Feelings and behaviour booklist

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

This page was compiled in June 2020

Further reading

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Transitions

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Crying and what it means

When children cry they are telling us something important We need to understand and listen to their tears. Supporting children when they express strong emotions

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