Illustration from When Sophie Gets Angry - Really, Really Angry by Molly Bang
The 5th PBT theological statement for young children is: Feelings are not good or bad. What matters is how you act on your feelings.
For this post I’m offering lots of books for
young children about feelings. Because there are so many, I’ll not go into detail
about each book. Instead I’ll tell you how they are unique or particularly
beneficial for young children to experience. Also, I might suggest a way to use
the book.
Illustration from When Sophie Gets Angry - Really, Really Angry by Molly Bang
Then I’ll list the PBT books that I have already posted on this blog. My favorites of all are the 2 Molly Bang books which I posted about earlier this year on February 12, 2016. The two illustrations above and the one below give you a little taste of the quality of these books. A range of emotions are dealt with here, not just anger as the title of the first one might indicate.
Being able to identify and put labels on
feelings is a crucial first step for children (and adults!) to understand them. Then talk about appropriate ways and inappropriate ways to express their feelings. Everyone benefits when children (and adults!) can do
this and then learn to work through their feelings appropriately.
The first PBT
book I offer is part of a series called The Way I Feel
Books. There is a Note to Parents at the beginning and the
multiple situations are very young child oriented. Besides this
book in the series, the titles I found are listed next. There are lots of PBT possibilities in this series! All have the same initial author.
When I Feel Sad
When I Feel Jealous
When I Feel Worried
When I Feel Scared
When I Miss You
When I Feel Good about Myself
When I Care about Others
Picture Book: When I Feel Angry
Author: Cornelia Maude Spelman
Illustrator: Nancy Cote
Original Publisher & Date: Whitman
& Co., 2000
Age & Grade Appropriateness: 2
and up, Toddler and up
Formats other than Book: Tablet
The next
offering is a new book that’s great for encouraging adults to tell children that
they too struggle with controlling their actions when they have strong
feelings. This book’s text and illustrations use lots of fun similes such as “stubborn
as a mule” or “clumsy as an ox” and emphasize that everyone (even adults!) feels
these ways sometimes.
Picture Book: Wild Feelings
Author & Illustrator:
David Milgrim
Original Publisher & Date: Holt
& Co., 2015
Age & Grade Appropriateness: 4
and up, Pre and up
Formats other than Book: Tablet
Actress Jamie
Lee Curtis writes a wonderful selection of books that children really enjoy. On 12/4/14 I featured on PBT Is There Really a Human
Race? Remember to look up earlier PBT posts by going to the Archive
files on the right side bar. Click on the year and month. Then use the tabs at
the bottom to go to newer posts or older posts. I have over 400 books on this
blog for your benefit!
Curtis’
book about feelings has a girl’s point of view so some boys may not appreciate
it. Girls will absolutely love it though! Cornell’s illustrations are very fun
and full of details.
Picture Book: Today I Feel Silly & Other Moods That Make
My Day
Author: Jamie Lee Curtis
Illustrator: Laura Cornell
Original Publisher & Date: Harper
Collins, 1998
Age & Grade Appropriateness: 4
and up, Pre and up
Formats other than Book: Not
at present
Several
times here at PBT, I’ve mentioned Todd Parr’s brightly colored and simply
perfect books for young children. Note that there is a board book version of
this feelings book and it has a set of corresponding Feelings Flashcards that you can purchase on Amazon.
Picture Book: The Feelings Book
Author & Illustrator: Todd
Parr
Original Publisher & Date: Little,
Brown, & Co. 2000
Age & Grade Appropriateness: 2
and up, Toddler and up
Formats other than Book: Tablet
This
next book is quite old but not dated. It has lots of detailed illustrations and
small text. You may want to read this book over a series of experiences and
with a small number of children to allow them to see the illustrations and talk
with you about their own feelings and experiences. Aliki (Aliki Brandenberg) has
several other great books for young children including one on manners, one on growing,
and one on hands. Her illustrations are often the jewels of her books.
Picture Book: Feelings
Author & Illustrator: Aliki
Original Publisher & Date: William
Morrow & Co., 1984
Age & Grade Appropriateness: 4
and up, Pre and up
Formats other than Book: Not
at present
The next
feelings book offers wonderful and large illustrations over a series of
situations and feelings with different children. There’s a companion book by
another author but still illustrated by Janan Cain called The Way I Act.
Picture Book: The Way I Feel
Author & Illustrator:
Janan Cain
Original Publisher & Date: Parenting
Press, 2000
Age & Grade Appropriateness: 3
and up, Pre and up
Formats other than Book: Not
at present
This book began as lyrics to a song written by award winning children’s recording artist, Laurie Berkner. My version has a CD inside the book. The illustrations are fun, and it’s about accepting all sorts of feelings. The score and text to 4 verses are in the back of the book.
Picture Book: The Story of My Feelings
Author: Laurie Berkner
Illustrator: Caroline Jayne Church
Original Publisher & Date: Orchard
Books, 2007
Age & Grade Appropriateness: 3
and up, Pre and up
Formats other than Book: Not
at present
The last
two books are both by Mo Willems, a favorite picture book author and illustrator. I
offer one from each of his two popular series for young children. His books are
more about the characters and plot than the teaching of feelings so you’ll have
to offer your own instruction in the context of the characters’ feelings. Be
sure to point out all characters’ feelings and note how they change as plots
develop. The first comes in a board book version.
Picture Book: The Pigeon Has Feelings Too!
Author & Illustrator: Mo
Willems
Original Publisher & Date: Hyperion,
2005
Age & Grade Appropriateness: 2
and up, Toddler and up
Formats other than Book: None
at present
Picture Book: My Friend is Sad
Author & Illustrator: Mo
Willems
Original Publisher & Date: Hyperion,
2007
Age & Grade Appropriateness: 4
and up, Pre and up
Formats other than Book: None
at present
Other PBT books that connect with links to posts:
When Sophie Gets Angry… - 6/3/14
When Sophie’s Feelings… - 2/12/16
Bear Has a Story to Tell - 6/22/14
Words are Not for Hurting - 2/16/15
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ReplyDeleteI was initially searching for something like "Quiet Down Time" that would give her reasonable tips on approaches to quiet down when she is distraught. The reason of this book is basic youthful Sophie blows up when her mom constrains her to share her toy gorilla (any multi year old can relate).The depiction of Sophie blowing up is elegantly composed and illustrated.
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