Understanding facial expressions and emotions can be a challenge for many young children, especially those with autism or sensory processing disorder. While some kids easily recognize emotions, others need more guidance to interpret and express their feelings. This page provides helpful ideas and strategies for teaching emotions to preschoolers, with resources that support all children in learning to identify and understand the emotions they see and feel.
Reading quality picture books to preschool and elementary-age children is an excellent way to teach emotions. Click to learn "How to Go Beyond the Story When Reading a Book."
In My Heart: A Book of Feelings by Jo Witek explores the various emotions children experience through vibrant illustrations and heartfelt text. Each page introduces a different feeling, such as happiness, sadness, and anger, allowing children to understand and express their emotions. This engaging book serves as a valuable tool for conversations about feelings and helps kids recognize and articulate their emotional experiences.
The Color Monster by Anna Llenas is a delightful story that helps young children understand and express their emotions through colors. The Color Monster wakes up feeling confused, so he seeks help to sort out his feelings, represented by different colors. With vibrant illustrations and interactive pop-ups, this engaging book not only teaches kids about emotions but also encourages them to identify and talk about their own feelings.
Beautiful Oops! by Barney Saltzberg is a creative and uplifting book that encourages children to embrace mistakes and see them as opportunities for creativity. With playful illustrations and interactive pages, the book shows how an accidental smudge or tear can transform into something beautiful. This delightful story inspires young readers to think outside the box and appreciate the beauty in imperfections.
What Am I Feeling? by Josh and Christi Straub is a wonderful book that helps children recognize, name, and manage their emotions. Through the story, the characters learn to ask God for help and remember that “a feeling is just a feeling — it doesn’t control you.” The book also includes an adorable poster illustrating nine different emotions, making it a great tool to help children identify what they’re feeling.
The classic book, Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day by Judith Viorst, follows the misadventures of young Alexander as he endures a day filled with one mishap after another. From waking up with gum in his hair to facing challenges at school and home, Alexander's troubles seem never-ending, leading him to wish he could escape to Australia. This relatable story highlights the importance of acknowledging and expressing our emotions, teaching elementary-aged children that it's okay to have bad days and that everyone faces challenges.
My Mouth is a Volcano: A Picture Book About Interrupting by Julia Cook explores the challenges of managing the urge to interrupt. The story follows Louis, a young boy who feels like his thoughts are "volcanoes" ready to erupt whenever he has something to say. As he struggles with his impulsive nature, Louis learns valuable lessons about patience, listening, and respecting others’ speaking time. Through engaging illustrations and relatable situations, this book encourages children to recognize the importance of waiting for their turn to talk and promotes better communication skills.
Wemberly Worried by Kevin Henkes follows the story of a little mouse named Wemberly who is filled with anxiety and worry about everything from the smallest things to the biggest changes in her life. As she prepares to start school, Wemberly's worries grow, causing her to feel overwhelmed and uncertain. However, when she finally meets a new friend who shares her worries, Wemberly learns that she is not alone and finds comfort in friendship. This heartwarming tale beautifully addresses the theme of anxiety in children and offers reassurance that it’s okay to have worries, especially when faced with new experiences.
Cookies: Bite-Size Life Lessons by Amy Krouse Rosenthal is a delightful picture book that uses the concept of cookies to convey valuable life lessons. Through charming illustrations and playful text, the book explores themes of sharing, kindness, and the importance of appreciating the little things in life. Each cookie represents a different lesson, making it a sweet and engaging way for children to learn about emotions and social interactions, while also celebrating the joy of baking and enjoying treats together.
Wilma Jean the Worry Machine by Julia Cook tells the story of a young girl named Wilma Jean who struggles with excessive worry and anxiety. Through relatable situations for elementary-aged children, the book illustrates how her worries grow like a machine, affecting her daily life and interactions with others. With the help of her family and friends, Wilma learns practical strategies to manage her fears, such as using positive self-talk and engaging in calming activities.
Second in this series, God, I Feel Scared by Michelle Nietert explains that our emotions are given to us by God. Some feel wonderful, while others aren’t as fun. Also learn:
Merry Christmas Big Hungry Bear
The Crayons' Book of Feelings by Drew Daywalt takes young readers on a journey through the various emotions experienced by crayons. Each crayon shares its unique feelings—like happiness, sadness, anger, and excitement—using relatable scenarios that children can easily understand. To close, the crayons explain that "It's okay to have different feelings all at once."
