so hard for dinosaurs?
The Little Dino has no patience. He wants what he wants when he wants it. If his parents say, "in a minute," he reacts as if they have said "in a year".
This cute and funny story help kids discover that some things are worth the wait.
*It is OK to be frustrated when you have to wait
*Learn how to recognize the needs of others
*Helping your child learn self-control and practice waiting
*Making choices and understand consequences
*Waiting can also be a lot of fun
The Important Book
Emotions
Margaret Wise Brown, the New York Times bestselling author of the perennial classics Goodnight Moon and Runaway Bunny, asks children to think deeply about the importance of everyday objects, from apples to spoons. With lyrical words and vivid illustrations by Caldecott winner Leonard Weisgard, The Important Book shows children just how important everyday objects can be.
What is the most important thing about a spoon? The fact that you can eat with it? What about an apple? Or a shoe? This book helps curious preschoolers notice important details about their everyday surroundings, like daisies are white, rain is wet, and a spoon is used for eating.
For the important thing about The Important Book is that the book resonates long after it's closed. What's most important about many familiar things—like rain and wind, apples and daisies—is suggested in rhythmic words and vivid pictures. "A perfect book. The text establishes a word game which tiny children will accept with glee," said Kirkus.
The Invisible String
Emotions, Lovey Dovey, Graduation
Specifically written to address children's fear of being apart from the ones they love, The Invisible String delivers a particularly compelling message in today's uncertain times that though we may be separated from the ones we care for, whether through anger, or distance or even death, love is the unending connection that binds us all, and, by extension, ultimately binds every person on the planet to everyone else. Parents and children everywhere who are looking for reassurance and reaffirmation of the transcendent power of love, to bind, connect and comfort us through those inevitable times when life challenges us!
The Monster Parade
Emotions
An engaging story that helps children work with difficult emotions by imagining them as playful monsters in a parade (ages 3-7).
Watch as the anger monster passes and the sadness monster disappears--it’s all part of the parade of feelings we experience every day. Instead of holding on to their emotions, kids can acknowledge them and let them go on their way.
What’s happening in your parade today?
Here’s the angry monster
Headed this way
It growls so loud
But you know it won't stay
The Pout-Pout Fish
Classics, Emotions, NY Times Best Sellers
Swim along with the pout-pout fish as he discovers that being glum and spreading "dreary wearies" isn't really his destiny. Bright ocean colors and playful rhyme come together in Deborah Diesen's fun fish story that's sure to turn even the poutiest of frowns upside down.
The Sour Grape
NY Times Best Sellers, Emotions
The Sour Grape holds grudges for every reason under the sun. Lime never returned a scarf they borrowed? Grudge! Orange never called back? Grudge! But when a friend holds a grudge against the Sour Grape without listening to an explanation, the Sour Grape realizes how unfair grudges can be. Could a bunch of forgiveness and compassion be enough to turn a sour grape sweet?
The Way I Feel
Emotions
Feelings are neither good nor bad, they simply are. Kids need words to name their feelings, just as they need words to name all things in their world. The Way I Feel uses strong, colorful, and expressive images which go along with simple verses to help children connect the word and the emotion. Your child will learn useful words, and you will have many chances to open conversations about what’s going on in her/his life. Recommended by parents, teachers and mental health professionals, The Way I Feel is a valuable addition to anyone's library. This book is ideal for children with autism.
The Year We Learned to Fly
Emotions, Persistence, African American Leads
Jacqueline Woodson and Rafael López's highly anticipated companion to their #1 New York Times bestseller The Day You Begin illuminates the power in each of us to face challenges with confidence.
On a dreary, stuck-inside kind of day, a brother and sister heed their grandmother’s advice: “Use those beautiful and brilliant minds of yours. Lift your arms, close your eyes, take a deep breath, and believe in a thing. Somebody somewhere at some point was just as bored you are now.” And before they know it, their imaginations lift them up and out of their boredom. Then, on a day full of quarrels, it’s time for a trip outside their minds again, and they are able to leave their anger behind. This precious skill, their grandmother tells them, harkens back to the days long before they were born, when their ancestors showed the world the strength and resilience of their beautiful and brilliant minds. Jacqueline Woodson’s lyrical text and Rafael Lopez’s dazzling art celebrate the extraordinary ability to lift ourselves up and imagine a better world.
Today I Feel Silly
Celebrity Authors, Emotions
From the #1 New York Times bestselling team of Jamie Lee Curtis and Laura Cornell, authors of I’m Gonna Like Me and Where Do Balloons Go?, Today I Feel Silly helps children understand and appreciate their shifting moods.
Jamie Lee Curtis's zany and touching verse, paired with Laura Cornell's whimsical and original illustrations, helps kids explore, identify, and, even have fun with their ever-changing moods.
Silly, cranky, excited, or sad—everyone has moods that can change each day. And that’s okay! Follow the boisterous, bouncing protagonist as she explores her moods and how they change from day to day.
We Are Not Friends
Emotions, Friendship
Two fuzzy friends are having a fun playdate when a new pal hops in. As the day continues, each friend feels left out at times. It isn’t so easy to figure out how to act when everything seems to change. With humor and heart, the beloved characters from Theodor Seuss Geisel Award winner You Are (Not) Small navigate a friendship triangle as only they can.
meaningful additions
Children hear more than we think. Books provide context for new and potentially confusing topics, and give caregivers a way to approach complex topics.
Amazing, highly curated books organized by topics, including strong female leads, LGBTQ family, Black Lives Matter, grandparents and more.

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