Feelings

A superb collection of books designed to help children manage their feelings and develop a positive sense of themselves. Includes both stories and resource books; explores everything from feeling crotchety to super-sunny! 14 books See individual titles for book information. Members Price £95.00 **Suitable substitutions will be made if any title becomes unavailable**

A delightful tale about a child who is absolutely bursting and popping with happiness. 'Very positive portrayal of extended family life (mixed race marriage)' (Children's Services Coordinator, LL reviewer). Age 4-7, Paperback 32pp Themes: Feelings

Shortlist Kate Greenaway Medal 2013 A gorgeously illustrated and original read-aloud about a family called Hope and a Black Dog who is fearfully scary or insignificantly puppy-like depending on how you look at the world...Age 6-9, Paperback 25pp Themes: Feelings

Grandpa Joe and Granny Lou used to love showing Ben their thriving garden of weeds and blooms, buzzing with bugs, birds and butterflies. They called it their 'private jungle'. But ever since Granny Lou passed away, the garden has gone still and grey. And, Grandpa Joe sits silently, in the dark, on his sofa. He can't even be temped outside by the butterflies. Can Ben bring them to him? A lovely grandparent/grandchild relationship set amidst a wider story of family conflict, transitions, healing, loss and recovery. 'A heart-warming tale of a family finding itself again after a bereavement; (Elena, Community Librarian, Letterbox Library reviewer). 'A lovely book dealing with loss and bereavement and the not too nice side of isolation and withdrawing into oneself' (Elaine, Foster Care Associates Liaison Officer, Letterbox Library reviewer). Chapter book with b&w illustrations. Age 8-12, Paperback 83pp

Art Class is no fun for one quiet child, sat on her own, with a fuzzy black cloud hovering over her...but a patient and fun-filled little girl resolves to find a way through the fog...Multicultural, casual images of disability, a winning text and exceptionally imaginative illustrations. Age 4-8, Paperback 27pp Themes: Feelings

Books in the Dealing with Feeling... series help readers to indentify their emotions, and provide tips and advice on how best to express and deal with them. This book looks at anger, including what anger feels like, safe ways of letting anger out, and how to calm down if you are feeling angry. Age 4-7, Paperback 20pp

Books in the Dealing with Feeling... series help readers to indentify their emotions, and provide tips and advice on how best to express and deal with them. This book looks at happiness, including what happiness feels like, how to turn sad feelings into happy ones, and how to make other people feel happy. Age 4-7, Paperback 20pp

Books in the Dealing with Feeling... series help readers to indentify their emotions, and provide tips and advice on how best to express and deal with them. This book looks at pride, including how to feel proud, why it is important not to feel TOO proud, and how to help other people feel proud, too. Age 4-7, Paperback 20pp

Books in the Dealing with Feeling... series help readers to identify their emotions, and provide tips and advice on how best to express and deal with them. This book looks at sadness: how you can spot if someone is feeling sad, ways to articulate your sadness and how to reach out to others brought down by sadness. Age 4-7, Paperback 20pp

Books in the Dealing with Feeling... series help readers to identify their emotions, and provide tips and advice on how best to express and deal with them. This book examines what shyness feels like (a bit scary!), how to manage it (try to smile!), how to talk to new people (ask them questions!) and how to help someone else who is shy (be extra friendly!) 'Useful for giving confidence to shy individuals in groups and also 1 to 1, with good references for extending' (Maggie, EY Advisory Teacher, Letterbox Library reviewer). Age 4-7, Paperback 20pp

Books in the Dealing with Feeling... series help readers to indentify their emotions, and provide tips and advice on how best to express and deal with them. This book looks at being worried, including what it feels like to be worried, how to stop feeling worried, and how to help other people who might be feeling worried. Age 4-7, Paperback 20pp

