{"id":175,"date":"2026-11-10T00:33:29","date_gmt":"2026-11-09T19:03:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ujjwalganesh.com\/books\/essays\/books-about-feelings-for-kids\/"},"modified":"2026-11-12T01:09:42","modified_gmt":"2026-11-11T19:39:42","slug":"books-about-feelings-for-kids","status":"publish","type":"essay","link":"https:\/\/ujjwalganesh.com\/books\/essays\/books-about-feelings-for-kids\/","title":{"rendered":"Books About Feelings for Kids: 13 Picks, Sorted by the Feeling They Help With"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">My children&#8217;s book began with my daughter Navya asking questions I loved answering: <em>Why do I get angry so fast? Why does my tummy hurt when I&#8217;m nervous? Why can&#8217;t I remember being a baby?<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Those questions are a gift in themselves. A child who asks &#8220;why do I feel like this?&#8221; is already trying to understand their inner world. A good book gives them words for it, and gives the two of you something to talk about that isn&#8217;t the meltdown you just had.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">So this guide sorts books about feelings by the feeling a child is actually wrestling with, rather than by age or price. If your child explodes over small things, start with the anger books. If bedtime brings a parade of &#8220;what ifs&#8221;, start with worry. For the child who asks &#8220;why&#8221; about everything, there&#8217;s a section at the end.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>Links to Amazon in this post are paid links: as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. It never changes the price you pay. One of the books is mine, and I&#8217;ve marked it.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-full is-resized\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1000\" height=\"1500\" src=\"https:\/\/ujjwalganesh.com\/books\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/books-about-feelings-for-kids-13-picks.webp\" alt=\"Watercolour illustration of a mother and daughter reading a picture book on the sofa while Leo the chameleon looks on. Books about feelings for kids.\" class=\"wp-image-166\" style=\"width:600px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ujjwalganesh.com\/books\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/books-about-feelings-for-kids-13-picks.webp 1000w, https:\/\/ujjwalganesh.com\/books\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/books-about-feelings-for-kids-13-picks-200x300.webp 200w, https:\/\/ujjwalganesh.com\/books\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/books-about-feelings-for-kids-13-picks-683x1024.webp 683w, https:\/\/ujjwalganesh.com\/books\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/books-about-feelings-for-kids-13-picks-768x1152.webp 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"how-i-chose-these-books\">How I chose these books<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Every book on this list had to pass four tests:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>It names a feeling honestly.<\/strong> No &#8220;cheer up&#8221;, no &#8220;big kids don&#8217;t cry&#8221;. The feeling is allowed to exist.<\/li>\n\n\n<li><strong>It doesn&#8217;t lecture.<\/strong> The story does the work, so a child doesn&#8217;t feel told off.<\/li>\n\n\n<li><strong>It gives you something to talk about.<\/strong> Under each book you&#8217;ll find one question to ask after reading.<\/li>\n\n\n<li><strong>It&#8217;s easy to buy now.<\/strong> Each is in print, and several have won major children&#8217;s book awards.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The ages given are the publisher&#8217;s own ranges. Many picture books work well beyond them, especially when you read them together and talk about them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-full is-resized\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1000\" height=\"1500\" src=\"https:\/\/ujjwalganesh.com\/books\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/books-about-feelings-for-kids-by-feeling.webp\" alt=\"List of picture books matched to feelings, from anger and worry to kindness, under an illustration of Leo the chameleon on a stack of wrapped books.\" class=\"wp-image-167\" style=\"width:600px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ujjwalganesh.com\/books\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/books-about-feelings-for-kids-by-feeling.webp 1000w, https:\/\/ujjwalganesh.com\/books\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/books-about-feelings-for-kids-by-feeling-200x300.webp 200w, https:\/\/ujjwalganesh.com\/books\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/books-about-feelings-for-kids-by-feeling-683x1024.webp 683w, https:\/\/ujjwalganesh.com\/books\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/books-about-feelings-for-kids-by-feeling-768x1152.webp 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"for-big-fast-anger\">For big, fast anger<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Anger is the feeling children are most often told to stop. These two books let it be loud for a while, and then show it passing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/dp\/0439598451?tag=ugbookblog-20\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"sponsored nofollow noopener\">When Sophie Gets Angry\u2014Really, Really Angry\u2026<\/a> (paid link)<\/strong> by Molly Bang. Ages: preschool to grade 1 (Scholastic).