Help toddlers learn to identify emotions, express big feelings, build empathy, and develop emotional regulation with these psychologist-recommended books for social-emotional learning!
Sections
5
Understanding Feelings & Emotions
Managing Big Feelings
Kindness, Empathy & Social Skills
Confidence & Self-Esteem
Coping With Change & Toddler Challenges
Understanding Feelings & Emotions
Books that help toddlers identify, name, and understand their emotions.
A favorite! Helps toddlers understand their feelings and correlate them with colors.
A Little Spot: My First Emotions- Diane Alber
Helps toddlers understand and identify different emotions through colors.
The Color Monster- Anna Llenas
Helps toddlers identify and talk about different emotions through fun crayon characters.
The Crayons' Book of Feelings- Drew Daywalt
Helps m recognize, name, and understand common emotions while learning how feelings can show up in their bodies.
My First Book of Emotions for Toddlers - Orlena Kerek
Teaches toddlers to recognize and explore different emotions through playful illustrations and interactive features.
Little Egg: An Eggcellent Book of Emotions
Teaches five common emotions while encouraging conversations about feelings and emotional awareness.
Hand2Mind Feelings Family Book Set Happy Sad Angry Scared & Surprised: Sensory Development Teaching Tool
Teaches emotions like happiness, sadness, excitement, and anger through a familiar, engaging story.
Llama Llama Feelings - Anna Dewdney
Uses simple language and bright illustrations that make feelings easy to understand.
The Feelings Book - Todd Parr
Teaches feelings like frustration, jealousy, pride, and sadness.
The Way I Feel - Janan Cain
Teaches it’s okay to have difficult emotions.
Grumpy Monkey- Suzanne & Max Lang
Managing Big Feelings
Books that teach toddlers healthy ways to handle frustration, anger, disappointment, and other big emotions.
A favorite! Teaches calming strategies in a simple way.
Little Monkey Calms Down - Michael Dahl
A classic & favorite! Teaches simple calming strategies like breathing, taking a break, and expressing feelings in healthy ways.
Calm-Down Time - Elizabeth Verdick
Introduces mindfulness and breathing exercises.
Breathe Like a Bear - Kira Willey
A classic box set! Teaches how to manage 8 different emotions.
A Little Spot of Emotion 8 Book Box Set (Anger, Anxiety, Peaceful, Happiness, Sadness, Confidence, Love, & Scribble Emotion)
Teaches anger is a normal emotion and healthy ways to process and calm down.
When Sophie Gets Angry - Really, Really Angry- Molly Bang
Kindness, Empathy & Social Skills
Books that encourage compassion, sharing, friendship, perspective-taking, and positive interactions.
Teaches kindness, caring, and positive interactions through an ABC format.
ABCs of Kindness - Patricia Hegarty
Such a sweet story! Exemplifies empathy, offering comfort, and being present for others.
The Rabbit Listened - Cori Doerrfeld
A classic and favorite in our house! Teaches kindness, helping others, friendship, and that small acts of kindness matter.
Little Blue Truck- Alice Schertle
Introduces everyday ways to show kindness and care for others.
Be Kind - Pat Zietlow Miller
Encourages kindness and thoughtful actions through a simple, repetitive story.
How Kind! - Mary Murphy
Teaches friendship, cooperation, and helping others through a fun story.
Sharing a Shell- Julia Donaldson
Teaches a wonderful concept of bucket filling.
Have You Filled a Bucket Today- Carol McCloud
Confidence & Self-Esteem
Books that support independence, self-confidence, resilience, and a positive sense of self.
A favorite story! All about embracing differences & finding your own strengths.
Giraffes Can't Dance- Giles Andreae and Guy Parker-Rees
Reinforces unconditional love, confidence, and the possibilities children hold.
The Wonderful Things You Will Be- Emily Winfield Martin
Teaches the importance of confidence, resilience, and being yourself.
Stand Tall- Molly Lou Melon
Encourages self-confidence and celebrates individuality and self-acceptance.
I Like Myself- Karen Beaumont
Encourages perseverance, creativity, and confidence.
The Most Magnificent Thing- Ashley Spires
Coping With Change & Toddler Challenges
Books that help toddlers navigate common experiences like starting school, separation, and other big transitions.
Helps with school, separation, and new experiences.
The Kissing Hand- Audrey Penn
Great for preschool separation anxiety.
Llama Llama Misses Mama- Anna Dewdney
Comfort around separation and feeling connected.
The Invisible String - Patrice Karst
The toddler tools books are a favorite! Helps toddlers understand goodbyes and transitions.
Bye-Bye Time - Elizabeth Verdick
A sweet story about growing, adapting, and moving through changes.
