Emotions Mentor Texts are a powerful tool to help students understand and articulate their feelings. I’ve put together a list of my favorite Emotions mentor texts to help students learn to name and process their emotions. These books not only tell engaging stories but also provide valuable lessons on recognizing, understanding, and managing emotions. Use mentor texts in your classroom when discussing emotions to help students build emotional vocabulary, model managing emotions and create a safe space for discussion. Students will be able to make connections to the characters and situations in these stories. Let’s dive in!
“The Color Monster: A Story About Emotions” by Anna Llenas
- A charming story about a monster who learns to identify and sort his mixed-up emotions.
“Today I Feel Silly: And Other Moods That Make My Day” by Jamie Lee Curtis
- A fun and engaging book that explores a wide range of emotions and how they change from day to day.
“In My Heart: A Book of Feelings” by Jo Witek
- A beautifully illustrated book that describes different feelings in a lyrical and relatable way.
“When Sophie Gets Angry – Really, Really Angry…” by Molly Bang
- A story about a little girl named Sophie who learns to cope with her anger in healthy ways.
“My Many Colored Days” by Dr. Seuss
- A whimsical book that uses colors to describe different emotions.
“The Way I Feel” by Janan Cain
- This book uses colorful illustrations and simple verses to describe various emotions.
“How Do Dinosaurs Say I’m Mad?” by Jane Yolen and Mark Teague
- A playful story about dinosaurs learning to deal with anger and other strong emotions.
“Grumpy Monkey” by Suzanne Lang
- A story about a monkey named Jim Panzee who wakes up in a bad mood and learns about dealing with grumpiness.
“Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day” by Judith Viorst
- A classic tale about a boy named Alexander who learns that everyone has bad days sometimes.
“The Pigeon Has Feelings, Too!” by Mo Willems
- A simple and humorous book that helps children understand and express their feelings.
“Ruby Finds a Worry” by Tom Percival
- A story about a little girl named Ruby who learns how to manage her worry and anxieties.
“A Little Spot of Emotion” series by Diane Alber
- A series that includes books like “A Little Spot of Anger” and “A Little Spot of Anxiety” that help children understand and manage different emotions.
How are You Peeling? Foods With Moods by Saxton Freymann
- This imaginative book uses playful photographs of fruits and vegetables to explore a wide range of emotions. The cleverly carved produce characters exhibit different feelings, helping children recognize and understand various moods in a fun and engaging way.
Today I feel… An Alphabet of Feelings by Madalena Moniz
- This beautifully illustrated book introduces children to the alphabet through a series of emotions. Each letter represents a different feeling, depicted with whimsical illustrations that capture the essence of each emotion, encouraging kids to express and understand their own feelings.
F is for Feelings by Goldie Millar
- This book uses the alphabet to introduce children to a wide range of emotions, from A to Z. Each letter represents a different feeling, explained in simple language and accompanied by diverse illustrations. The book encourages kids to recognize and talk about their own emotions, promoting emotional literacy and understanding.
The Boy with Big, Big Feelings by Britney Winn Lee
- This touching story follows a young boy who experiences emotions very intensely. Through his journey, he learns to embrace his feelings and understand that having big emotions is a natural and important part of who he is. The book promotes emotional awareness and acceptance.
All Kinds of Feelings by Sheri Safran
- This interactive book invites children to explore different emotions through engaging activities and colorful illustrations. It helps kids identify and express their feelings, fostering emotional intelligence and empathy through relatable scenarios and thoughtful prompts.
The Feelings Book by Todd Parr
- With bright colors and simple illustrations, Todd Parr’s book celebrates the wide array of emotions children experience. Each page features a different feeling, paired with a reassuring message that all emotions are okay to feel, encouraging self-acceptance and emotional expression.
Glad Monster, Sad Monster: A Book About Feelings by Ed Emberly
- This interactive book uses bold illustrations and playful monsters to explore different emotions. Each monster represents a different feeling, and children are encouraged to express their own emotions by mimicking the monsters, making it a fun and engaging way to talk about feelings.
Visiting Feelings by Lauren J. Rubenstien
- This book encourages children to approach their feelings with curiosity and mindfulness. Through poetic language and serene illustrations, it teaches kids to observe and understand their emotions without judgment, promoting emotional awareness and self-compassion.
Felipe the Feeling Frog by Zeba McGibbon
- Felipe is a frog who feels emotions very strongly. This heartwarming story follows Felipe as he navigates his feelings, learning to understand and accept them. The book provides a gentle introduction to emotional literacy for young readers, emphasizing the importance of acknowledging and expressing emotions.
Listening to My Body by Gabi Garcia
- This book helps children tune into their bodies and understand the connection between physical sensations and emotions. Through simple exercises and thoughtful narration, it guides kids in recognizing and expressing their feelings, fostering mindfulness and emotional intelligence.
Fiona Flamingo by Rachel Urrutia Chu
- Fiona Flamingo experiences a wide range of emotions that affect her appearance. This charming story teaches children that it’s okay to feel different emotions and that everyone goes through similar experiences. The book promotes self-acceptance and empathy through its colorful and engaging narrative.
Emotions mentor texts are great resources for educators to help children understand and manage their feelings. Using these texts in the classroom can provide children with the tools they need to navigate their emotional worlds. These emotion mentor texts pair well with my emotions lessons in my Self-Awareness unit. For more great lessons and activities, check out my Social Emotional curriculum here. I hope this list of emotions mentor texts supports you with teaching your students all about emotions.
Mindfully yours,
Alyssa from Engaging SEL