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">When her sister gets a turn with her favourite toy, Sophie&#8217;s anger builds until she slams the door and runs outside. She climbs a tree, lets the world calm her down, and goes home. It won a Caldecott Honor in 2000.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>Ask after:<\/em> &#8220;What helps you when you feel as angry as Sophie?&#8221;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/dp\/0553537865?tag=ugbookblog-20\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"sponsored nofollow noopener\">Grumpy Monkey<\/a> (paid link)<\/strong> by Suzanne Lang, illustrated by Max Lang. Ages 3\u20137.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Jim the chimpanzee is grumpy and doesn&#8217;t know why, while all his friends keep telling him how to cheer up. In the end the book settles on something many adults forget: it&#8217;s fine to feel grumpy for a day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>Ask after:<\/em> &#8220;Have you ever felt grumpy and not known why? What did you need?&#8221;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-full is-resized\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1000\" height=\"1500\" src=\"https:\/\/ujjwalganesh.com\/books\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/picture-books-for-kids-who-get-angry.webp\" alt=\"Watercolour illustration of an angry girl breathing slowly with her kneeling father and a coral-red Leo the chameleon. Books about anger for kids.\" class=\"wp-image-168\" style=\"width:600px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ujjwalganesh.com\/books\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/picture-books-for-kids-who-get-angry.webp 1000w, https:\/\/ujjwalganesh.com\/books\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/picture-books-for-kids-who-get-angry-200x300.webp 200w, https:\/\/ujjwalganesh.com\/books\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/picture-books-for-kids-who-get-angry-683x1024.webp 683w, https:\/\/ujjwalganesh.com\/books\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/picture-books-for-kids-who-get-angry-768x1152.webp 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"for-the-worrier\">For the worrier<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Worry tends to grow when it&#8217;s kept secret. Both of these books show it getting smaller once a child finds someone who understands.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/dp\/1547602376?tag=ugbookblog-20\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"sponsored nofollow noopener\">Ruby Finds a Worry<\/a> (paid link)<\/strong> by Tom Percival. Ages 3\u20136. (In the UK and India it&#8217;s called <em>Ruby&#8217;s Worry<\/em>.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Ruby finds a small Worry, and the more she thinks about it, the bigger it grows, until it&#8217;s all she can see. When she meets a boy with a Worry of his own and they talk, both Worries shrink.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>Ask after:<\/em> &#8220;If your worry was a creature, what would it look like? How big is it today?&#8221;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/dp\/0061857769?tag=ugbookblog-20\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"sponsored nofollow noopener\">Wemberly Worried<\/a> (paid link)<\/strong> by Kevin Henkes. Ages 4\u20138.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Wemberly the mouse worries about everything, and most of all about starting school. There she meets another worried mouse, and making a friend makes the worrying a little lighter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>Ask after:<\/em> &#8220;What&#8217;s one worry you&#8217;ve had that turned out smaller than you thought?&#8221;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-full is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1000\" height=\"1500\" src=\"https:\/\/ujjwalganesh.com\/books\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/books-for-kids-who-worry-1.webp\" alt=\"Watercolour illustration of a boy hugging his knees at bedtime with a small grey cloud while his mother reads to him and a blue Leo listens.\" class=\"wp-image-169\" style=\"width:600px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ujjwalganesh.com\/books\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/books-for-kids-who-worry-1.webp 1000w, https:\/\/ujjwalganesh.com\/books\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/books-for-kids-who-worry-1-200x300.webp 200w, https:\/\/ujjwalganesh.com\/books\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/books-for-kids-who-worry-1-683x1024.webp 683w, https:\/\/ujjwalganesh.com\/books\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/books-for-kids-who-worry-1-768x1152.webp 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"for-frustration-and-i-cant-do-it\">For frustration and &#8220;I can&#8217;t do it&#8221;<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">These two are for the child who tears up the drawing, or throws the Lego, because it didn&#8217;t come out right.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/dp\/1554537045?tag=ugbookblog-20\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"sponsored nofollow noopener\">The Most Magnificent Thing<\/a> (paid link)<\/strong> by Ashley Spires. Ages 3\u20137.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A girl and her dog set out to build something magnificent, but every attempt goes wrong, until she&#8217;s so frustrated she quits. A walk calms her down, and she goes back and gets it right.