I Gotta Feeling…
As parents and educators, it's important to prioritize the social and emotional development of young children. One way to do this is through the use of picture books, which can help kids understand and express their feelings and emotions in a healthy way.
Here are some of the best current social emotional picture books for elementary kids:
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“The Way I Feel” by Janan Cain
This book uses colorful illustrations and simple language to describe a range of emotions, from happy and sad to angry and calm. It's a great tool for helping kids identify and label their emotions.
Buy It: “The Way I Feel” on Amazon
“The Invisible Boy” by Trudy Ludwig
This book tells the story of a shy, lonely boy named Brian who feels invisible to his classmates. With the help of a kind classmate, Brian learns that everyone has something special to offer and that it's important to include and value others.
Buy It: “The Invisible Boy” on Amazon
“The Color Monster” by Anna Llenas
In this book, a monster named the Color Monster is feeling overwhelmed by his emotions. With the help of a little girl, he learns to identify and understand each emotion, and eventually feels more in control of his feelings.
Buy It: “The Color Monster” on Amazon
“The Okay Book” by Todd Parr
This book teaches kids that it's okay to have a wide range of emotions, and that it's important to find healthy ways to cope with and express them. It's a great tool for helping kids learn to manage their emotions in a healthy way.
Buy it: “The OK Book” on Amazon
“The Feelings Book” by Todd Parr
Similar to "The Way I Feel," this book uses colorful illustrations and simple language to describe a range of emotions. It's a great tool for helping kids identify and label their emotions, and for learning about empathy and understanding the emotions of others.
Buy It: “The Feelings Book” on Amazon
“In My Heart: A Book of Feelings” by Jo Witek
This book explores a full range of emotions, describing how they feel physically, inside, with language that is lyrical but also direct to empower readers to practice articulating and identifying their own emotions. With whimsical illustrations and an irresistible die-cut heart that extends through each spread, this gorgeously packaged and unique feelings book is sure to become a storytime favorite.
Buy It: “In My Heart: A Book of Feelings” on Amazon
Overall, these picture books are great resources for helping elementary kids understand and express their emotions in a healthy way. They can be used in the classroom or at home, and are a fun and engaging way to teach kids important social and emotional skills. These are just a few of my favorites. Be sure to connect with me over on Instagram so you can see more of my favorites and so that we can chat more!
