I love an emotions and feelings theme for any time. It’s so helpful for children to begin to identify and understand their emotions and feelings, and it’s wonderful to have books that can be referred to over and over again when needed. Here are some of my favorite books from our emotions and feelings theme.
Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links (at no cost to you).
Just choose books based on your child’s age and what you think will engage your child’s interest. I recommend checking out the “Look Inside the Book” feature on Amazon and reading reviews there. Another place to learn about a book is on YouTube. You can typically see the entire book there. If you live outside the U.S., be sure to check out Book Depository for great prices and free worldwide delivery.
Montessori-friendly books use photos or realistic illustrations. They don’t have talking animals or a lot of fantasy. But many books that have fantasy and talking animals are wonderful books, and I love sharing them with children who understand the difference between fantasy and reality.
For toddlers and preschoolers, about ¾ of the books I use are typically Montessori friendly (focusing on reality without smiling or talking animals or smiling or talking vehicles).
For our feelings unit, I have more books with fantasy or unrealistic images than I usually do. Because emotions and feelings are abstract concepts, many of the books are perfect for preschoolers who understand the difference between fantasy and reality or for early elementary on up. These books are great for inspiring discussions with a variety of ages!
Favorite Books for an Emotions and Feelings Theme
I’m featuring books here about emotions and feelings for preschool through early elementary.
Books for an Emotions and Feelings Theme
Forward-Facing Book Display (similar style)
Emotions and Feelings Books We’re Using:
Top Shelf of Forward -Facing Display:
- My Body Sends a Signal is a very helpful book f0r children because it teaches about both emotions and feelings.
- Breathe with me: using breath to feel strong, calm, and happy is recommended for ages 4-8, but it’s actually great for kids and adults! This book has ideas for breathing exercises to help with various emotions and events.
- Breathing Makes It Better: A Book for Sad Days, Mad Days, Glad Days, and All the Feelings In-Between
2nd Shelf:
- My Magical Feelings
- Big Feelings (by the author of one of my favorite books, All Are Welcome), this is a lovely book about feelings. My 4-year-old grandson loves this book, which shows a diverse group of children working together to build a play area.
- The Big Feelings Book for Children has some great mindfulness activities for managing big emotions.
3rd Shelf:
- The Color Monster: A Story About Emotions
- A Little Spot of Anger: A Story About Managing BIG Emotions (The Little Spot series is another series my grandkids love.)
- Angry Ninja: A Children’s Book About Fighting and Managing Anger (My grandkids love the whole Ninja Life Hacks series!)
- A Little Spot of Anger: A Story About Managing BIG Emotions (The Little Spot series is another series my grandkids love.)
4th Shelf:
Bottom Shelf
- Feelings Ninja
- The Emotions Book: A Little Story About Big Feelings
- Daniel’s Little Songs for Big Feelings (More than 50 strategy song lyrics, helpful tips for parents and caregivers, and more!). I think this is a fabulous book with so many great songs for social-emotional learning for kids and helpful hints for grown-ups. The kids’ part is recommended for ages 3-7. I have an 8-part series at my BitsofPositivity.com blog about the book.
A Little Spot of Feelings with How are you feeling today? sign and Little Spot of Feelings Plush Toys
A Little SPOT of Emotion 8 Plush Toys with Feelings Book Box Set has been super popular with my grandkids! It isn’t a Montessori-style activity, but it’s so cute and great for kids who love the SPOT books. My granddaughters are so in love with the SPOTS that they’ve used them every day they visited in the almost-a-month’s time since the SPOTS were on the shelf. Each day, they choose a SPOT to represent their feelings. Then they get out all the SPOTS and play a variety of games with them.
More calming books we’re using:
- Breathing Is My Superpower: Mindfulness Book for Kids to Feel Calm and Peaceful
- Find Your Calm: A Mindful Approach To Relieve Anxiety And Grow Your Bravery has some great tips for helping children feel calm in a variety of new and frightening situations.
- B is for Breathe: The ABCs of Coping with Fussy and Frustrating Feelings (Read my review and get ideas for using the book here.)
I Can Make Silence Peace Table with Seashell Meditations Book and Seashell
To help develop calmness, we have one of our “I can make silence” cards on our peace/mindfulness table with Seashell Meditations for Children and a large seashell.
You can also see lots of the books I’ve used and emotions and feelings books as they’re published here.
More Social-Emotional Learning Resources
Free Feelings Printables for a Montessori-Inspired Emotions and Feelings Unit
- Free Friendship Printables and Montessori-Inspired Friendship Activities
- Montessori-Inspired Friendship Activities
- Free Friendship Songs and Rhymes {Character Education Resources}
- Free Taking Turns and Sharing Songs and Rhymes {Character Education Resources}
- How to Teach Toddlers and Preschoolers to Take Turns and Work Together
- The Best Children’s Books about Taking Turns and Sharing
- Free Songs and Educational Videos About Managing Frustration {Social-Emotional Learning}
- Free Daniel Tiger Songs About New Experiences {Social Emotional Learning} (1st post in the series, but any order is fine.)
- Free Daniel Tiger Songs About Big Feelings {Social Emotional Learning}
- Free Daniel Tiger Songs About Taking Care of Your Body {Social Emotional Learning}
- Free Daniel Tiger Songs About Growing Up and Being Independent {Social Emotional Learning}
- Free Daniel Tiger Songs About Family {Social Emotional Learning}
- Free Daniel Tiger Songs About Friends and Neighbors {Social Emotional Learning}
- Free Daniel Tiger Songs About Playtime {Social Emotional Learning}
- Free Daniel Tiger Songs About Staying Safe and Being Scared {Social Emotional Learning}
- How to Prepare a Montessori Peace Tray
- Montessori-Inspired Peace Education Activities
- The Best Mindfulness Books for Kids,
- Free Calming Printables and Montessori-Inspired Calming Activities
- Free Yoga Do-a-Dot Phonics Printable (Montessori-Inspired Instant Download)
- Free Calming Cutting Strips (Montessori-Inspired Instant Download)
- The Silence Game {Montessori Activity to Develop Self Discipline}
- Free Guided Meditations for Kids {Mindfulness Resources}
- Our Favorite Picture Book about Inclusion and Friendship
- Free Empathy Songs and Educational Videos {Character Education Resources}
Free Feelings Pack
Montessori-Inspired Feelings Pack for DIY Cards and Counters, Number or Letter Matching, Number or Letter Basket, Bead Bar Work, Hands-on Math Operations, Number or Letter Salt/Sand Writing Tray, Letter Tracing, DIY Movable Alphabet, and Creative Writing (subscriber freebie, so just sign up for my email to get the link and password – or check your inbox if you’re already a subscriber).
Learn more about my eBook Montessori at Home or School: How to. Teach Grace and Courtesy!
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