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>Ask after:<\/em> &#8220;What did she do when she got too frustrated? What could you do?&#8221;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/dp\/0763619612?tag=ugbookblog-20\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"sponsored nofollow noopener\">The Dot<\/a> (paid link)<\/strong> by Peter H. Reynolds. Ages 5\u20139.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Vashti is sure she can&#8217;t draw, so she jabs one angry dot onto a blank page. Her teacher treats the dot as a real start, and it leads Vashti somewhere she didn&#8217;t expect.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>Ask after:<\/em> &#8220;Is there something you think you can&#8217;t do? What would your first dot be?&#8221;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"for-sad-days-and-missing-someone\">For sad days and missing someone<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/dp\/073522935X?tag=ugbookblog-20\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"sponsored nofollow noopener\">The Rabbit Listened<\/a> (paid link)<\/strong> by Cori Doerrfeld. Ages 3\u20135.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">When Taylor&#8217;s block tower is knocked down, one animal after another tells Taylor how to react. Only the rabbit gets it right: it stays close and listens, until Taylor is ready to build again. It&#8217;s as useful for the adult reading it as for the child.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>Ask after:<\/em> &#8220;When you&#8217;re sad, do you want someone to fix it or to listen?&#8221;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/dp\/031648623X?tag=ugbookblog-20\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"sponsored nofollow noopener\">The Invisible String<\/a> (paid link)<\/strong> by Patrice Karst, illustrated by Joanne Lew-Vriethoff. Ages 4\u20138.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Scared by a storm at night, two children run to their mother, who tells them that people who love each other are joined by an invisible string that never breaks. It&#8217;s a gentle book for school drop-offs, time apart or a family member far away. One page mentions an uncle who has died and is &#8220;in heaven&#8221;, so read it first if that matters for your family.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>Ask after:<\/em> &#8220;Who is on the other end of your invisible strings?&#8221;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"for-brave-moments\">For brave moments<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/dp\/0763678384?tag=ugbookblog-20\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"sponsored nofollow noopener\">Jabari Jumps<\/a> (paid link)<\/strong> by Gaia Cornwall. Ages 4\u20138.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Jabari has finished his swimming lessons and is sure he&#8217;s ready to jump off the diving board, until he gets to the edge. His father is patient and helps him face the fear in his own time. It won a Charlotte Zolotow Honor in 2018.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>Ask after:<\/em> &#8220;What&#8217;s something that feels scary and exciting at the same time?&#8221;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"for-naming-feelings\">For naming feelings<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/dp\/0316450014?tag=ugbookblog-20\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"sponsored nofollow noopener\">The Color Monster: A Story About Emotions<\/a> (paid link)<\/strong> by Anna Llenas. Ages 4\u20138. (In the UK and India it&#8217;s <em>The Colour Monster<\/em>.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Color Monster wakes up with all his feelings in a muddle. A girl helps him sort them, one colour for each feeling. It&#8217;s a simple, playful way to start using feeling words at home.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>Ask after:<\/em> &#8220;What colour are you feeling right now?&#8221;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"for-kindness-and-empathy\">For kindness and empathy<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/dp\/0399246525?tag=ugbookblog-20\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"sponsored nofollow noopener\">Each Kindness<\/a> (paid link)<\/strong> by Jacqueline Woodson, illustrated by E. B. Lewis. Ages 5\u20138.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Chloe and her friends ignore Maya, the new girl, and keep ignoring her until Maya stops coming to school. Too late, Chloe wishes she had been kind. The ending isn&#8217;t tidy, which is exactly why it starts good conversations with older children. It won a Coretta Scott King Author Honor and the Jane Addams Children&#8217;s Book Award in 2013.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>Ask after:<\/em> &#8220;What could Chloe have done? Is there a Maya in your class?&#8221;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"for-the-kid-who-asks-why-do-i-feel-like-this\">For the kid who asks &#8220;why do I feel like this?&#8221;<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Some children want more than a story. They want to know what&#8217;s going on inside. These two books answer that.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/dp\/B0FH68Q6PJ?tag=ugbookblog-20\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"sponsored nofollow noopener\">Your Wonderful Mind<\/a> (paid link)<\/strong> by Ujjwal Ganesh. Ages 6\u201310. <em>This is my book, so take this one with a pinch of salt.