Books To Help Kids Learn Self-Regulation and Handle Big Feelings
Self-regulation and mindfulness aren’t just trendy buzzwords; they are daily survival tools for kids. Learning that boredom won’t break you, that disappointment isn’t a disaster, and how to catch those chaotic butterflies in your stomach before an upcoming test are necessary skills that take practice, practice, and more practice.
Books are a wonderful way to help children recognize their emotions, put words to what they’re feeling, and discover healthy ways to cope. Whether it’s taking deep breaths, expressing yourself through art, practicing mindfulness, or naming your feelings, these stories, journals, and workbooks can introduce children to the tools they need to navigate life’s emotional ups and downs.
Starting with elementary kids and working our way up to tweens, this roundup of books and matching self-regulation strategies offers stories and tools that empower kids to manage their big, big emotions.
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1
Add to BookshelfBig, Big Feelings
by Perry Emerson
This sweet picture book follows Willow, a little girl whose feelings sometimes overwhelm her. As Willow learns to name her feelings with the loving support of her older brother, adult readers also gain a gentle tool to encourage emotional awareness and calmer responses to frustration.
Self-regulation strategy: Verbalizing and naming big emotions to reduce overwhelm and regain control.
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$18.99Buy from Other Retailers:
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2
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Breathe Like a Bear
by Kira Willey
30 simple mindfulness activities help children manage big emotions, improve focus, and feel more confident during stressful moments. With easy breathing exercises and gentle movements that can be done anywhere, this book is a practical resource for parents and caregivers looking for everyday calming routines at home or on the go.
Self-regulation strategy: Teach kids to pair slow, deep breathing with a short, comforting phrase or mantra to help anchor their minds and lower their heart rate when anxiety spikes.
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$20.99Buy from Other Retailers:
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3
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How to Tantrum Like a Champion: Ten Small Ways to Temper Big Feelings
by Allan Wolf
Instead of treating an impending meltdown as a behavioral failure, kids can be taught to view it as a challenge they can conquer. In this playful, reassuring book for ages 3-7, rhythmic verse, engaging strategies, and adorable illustrations help kids recognize the signs of overwhelm and practice resetting their bodies and emotions.
Self-regulation strategy: Reframing a tantrum as a game gives children a blueprint for calming stress. They’ll learn strategies such as deep breathing, a silly dance, or finding a cozy hideaway where they can regain control.
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$18.99Buy from Other Retailers:
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4
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The Worry Monster: Calming Anxiety with Mindfulness
by Dr. Catherine Cook-Cottone
This interactive book by a licensed psychologist helps children understand anxiety by blending a story with practical resources. Readers follow the Worry Monster as he learns simple, effective ways to calm overwhelming thoughts and feelings. With engaging illustrations and six step-by-step “Mindful Monster Moves,” this book offers hands-on advice to support emotional regulation.
Self-regulation strategy: Release tension and calm the nervous system through movements like stretching, grounding poses, and rhythmic breathing.
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$14.99Buy from Other Retailers:
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5
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Not Like Every Day
by Stephanie V.W. Lucianovic
In this comforting story, a teacher helps a nervous student calm the butterflies in his stomach by focusing on the smells in the classroom. Through compassion and gentle conversations, this book acknowledges the fears children may experience during school lockdown drills. This is a valuable resource for helping children process anxiety, build resilience, and feel safe after stressful situations.
Self-regulation strategy: Encourage sensory grounding by focusing on present-moment sensations, such as scents or sounds.
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$18.99Buy from Other Retailers:
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6
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Femi and The Mindfulness Machine
by Flo Fielding
This engaging, STEM-focused story follows a hardworking young boy whose nerves threaten to overwhelm him when his science project falls apart before the big day. With his gran’s gentle guidance and calming techniques, Femi works through his anxiety and prepares for the science fair.
Self-regulation strategy: “Hurry, hurry, has no blessings,” Gran says over and over. By slowing down and paying attention to their thoughts, or by using other mindfulness techniques like blowing bubbles, kids can calm the physical symptoms of anxiety and regain confidence.
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7
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The Gift of the Broken Teacup: Poems of Mindfulness, Meditation, and Me
by Allan Wolf
Jade Orlando’s bright illustrations wrap readers in a warm hug and invite them into this fresh, accessible collection of poems for kids ages 7–10. Readers get a delightful mix of yoga poses, meditation prompts, and social-emotional tools that encourage them to let go of anger, find peace, and discover their joyful inner voice.
Self-regulation strategy: Reading poetry together allows children to explore breathwork and visualization at their own pace, giving them the language to accept difficult feelings.
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$19.99Buy from Other Retailers:
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8
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Big Feelings, Little Feelings
by Andrea Mills
Perfect for kids ages 5–9, this beautifully illustrated guide features funny, engaging characters that represent different moods. Backed by a qualified psychotherapist, this book uses a unique color-coded system and prompts to help children understand and celebrate their emotional range. Parents and caregivers will appreciate how it gives kids the vocabulary and confidence to talk about their emotions.
Self-regulation strategy: Use color-coded emotional categories to identify and understand feelings.
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$18.99Buy from Other Retailers:
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9
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A Kids Book About Mindfulness
by Caverly Morgan
Written for kids ages 7–11, this book encourages readers to use mindfulness for self-discovery. Young readers will learn that they are more than their fleeting feelings. This book also provides an empowering framework for reducing stress and building focus. If readers enjoy the straightforward delivery and bold, minimalist style of the A Kids Book series, they can also check out A Kids Book About Emotions and A Kids Book About Nervous System Regulation.
Self-regulation strategy: Learn to pause before reacting. Also called metacognitive awareness, this strategy involves stepping back, observing, and evaluating thoughts and emotions, creating space to choose a calm response.
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$19.99Buy from Other Retailers:
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10
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Mindfulness Journal Activity Book for Kids
by Kaveri Mehta
For ages seven and up, this fun, interactive journal encourages kids to “Breathe, Reflect, Grow — One Page at a Time!” Through activities like fun prompts, breathing exercises, gratitude practices, and daily emotional check-ins, children can explore mindfulness, learn self-awareness, and build confidence. It’s a helpful tool for parents and caregivers who want to encourage emotional balance without feeling like they’re giving a lecture.
Self-regulation strategy: Practice gratitude and positivity to reframe thoughts, reduce stress, and promote a sense of inner safety.
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$9.99Buy from Other Retailers:
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11
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In Your Feels
by Emily Edlynn PhD
Being “in your feels” is normal and totally okay! This vibrant, illustrated journal for tweens ages 8–12 helps kids learn to sit with their big emotions. Chapters are organized by common feelings (happiness, pride, embarrassment, guilt, etc.) and include over 50 writing and drawing prompts. Middle-grade readers will love completing mindfulness activities that help them identify triggers and tame anxiety.
Self-regulation strategy: Daily reflection and journaling can help identify emotional triggers and build healthy coping strategies.
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$19.99Buy from Other Retailers:
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12
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The Emotions’ Survival Guide (Disney/Pixar Inside Out)
by RH Disney
Tweens ages 8–12 can learn to “deal with how they feel” in this highly engaging 64-page nonfiction guide. Colorful illustrations and expert advice, delivered with the familiar humor and heart of the Inside Out universe, make this an accessible toolkit for older readers. It’s an excellent resource for parents and caregivers who want to encourage emotional awareness and meaningful conversations during the messy middle years.
Self-regulation strategy: Build emotional self-awareness by recognizing how emotions interact and by developing healthy responses.
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