Ethan has a bubbly fizzy feeling inside- he's off on holiday! Sophie loves her friends very much and wants to pass on her happiness to them...which makes them want to then pass on some of their happiness to her! Part of a lovely new series with fresh and colourful artwork which shows two children's separate stories, describes their emotions and has the two come together to interact over their feelings. Empowering and constructive feelings books with story words/glossary and suggested extension exercises for teachers/carers. Age 4-7, Hardback 21pp

Selected by Booktrust as a Best Book of 2013 The second in the series of these most joyful and inclusive books! Explore lots of different feelings with the children in this book, see if you can find feelings that match your own, or that help you understand how other people are feeling. Feelings explored with the same warmth, wit and sensitivity as in the award-winning 'The Great Big Book of Families'. Age 4-8, Paperback 32pp

A great resource. The contents page immediately gets you to identity how you are feeling -worried, grumpy, bored, quiet?- so you can then turn to the appropriate page! From here, readers will find a mini-description of the emotion concerned and child-friendly strategies for coping such as curling up into a ball, having a tickle fight, huffing and puffing and rolling your eyes till you laugh! Comes with an emotional literacy guide for carers and a 'Feelings Tracker'. 'Lots of valuable opportunities for children to discuss their feelings- how to recognise them, put them into words and strategies for dealing with them' (Jayne, Primary Inclusion Manager, Letterbox Library reviewer). 'Ideal for developing emotional literacy, giving permission to feelings' (Elaine, Foster Care Associates Liaison Officer, Letterbox Library reviewer). Age 4-7, Hardback 29pp

Booktrust Best New Illustrators Award 2008 A bereaved little girl decides to put her heart away in a safe place. But will she know how to get it back? The depths of love and loss are treated with an extraordinary lightness of touch. Age 5-adult, Paperback 31pp Themes: Feelings, Bereavement

Shortlisted Little Rebels Award 2023 Nefertiti is proud of her name so when her new teacher shrinks it to 'Nef', she feels herself shrinking too. Can Nefertiti and her classmates make sure her name is honoured and respected? Age 4-7, Paperback 28pp

A wonderful celebration of overcoming typical childhood fears like big dogs, the deep end and saying goodbye to a parent at nursery. Strong rhythms, good rhymes and a great primary colour palette which ends with a lovely double pate spread of a soft play area. (Nice cuddly lion comforter too!) Age 2-4, Boardbook 12pp

Jack adores his trumpet but, as concert day looms, he develops a Worry, a great big grey splodge of a worry which sits on the end of his bed from the moment he wakes up and then trails him around for the rest of the day, getting ever larger and ever splodgier. Might talking to Mum shrink the Worry back down? A simple but effective tale about articulating your fears. Age 4-7, Hardback 30pp

A lovely feelings book in which a child invents a happiness which tastes of sunshine and smells of warm biscuits; she puts it all in a jar and carries it everywhere, sharing it with people along the way. But then one day her jar is no longer there...can her friends help her rediscover some happiness? 'Liked this. Gentle illustrations and a story of kindness and a girl as a budding scientific inventor of happiness! Yes!' (Eileen, Former Primary Teacher, LL reviewer). Age 3-6 Paperback 27pp

43 authors and artists bring you 22 brand new literary events. The range is extraordinary. A story quilt of joy, criss-crossed with recipes, biographies, short stories and full colour illustrations which gather up all the styles. What unites them is their optimism, their hope, their strides forward. A non-exhaustive list of well established authors/artists contributing new works are Malorie Blackman, Dorothy Koomson, Alex Wheatle, Jeffrey Boakye, Ken Wilson-Max, Sharna Jackson, Trish Cooke, Nathan Bryon. Many new creatives also cut their teeth here. UK voices dominate but are also joined by writers and illustrator from North America, South Africa, Ghana, Uganda... Curator, Dapo Adeola, describes his inspiration for the collection as the book he wished he himself had had growing up: "A book that allowed me to see myself and others reflected in stories that speak about more than just our struggle, stories that tell of our joy, imagination and creativity". Lawrence's Foreword embraces it as "your own portable flash mob of happiness, as page by page, your heart lifts and you are joyful, joyful too". Ends with a powerful invocation for readers to write their own stories. The finished anthology just hums with heart and delivers a straight-into-your-bloodstream jab of, yes, JOY. We challenge you not to smile and then stretch that smile once over. And one more time. Age 8-12, Hardback 188pp