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It takes eleven questions children really ask, from &#8220;Why do I get mad so fast?&#8221; to &#8220;Can I be brave if I&#8217;m scared?&#8221;, and explains what&#8217;s happening inside for each one, with friendly names: a Guard Dog for the brain&#8217;s alarm, a Red Phone line between brain and tummy, a Librarian for memories. Leo, a chameleon whose colours change with his feelings, goes through each feeling first, and every chapter has one small mission to try, such as a slow &#8220;smell the cocoa, cool the cocoa&#8221; breath for angry moments. It&#8217;s written to be read together, one chapter at a time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>Ask after:<\/em> &#8220;Which chapter question have you wondered about too?&#8221;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/dp\/0982993803?tag=ugbookblog-20\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"sponsored nofollow noopener\">Your Fantastic Elastic Brain<\/a> (paid link)<\/strong> by JoAnn Deak, illustrated by Sarah Ackerley. Ages 4\u20138.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A nonfiction picture book that introduces the main parts of the brain and how the brain changes when we practise. It treats mistakes as part of how we learn, which makes it a good partner for the frustration books above.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>Ask after:<\/em> &#8220;What&#8217;s something that used to be hard for you and is easier now?&#8221;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-full is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1000\" height=\"1500\" src=\"https:\/\/ujjwalganesh.com\/books\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/gifts-for-curious-kids-who-ask-why.webp\" alt=\"Watercolour illustration of a boy lying on a rug dreaming about a puppy, a telephone and a heart, with Leo the chameleon beside him. Gifts for curious kids.\" class=\"wp-image-170\" style=\"width:600px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ujjwalganesh.com\/books\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/gifts-for-curious-kids-who-ask-why.webp 1000w, https:\/\/ujjwalganesh.com\/books\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/gifts-for-curious-kids-who-ask-why-200x300.webp 200w, https:\/\/ujjwalganesh.com\/books\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/gifts-for-curious-kids-who-ask-why-683x1024.webp 683w, https:\/\/ujjwalganesh.com\/books\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/gifts-for-curious-kids-who-ask-why-768x1152.webp 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"how-to-read-a-feelings-book-together\">How to read a feelings book together<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A book about feelings works best as a conversation, not a lesson. In the note at the front of my book I wrote that &#8220;the magic isn&#8217;t just in the pages\u2014it&#8217;s in what you discuss afterward.&#8221; Four things help:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Read it on a calm day.<\/strong> In the middle of a meltdown, a story is hard to take in. Read it when things are quiet, so it&#8217;s something you can both come back to.<\/li>\n\n\n<li><strong>Ask one question, then wait.<\/strong> Use the question under each book, or just &#8220;Has that ever happened to you?&#8221; Silence is fine. Some children answer days later.<\/li>\n\n\n<li><strong>Share your own feeling too.<\/strong> &#8220;I felt like Sophie when my train was cancelled&#8221; shows that adults have big feelings and get through them.<\/li>\n\n\n<li><strong>Let them re-read it.<\/strong> Children often ask for the same book again and again. Sometimes that&#8217;s them working something out; sometimes it&#8217;s simply comfort.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-full is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1000\" height=\"1500\" src=\"https:\/\/ujjwalganesh.com\/books\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/how-to-read-a-feelings-book-together-1.webp\" alt=\"Four tips for reading a book about feelings with a child, under a watercolour of two children reading in a blanket fort with Leo the chameleon.\" class=\"wp-image-171\" style=\"width:600px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ujjwalganesh.com\/books\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/how-to-read-a-feelings-book-together-1.webp 1000w, https:\/\/ujjwalganesh.com\/books\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/how-to-read-a-feelings-book-together-1-200x300.webp 200w, https:\/\/ujjwalganesh.com\/books\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/how-to-read-a-feelings-book-together-1-683x1024.webp 683w, https:\/\/ujjwalganesh.com\/books\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/how-to-read-a-feelings-book-together-1-768x1152.webp 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"turning-a-book-into-a-gift\">Turning a book into a gift<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If you&#8217;re giving one of these for a birthday or the holidays, a few small touches make it feel personal:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Write in the front.<\/strong> A line about a time you saw them being brave, kind or patient means more than &#8220;Happy birthday&#8221;.<\/li>\n\n\n<li><strong>Pair it with something to do.<\/strong> A plain notebook for drawing feelings, a soft toy to &#8220;read to&#8221;, or a torch for reading in a blanket fort.