Green Eggs and Ham 
Discover how: How to Go Beyond the Story When Reading a Book.
After the Fall: How Humpty Dumpty Got Back Up Again by Dan Santat follows Humpty Dumpty as he copes with the aftermath of his famous fall. Struggling with fear and uncertainty, he learns the importance of resilience and facing challenges head-on. This charming story, filled with vibrant illustrations, encourages children to embrace setbacks and find the courage to rise again.
Bax and His Bubbles by Sonia Amin is a delightful story that models the process of weighing thoughts in a way that's accessible for children. The adorable character, Bax, discovers that his thoughts are like bubbles—he can choose to keep them or let them go. As readers journey alongside Bax, they witness him learning to evaluate his thoughts, which then have the opportunity to turn into words and actions. This engaging narrative not only entertains but also provides valuable lessons about emotional awareness and self-regulation.
What Do You Do with a Grumpy Kangaroo by Jane Belk Moncure follows Tony as he helps a kangaroo navigate different emotions. The book’s colorful illustrations offer a great opportunity to discuss various feelings with children.
Use the Emotions Printable to connect the kangaroo's expressions with specific emotions for further learning.
The Invisible Boy by Patrice Barton tells the story of Brian, a young boy who often feels overlooked and ignored by his classmates. Despite his quiet nature, Brian's emotions and creativity shine through in his drawings, which reflect his feelings of invisibility. When a new student named Justin arrives, he recognizes Brian's kindness and invites him to join in a game, helping Brian to feel seen and valued. This beautifully illustrated book highlights themes of friendship, acceptance, and the importance of recognizing and including those who may feel isolated or unnoticed.
The Invisible String by Patrice Karst follows brother and sister twins who learn about the unbreakable connection they share with loved ones through an invisible string. Their mother reassures them that this string keeps them connected, even when they are apart. This touching story helps children understand and cope with feelings of separation and anxiety.
This book would also be used to help children dealing with grief.
The Little House by Virginia Lee Burton tells the story of a small house that experiences a wide range of emotions as it witnesses the changes around it. At first, the house is happy and content in the countryside, surrounded by nature. However, as time passes and the city grows around it, the house feels sad and neglected. Children can engage with the illustrations to identify the changing seasons and discuss how these changes affect the house's emotions. Virginia Lee Burton not only wrote the story but also beautifully illustrated it, bringing the house and its feelings to life.
For elementary-age children, What to Do When Your Worry Too Much is part of the What-to-Do Guides for Kids series and provides an interactive way for children to understand and manage their anxiety. This workbook includes prompts for drawing and writing, allowing kids to express their feelings creatively. Through relatable examples and engaging illustrations, it teaches practical strategies for coping with worries, such as deep breathing and positive self-talk. By empowering children with tools to tackle their fears, this guide encourages them to develop resilience and confidence in facing life’s challenges.
Also discover: Creating a Do Not Worry Book for Children or Adults
Fears, Doubts, Blues and Pouts by Norman Wright follows a group of friends in the Wonder Woods as they navigate their emotions together. Each character experiences different feelings of fear, doubt, sadness, and anger, learning valuable lessons about expressing and managing these emotions. Through their supportive friendships, the characters demonstrate the importance of understanding and validating feelings, helping young readers recognize that it's okay to feel vulnerable and that they are not alone in their experiences.
Traditional
If you’re happy and you know it clap your hands (clap, clap)
If you’re happy and you know it clap your hands (clap, clap)
If you’re happy and you know it, then your life will really show it
If you’re happy and you know it clap your hands (clap, clap)
Additional verse:
...angry…stomp your feet…
...tearful...dry your tears...
...sad...make a frown... (pull sides of mouth down into frown)
...surprised...raise your hands... (raise your eyebrows, open mouth wide, and put arms up)
...afraid...gasp/scream out loud...(cover or surround mouth with hands)
...angry...make a fist...(clinch both hands)
Because more and more children are not learning emotions or pragmatics by example (many believe this is due to the increased use of electronics), it is important to create conversations that provide learning opportunities. Here are ideas to help you get started:
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