A small, lonely child with a single note to share: "La"...A note which cannot find an echo anywhere. Not in the sunbeams, nor the leaves, nor the grasses, nor the pond. But then finally...there is a reply of "Las"! A gorgeous, single word, picture book about finding your song, and staying resilient, energetic and optimistic in that quest. Open to multiple readings and interpretations. 'Like the best picture books, this would work with a wide age range and could be constantly revisited and mined as the basis for many a classroom discussion or as a simple bedtime comforter.. .It is a terrific starting point for discussions about loneliness, difference, empathy, feeling excluded etc.' (Mark Jennett, Equalities Trainer/Consultant, LL reviewer). Beautiful format: a square shape; mixed-media illustrations; simple crossover hues of autumnal oranges/greens with a luxuriously deep purple. Easily attractive enough to deserve the longer-than-usual number of pages for a picture books. East Asian protagonist. Age 1-6, Hardback 68pp

Harpreet is a fan of colours. Lots of colours. He has loads of patkas in loads of colours to suit every possible mood. But, when Mum's new job means moving to a different part of the country and starting at a new school, Harpreet just wants to disappear. And so, increasingly, he sticks with the colour white. One day, just as Harpreet feels himself disappearing into a blanket of fresh snow, a girl in a fluffy smiley woolly hat extends a warm mitten-hand...which has Harpreet reaching out for blazes of colour once more! Accompanied by an explanatory backnote on the significance of Sikh turbans and patkas. By an Indian-American author with an equally established track record in scripting Hindi films! UK (British-Barbadian) illustrator). 'Positive portrayal of Sikh family. Nice way of centring the patka without making it an issue' (Farrah, CLPE Learning Programme Leader, Letterbox Library review team.) Age 4-7, Hardback 26pp

This book's protagonist has always had a tiny blobby friend called Fear by her side. Fear has been companionable, protective and purposeful. But, since arriving in a new country, Fear has expanded and bulked up several fold. And now, a sweet little spongy blob has become something engulfing, a barrier and a block to new experiences and change. Fear tries to stop her going to school, won't let her play with others at break time and is desperate to get back home again. An engrossing and skilful exploration of anxiety which ultimately shows the reader how to shrink their worries back down into manageable feelings. Perfect for exploring life transitions and for new arrivals. 'A lovely and original way of exploring fear and isolation' (Kerry, Letterbox Library Staff). By an award winning visual storyteller. Endorsed by Amnesty International. Age 3-7, Hardback 32pp

Molly and Sunita are playgroup friends who spend time together every day, playing, talking, and learning about getting on with each other. Their relationship is generally good but even the best of friends sometimes fall out or feel grumpy! Molly is learning that Sunita has moods and feelings, but these will not get in the way of true friendship.The Dealing with Feelings series teaches positive behaviour and promotes personal, social, emotional skills. Developed and written by experts and supported by research, each book includes additional notes and tips to help teachers, practitioners and parents reinforce the lessons children are learning through the simple stories. Age 2-5, Paperback 18pp

Evie has the wobbles. Nursery was fun. Big school sounds, well, scary. But Madame Lexi's Emporium might just provide the perfect anxiety-soothing solution...is it the new smart uniform? Or could it be an actual unicorn? A pointy-golden-horned unicorn...? First day at school has never been so magical, nor so exciting. Very pinkified, complete with a sparkly pink-maned unicorn, but also loved by our reviewers for its portrayal of a single parent/Dad (Black) family and its realistic description of big-school-wobbles. Age 4-7, Paperback 27pp