<\/li>\n\n\n<li><strong>Far away this year?<\/strong> Send the book, then read it together on a video call. For a grandparent, that can become a ritual.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-full is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1000\" height=\"1500\" src=\"https:\/\/ujjwalganesh.com\/books\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/gift-from-grandma-books-about-feelings.webp\" alt=\"Watercolour illustration of a grandmother reading a picture book with her grandson by a snowy window, with Leo the chameleon on the windowsill.\" class=\"wp-image-172\" style=\"width:600px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ujjwalganesh.com\/books\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/gift-from-grandma-books-about-feelings.webp 1000w, https:\/\/ujjwalganesh.com\/books\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/gift-from-grandma-books-about-feelings-200x300.webp 200w, https:\/\/ujjwalganesh.com\/books\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/gift-from-grandma-books-about-feelings-683x1024.webp 683w, https:\/\/ujjwalganesh.com\/books\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/gift-from-grandma-books-about-feelings-768x1152.webp 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"when-feelings-are-more-than-a-book-can-help-with\">When feelings are more than a book can help with<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">These books are for everyday big feelings. If your child&#8217;s feelings are frequent or intense, or are getting in the way of school, sleep or friendships, talk to your child&#8217;s doctor or school counsellor. A good book can sit alongside that help, but it isn&#8217;t a replacement for it. And if a child often has tummy aches, check with a doctor rather than assuming it&#8217;s worry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"the-13-books-at-a-glance\">The 13 books at a glance<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table is-style-stripes\"><table><thead><tr><th>Feeling<\/th><th>Book<\/th><th>Ages<\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td>Anger<\/td><td>When Sophie Gets Angry\u2014Really, Really Angry\u2026<\/td><td>Pre-K to grade 1<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Bad moods<\/td><td>Grumpy Monkey<\/td><td>3\u20137<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Worry<\/td><td>Ruby Finds a Worry<\/td><td>3\u20136<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Worry<\/td><td>Wemberly Worried<\/td><td>4\u20138<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Frustration<\/td><td>The Most Magnificent Thing<\/td><td>3\u20137<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>&#8220;I can&#8217;t do it&#8221;<\/td><td>The Dot<\/td><td>5\u20139<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Sadness<\/td><td>The Rabbit Listened<\/td><td>3\u20135<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Missing someone<\/td><td>The Invisible String<\/td><td>4\u20138<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Bravery<\/td><td>Jabari Jumps<\/td><td>4\u20138<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Naming feelings<\/td><td>The Color Monster<\/td><td>4\u20138<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Kindness<\/td><td>Each Kindness<\/td><td>5\u20138<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Why we feel<\/td><td>Your Wonderful Mind<\/td><td>6\u201310<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Why we feel<\/td><td>Your Fantastic Elastic Brain<\/td><td>4\u20138<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"go-deeper-your-wonderful-mind\">Go deeper: Your Wonderful Mind<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-full is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1000\" height=\"1500\" src=\"https:\/\/ujjwalganesh.com\/books\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/your-wonderful-mind-book-gift.webp\" alt=\"Your Wonderful Mind by Ujjwal Ganesh lying on a cream knitted blanket beside a wrapped gift, crayons and a mug of cocoa.\" class=\"wp-image-173\" style=\"width:520px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ujjwalganesh.com\/books\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/your-wonderful-mind-book-gift.webp 1000w, https:\/\/ujjwalganesh.com\/books\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/your-wonderful-mind-book-gift-200x300.webp 200w, https:\/\/ujjwalganesh.com\/books\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/your-wonderful-mind-book-gift-683x1024.webp 683w, https:\/\/ujjwalganesh.com\/books\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/your-wonderful-mind-book-gift-768x1152.webp 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>How It Feels &amp; How It Works: Your Wonderful Mind<\/em> is the read-together book I wrote for curious children aged 6 to 10. It takes eleven questions children really ask about their feelings, explains what is happening inside using friendly names instead of jargon, and gives each chapter one small mission to try. It won&#8217;t make big feelings go away. It gives your child words for them, and gives the two of you something to talk about.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>I wrote this book. Links to Amazon are paid links: I earn a small commission on qualifying purchases, on top of my author royalty.