10 Books That Help Children Identify and Express Feelings

“Good books put a finger on emotions that are deeply our own – but that we could never have described on our own.”

                                                                                                             -Dr. Daniel Siegel

Children come with a complete spectrum of emotions, some of which are too big to contain within. It’s often difficult for them to express the hard ones like sadness, anger, and grief without a formal language to describe them.

Every kid has a unique way of dealing with feelings, but learning to handle them effectively is a crucial part of growing up. What parents can do in this regard is help their children develop emotional intelligence (EQ). It’s one of the essential things parents must teach their kids.

There are many ways to boost a child’s EQ, but reading age-appropriate books happens to be the most simple yet incredibly potent approach. There is a myriad of children’s books that instills the ability in kids to identify their feelings and express them in positive ways.

Here are some of the recommended books that make it easier for children to manage their emotions.

• ‘A Heaven Party for Grandpa’ by Tammi Kaufman (Ages 2-5)

‘A Heaven Party for Grandpa’ is a heartwarming story about a four-year-old girl, Paige, who is left grief-stricken after the death of her grandfather. Unable to deal with the irreparable loss and channel her emotions in the right way, Paige ends up reacting in anger when she finds her mother smiling. Her mother understands what Paige must be going through and helps her calm the raging sea of sorrow within her. She makes it easy for her to accept reality and move on with her life.

• ‘The Feeling Flower’ by Lean Dakroub (Ages 1-4)

‘The Feeling Flower’ is a touching story about how a flower named Zippy feels during the day. The book shows how the flower feels when it’s rainy or sunny. The moral of the story helps little children understand that for a day to be a good day, it doesn’t have to be absolutely perfect. There are ups and downs in life that come and go, and all of us have to learn to live with them.

• ‘I’ll Always Love You’ by Hans Wilhelm (Ages 1-5)

‘I’ll Always Love You’ explores the relationship between humans and their pet animals. A young narrator shares a story about his dog named Elfie and the adventures they had together. The young boy plays with Elfie and cares for her until she ages and dies. The boy becomes lonely and sad but manages to console himself, thinking that Elfie died knowing how much she was loved throughout her life.

• ‘The Invisible String’ by Patrice Karst (Ages 2-5)

‘The Invisible String’ puts forward an interesting idea through an uplifting story about two young siblings. One day, they learn that everyone is connected to everyone they love by an invisible string. Patrice Karst introduces young minds to this notion and shows in his book that even though we can’t see the string with our eyes, we can feel the bond deep within our hearts. It’s reassuring to know that we are connected to our beloveds anytime, anywhere – even through separation and death.

• ‘Llama Llama Mad at Mama’ by Anna Dewdney (Ages 2-5)

‘Llama Llama Mad at Mama’ is about a young llama that loses his patience while shopping at a store with his mom and throws a tantrum. The mother llama maintains her calm and deals with the sensitive situation very tactfully. Instead of reprimanding her child, she decides to make the llama feel more involved in the shopping experience. Consequently, llama learns that even if the chore is tedious, it’s spending time with a loved one that matters.

• ‘The Memory Box: A Book About Grief’ by Joanna Rowland (Ages 2-6)

‘The Memory Box’ is written from the perspective of a young girl and very artfully shows what it is like to live with the memories of someone who has died. To cope with her grief, the girl makes a memory box and preserves all the written memories and souvenirs that remind her of the loved one. This beautiful book allows children and parents to discuss this difficult topic and helps young kids manage the complex emotions when they lose someone close to their hearts.

• ‘Ida, Always’ by Caron Levis (Ages 2-6)

‘Ida, Always’ is an incredibly moving portrait of friendship and loss. It’s a story about two polar bears, Gus and Ida, who live in a big city park. One day, Gus comes to know that Ida is sick and won’t recover. However, Gus gradually realizes that after Ida is gone, she will always be with him in his memories. This captivating story reminds us that those who depart continue to live in our hearts.

• ‘When Sadness Is at Your Door’ by Eva Eland (Ages 2-5)

‘When Sadness Is at Your Door’ puts up a thought-provoking question. What do we do when sadness comes knocking at our door? Do we question ourselves why it is there? Do we ignore it? In a very engaging way, Eva Eland helps kids learn that sometimes sadness doesn’t go away quickly. However, instead of developing a fear of this feeling, they can learn a thing or two from it.

• ‘The Rough Patch’ by Brian Lies (Ages 2-5)

‘The Rough Patch’ follows Evan, the fox, who is devastated after the death of his dog. In a state of anger and disappointment, Evan ruins his garden by tearing it down. When it grows back untamed and wild, the fox begins to admire its peculiar beauty. As Evan finds himself charmed by the wild garden, he learns that one’s loss and pain can be turned into something beautiful.

• ‘After the Fall’ by Dan Santat (Ages 1-4)

In ‘After the Fall,’ Dan Santat recounts the experience of Humpty Dumpty, a keen bird watcher who loves to sit on the city wall. After his fall, Humpty is afraid of heights and can no longer do what he loves. The book shows how he finally musters the courage to climb the wall again to get his life back on track. Based on the iconic nursery rhyme, this exciting and memorable picture book will encourage kids to overcome their fears, learn to get back up and reach new heights.

The ten age-appropriate books on the list have the power to develop EQ and induce a positive change in kids who are experiencing a surge of difficult emotions. Such books make it easier for children to process the loss and the grief that comes with it, helping them learn how to control their feelings and take emotional challenges in a stride.