Here is a list of books and resources compiled by Anni McTavish to support feelings and behaviour.
Reference books
- Why Love Matters – how affection shapes a baby’s brain by Sue Gerhardt, Routledge
- How to Talk so Little Kids Will Listen: A Survival Guide to Life with Children Ages 2-7 2017 based on the bestselling book for older children.
- Feelings & Behaviour – a creative approach by Anni McTavish, Early Education
- Prime Time, Personal, Social and Emotional Development, A key Person Approach to learning and Development, by Jo Blank and Gill Mathews 2017 Practical Pre-School Books
Children’s story books
Books that support children to talk about feelings and emotions
- The Colour Monster by Anna Llenas
- The Way I feel by Janan Cain
- The Koala who Could by Rachel Bright
- What are Feelings? Usborne Lift the Flap book
- Sweep by Louise Greig & Julia Sarda
- In My Heart, A book of feelings by Jo Witek
- Grumpy Bird by Jeremy Tankard
- Ruby’s Worry and Ravi’s Roar by Tom Percival
- I want my hat back by Jon Klassen
- Books about bullying, arguments, not sharing
- Bootsey Barker Bites by Barbara Bottner
- Two Monsters, Not Now Bernard, David Mckee
- MINE! By Hiawyn Oram & Mary Rees
- Look what I’ve Got! Anthony Browne
- The Squirrels who Squabbled by Rachel Bright
- Kind by Axel Scheffler
- My Many Coloured Days by Dr Seuss
- My Heart by Corinna Luyken
- Books about death & loss
- Missing Mummy by Rebecca Cobb
- No Matter What by Debi Gliori
- Grandpa by John Burningham
- Badger’s Parting Gifts by Susan Varley
- Fred by Posy Simmonds
- Frog and the Birdsong By Max Velthuijs
- Mum and Dad Glue by Kes Gray
- Goodbye Mog by Judith Kerr
- Rabbityness by Jo Empson
- Water Bugs and Dragonflies by Doris Stickney
- I’ll Always Love You by Hans Wilhelm
Books about loneliness
- Aldo by John Burningham
- Lost and Found by Oliver Jeffers
- A Lion in Paris by Beatrice Alemagna
- The Very Lonely Firefly by Eric Carle
- Beegu by Alexis Deacon
Needing a hero/ine
- The Paper bag Princess by Robert N. Munsch
- Isabel’s Noisy Tummy David McKee
- Cannonball Simp and Borka, the goose with no feathers both by John Burningham
- Katie Morag delivers the Mail by Mairi Hedderwick
- The Turtle and the Island – A folk tale from Papua New Guinea retold by Barbara Ker Wilson
- Amazing Grace by Mary Hoffman
Books to sooth or reassure
- Husherbye by John Burningham
- Owl Babies Martin Waddell
- Six Dinner Sid by Inga Moore
- The Tiger who came to Tea by Judith Kerr
Books about prejudice
- Frog in Love and Frog and the Stranger Max Velthuijs
- Amazing Grace and An Angel just Like Me by Mary Hoffman
- Monty the Manatee by Natalie Pritchard
Books about fear and being frightened
- Frog is Frightened! Max Velthuijs
- Shhh! By Sally Grindley and Peter Utton
- A Dark Dark Tale by Ruth Brown
- Ruby’s Worry by Tom Percival
- Bimwili and the Zimwi by Verna Aardema
- Boo! By Colin McNaughton
Books for excitement and participation
- OI! Get off our Train! by John Burningham
- The Three Little Wolves and the Big Bad Pig by Eugene Trivizas and Helen Oxenbury
- We’re going on a Bear Hunt
- Angry Arthur by Hiawyn Oram
- Would you rather… by John Burningham
Superheroes & Boys
- Billy’s Bucket by Kes Gray & Garry Parsons
- Max by Bob Graham
- Traction Man is Here by Mini Grey
- Super Daisy and the peril of planet Pea by Kes Gray & Nick Sharratt
- Charlie’s Superhero Underpants by Paul Bright & Lee Wildish
- Nat Fantastic by Giles Andreae
- Angry Arthur by Hiawyn Oram
- Tyrone the Horrible by Hans Wilhelm
Other life events
- Teeth are not for biting – by Verdick, E. (2003)
- Truelove by Babette Cole (new baby)
- The Elephant and the bad baby by Elfrida Vipont
- I don’t want to go to hospital by Tony Ross
Other links
- Useful tips here to help you support children with autistic spectrum disorders (ASD) https://www.learninglinks.org.au/supporting-children-with-asd-early-childhood/
- www.littleparachutes.com a great resource list of books for different situations
- Dr Karen Treisman’s booklist resources for Covid-19 on her website
This page was compiled in June 2020