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Get it on Amazon:<\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/dp\/B0FH68Q6PJ?tag=ugbookblog-20\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"sponsored nofollow noopener\">Paperback<\/a> (paid link) \u00b7 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/dp\/B0G6T1C38Q?tag=ugbookblog-20\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"sponsored nofollow noopener\">Hardcover<\/a> (paid link) \u00b7 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/dp\/B0FGWN9D3G?tag=ugbookblog-20\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"sponsored nofollow noopener\">Kindle<\/a> (paid link). For a gift, the paperback or hardcover works best.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Readers in India:<\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.in\/dp\/B0FGWN9D3G?tag=spunky01-21\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"sponsored nofollow noopener\">Kindle on Amazon.in<\/a> (paid link) \u00b7 More about the book on its <a href=\"https:\/\/ujjwalganesh.com\/books\/your-wonderful-mind\/\">book page<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"frequently-asked-questions\">Frequently asked questions<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"what-are-good-books-about-feelings-for-kids\">What are good books about feelings for kids?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Good books about feelings name a feeling honestly and let a child see it pass, without telling them off for having it. Well-known examples include <em>When Sophie Gets Angry\u2014Really, Really Angry\u2026<\/em> for anger, <em>Ruby Finds a Worry<\/em> for worry, <em>The Rabbit Listened<\/em> for sadness and <em>Jabari Jumps<\/em> for bravery. The best choice depends on the feeling your child is dealing with right now.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"what-age-are-books-about-emotions-for\">What age are books about emotions for?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Most of the books on this list are written for ages 3 to 8. <em>The Dot<\/em> (ages 5\u20139) and <em>Your Wonderful Mind<\/em> (ages 6\u201310) suit older children too, and many of the others still work for 9- and 10-year-olds when an adult reads along and talks about them afterwards.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"do-books-about-feelings-help-children\">Do books about feelings help children?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Stories give children words for what they feel and a safe way to talk about it, through a character rather than about themselves. They are a good start, not a treatment. If big feelings are frequent or intense, talk to your child&#8217;s doctor or school counsellor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"whats-a-good-feelings-book-for-a-curious-7-year-old\">What&#8217;s a good feelings book for a curious 7-year-old?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For a child who keeps asking &#8220;why&#8221;, try a book that explains what happens inside, such as <em>Your Fantastic Elastic Brain<\/em> or my own <em>Your Wonderful Mind<\/em>, alongside a story book for the feeling they meet most often.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>Illustrations created with AI (Google Gemini) and edited by the author; the book cover is the real cover. Ages are the publishers&#8217; stated ranges. Awards were checked against the American Library Association, the Cooperative Children&#8217;s Book Center and the Jane Addams Children&#8217;s Book Award lists.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Thirteen books about feelings for children aged about 3 to 10, sorted by the feeling they help with: anger, worry, frustration, sadness, missing someone, bravery, kindness and the big question of why we feel the way we do. Each one comes with a question to ask after you read it.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":174,"template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"rank_math_title":"Books About Feelings for Kids: 13 Picks by Feeling","rank_math_description":"Books about feelings for kids aged 3 to 10, sorted by feeling: anger, worry, frustration, sadness, bravery and kindness, with a question to ask after each.","rank_math_focus_keyword":"","footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-175","essay","type-essay","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"acf":{"related_book":150,"dek":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/ujjwalganesh.com\/books\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/essay\/175","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/ujjwalganesh.com\/books\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/essay"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/ujjwalganesh.com\/books\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/essay"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ujjwalganesh.com\/books\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/ujjwalganesh.com\/books\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/essay\/175\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":290,"href":"https:\/\/ujjwalganesh.com\/books\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/essay\/175\/revisions\/290"}],"acf:post":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ujjwalganesh.com\/books\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/150"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ujjwalganesh.com\/books\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/174"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/ujjwalganesh.com\/books\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=175"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}