"We are all born with beautiful skin. We are not born racist. Some people feel uncomfortable talking about race, but we do not need to be". Subtitled, "Let's talk about race, racism and empowerment", this book ranks very highly for us as a clear, accessible and eminently child-friendly introduction to discussions about racism. Refreshingly direct, empowering- and positive, it comes with a helpful glossary (for e.g., "Anti-Blackness" & "culture"), questions/prompts and some superb tips for adults about how to use the book with children. Written by an international, award-winning, early education expert. Praised highly by our reviewers: 'Really useful non-fiction for early years to support teaching of anti-racism. Good explanations and can help to build dialogue, especially for less experienced teachers' (Edyta, Primary Teacher, Letterbox Library Reviewer). 'Inclusive and colourful book about a very serious, complex behaviour that impacts on all people...Every organisation which works with children should have one. Highly recommended' (Ann Marie, EY Safeguarding Consultant, Letterbox Library reviewer). Age 4-8, Hardback 29pp

Winner Little Rebels Award 2023 Charlene loves to knit. It stills her mind. It soothes her racing heart. Especially when she has to bear her foster sibling's taunts. Especially when she longs to see her baby sister again. Especially when all of the systems seem set against her. But it's not long before the click! click! just isn't enough to contain her... It is an incredible feat that this award-winning author, famed for her satisfyingly weighty, thrillers (Orangeboy, Eight Pieces of Silva etc.), has been able to condense her passionate commitment to wide-ranging social justice issues and her intricate plots into such a slim, super-pacey novella. As ever, Lawrence's tightly observed characterisations show her compassion and respect for young people. The sometimes-infuriating, always-engaging, Charlene lies at the heart of this story, a blazing force of pent up frustrations, seeded in her by the institutions which have failed her as often as they have supported her. And so, in amongst the wise and caring actions of adults* such as foster carer Annie, social worker Vera, teacher Ms Nzegwu and lawyer Shelley, there are also the adults who underestimate her, ignore her, write her off, criminalise her and who simply don't pay her the attention she is due. We clearly see here how readily young Black girls are put at risk of adultification by our justice and welfare systems. And while, as readers, we long -like the adults in her life- for Charlene to sometimes, just sometimes, preserve herself and smooth the way by saying 'sorry', we also applaud the clarity and wit with which she exposes the hypocrisy of the (predominately adult) people around her, signed up members of the sorry-not-sorry club. A brilliantly accomplished, heart-tripping, contemporary novella which will let the young people in your life know they have been heard. [*How Lawrence is able to portray both young people and middle aged women with equal measure of authenticity, warmth and respect earns my admiration every time]. Reading Age 8+, Interest Age 11+, Paperback 128pp

Meet Orion. Orion is scared of a great many things: popping balloons, monsters, tartan. But, creepiest of all, is The Dark with its pitch blackness and its scary sounds. And then, one night, a grey-black bulky blob drops through the skylight with the offer of a nighttime adventure... Attractive mixed media artwork (look out for Dark's extending arm flap!). Age 4-7, Paperback 30pp

A child builds the perfect shelter out in the woods with her sister, their parents watching on. The narrator knows that something isn't quite right with her family. And, when the rains come, her sister isn't there to help stack the sticks high and patch over the cracks with leaves. Instead, she's in hospital and even Dad's fairy cakes can't bring any cheer. But maybe, just maybe, they can bring the sanctuary of their together-shelter indoors? A rare and much-needed book addressing long term illness in the family from a young child's point of view. Soft illustrations and a text full of tenderness. "Whilst it does not shy away from the reality of cancer, the balance is spot on, striking a successfully positive and heartwarming pitch, reminding us all to fully appreciate the precious moments together as we ride out our various storms" (BookTrust website review). (Mixed race family). Age 4-8, Paperback 27pp

An anxious child isn't sure about the new shelter her mum has taken her to. She finds it hard to find 'home' there, to find her place there. But through her mum's boundless, comforting imagination she is finally able to find a place of familiarity. An expertly written, child-centred text which can be used to explore the many different traumas which force families into homelessness and to seek places of sanctuary. Written by a social services professional and with input from a Domestic Violence charity. 'This book helps us to empathise with the trauma of losing home but it also has at its heart a loving mother who is able to help he child, using her creativity of thought to make the change more bearable' (Eileen, Former Primary Teacher, LL reviewer). 'What an excellent book- and very much needed (Elaine, Foster Care Associates Liaison Officer, LL reviewer). Includes a backnote on shelters and homelessness. Age 5-9, Paperback 27pp

A small child builds something. It comes crashing down. He sits hunched up on the floor, forlorn and low. Creatures rush in to 'help'. The chicken suggests chatting; the bear suggests a good roar; the ostrich suggests burying their heads in the sand... all to no avail. And then, along comes a rabbit, a quiet rabbit who simply...listens! Soon Taylor is talking, laughing, shouting and, finally rebuilding. We have seen a flurry of books recently on kindness and empathy but this one really is exquisite. Celebrates the emotional art of 'active' listening and how to adopt patience and silence in the face of someone's loss or pain. An Empathy Lab choice 2020. Age 3-7, Paperback 32pp

Absolutely beautiful, wonderfully original story about loss & recovery which no review can do justice to. 'Refreshingly superb' (Children's Centre Coordinator, LL reviewer) Age 3-8, Paperback 26pp Themes: Feelings, Bereavement

Posy has just moved home and is bursting with anxieties. But a magical red boat at the bottom of the garden becomes a vehicle for some fantastic imaginative role play which soon soothes Posy's fears...A super book for exploring first time nerves and transitions as well as being, quite simply, a good story. 'Warm and humorous, this book explores a child's fears of the new and unknown' (Kate, Children's Centre Coordinator, LL reviewer); 'charming and humorous' (Primary Inclusion Manager, LL reviewer). Age 4-7, Paperback 29pp

Meet a super-adventurous child who uses the school journey to chase off scary beasts. Perfect for taming monsters and for calming those going-to-school anxieties. Age 3-6, Paperback 29pp

Ruby is a happy energetic child. Until, that is, a little blob of a worry comes to visit her. At first it's easy to dismiss but, with each passing day, the blob grows and grows. Ignoring it seems like a good strategy. And then it seems like a very poor strategy. Finally, Ruby meets another child who is also being haunted by a great big blob. And so they chat. Ad, as they do so, the most marvellous thing starts to happen...A straightforward, wonderfully executed, narrative about anxiety, mindfulness and self-help- perfectly pitched to children. Age 3-7, Paperback 29pp

Happy, sad and plenty of in between feelings in this lovely, child-friendly 1st picture book. 'Offers a wide vocabulary for expressing feelings' (Former EY Advisory Teacher, LL reviewer). Age 1-5, Card Pages 22pp Themes: Feelings

Timmy is a genius performer. Their costumes sparkle, their singing is pitch perfect; they are totally stage-ready. Except...they're not... quite yet. Stalked by a shy inner lion, Timmy thinks they'll never get to tread the boards. But then, classmate Nia rocks up with her Fashion. Together, they learn strategies to still their wobbles and, together, they stage a show which roars and dazzles. A fantastic story about overcoming shyness, this is also hugely refreshing for starring a child free of gendered pronouns. Woodgate's illustrations are so rich, flourishing with swishes and shimmers. There are also plenty of Woodgate's trademark, charming, illustrative nods, such as the iconic Pride colours on Nia's school bag badges and in the bunting which travels and flutters through the spreads. From the 2023 British Book Awards winner of the Children's Illustrated Book of the Year (for Grandad's Camper, available here). Non-binary UK author. Age 4-7, Paperback 27pp