Books about big emotions and anger
Tantrums, meltdowns and bad moods are how small people say that a feeling is too big for them. These books help children name anger, sadness and frustration and find their way back to calm. They help the grown-ups too.
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Boo! When My Sister Died
by Richa Jha
Ages 5–9Indian author
A gentle, honest picture book about coping with the death of a sibling. Helps children and families navigate grief together.
Heads-up: Death & grief
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Aai and I
by Mamta Nainy
Ages 5–9Indian author
A child explores her identity against the backdrop of her mother's illness with cancer. Honest, warm, and reassuring.
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Letters to Krisha
by Parinita Shetty
Ages 7–10Indian author
A gentle story told through letters, about friendship and staying connected across distance.
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What's Up with Me? Puberty, Periods, Pimples, People, Problems and More
by Tisca Chopra
Ages 10–14Indian author
Actor Tisca Chopra answers the questions Indian tweens are too shy to ask — bodies, periods, skin, crushes, friendships and feelings — in a warm, funny voice.
Heads-up: Puberty & sexuality
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List-O-Mania
Ages 4–8Indian author
Kimaya makes lists for everything — until a playdate goes wrong and she learns that some fun can't go by the list.
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That Thing about Bollywood
Ages 8–12Indian author
Sonali hides her feelings — until she starts bursting into Bollywood song-and-dance numbers whenever emotions bubble up.
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Rain Holiday
by Shreya Ramachandran
Ages 10–13Indian author
During a Mumbai monsoon break, eleven-year-old Rekha tries to find out why her best friend Latisha has stopped seeing anyone. A tender story about friendship, mental health and caring for the people we love.
Heads-up: Mental illness
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Is It the Same for You?
by Neha Singh (illus. Priya Sebastian)
Ages 12–16Indian author
As violence and death fill the adult world around her in Kashmir, a young girl quietly faces her first period and a changing body, and wonders whether girls elsewhere feel the same. A tender, illustrated portrait of growing up amid conflict.
Heads-up: Terrorism & militancy, Death & grief
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What Happened to Grandpa
by Nandini Nayar (illus. Aditi Anand)
Ages 6–9Indian author🔍 Hard to find in India
Grandpa is forgetting words, names and faces, and his family feels they are losing him. Neha keeps his memory alive by sharing his adventures and retelling his stories. A warm picture book about love, memory and dementia.
Heads-up: Serious illness
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Somnath Hore: Wounds
by Likla (illus. Kripa Bhatia)
Ages 8–12Indian author
A picture-book biography of the sculptor and printmaker Somnath Hore, whose art grew out of the pain of famine and war. It gently helps children talk about difficult feelings such as pain, anger, fear and uncertainty. Part of the Art Exploration series.
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That Night
by Bijal Vachharajani (illus. Shrujana Niranjani Shridhar)
Ages 7–12Indian author🔍 Hard to find in India
Chaitu wakes up to loud, angry voices and a fire raging in the distance, and fears for her family, friends and home. A short, powerful story about fear, intolerance and how it feels to be targeted.
Heads-up: Violence
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Where Is Mr. Thookam?
by Anusha Veluswamy (illus. Janan Abir)
Ages 3–7Indian author🔍 Hard to find in India
Pattu wakes in the night to find Mr. Thookam (sleep) gone, and she and her Akka set out to find him. A funny, comforting story about night-time fears and the love between two sisters.
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Amma's Magic Handbag
by Vaishali BK (illus. Chandrima Chatterjee)
Ages 4–7Indian author
When feelings get too big, Amma doesn't rush to fix them. She stays, listens and plays, pulling small, magical things from her handbag. A gentle book about emotions and the power of a parent's presence.
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Can You Draw Love, Abbu?
Ages 4–8Indian author
Zoya and her Abbu try to draw feelings like love, happiness and contentment. A tender story set in a warm Indian home about a father and daughter, creativity and naming emotions.
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The Day I Crossed the Ramganga
by Siddhesh Gautam
Ages 5–8Indian author
A young boy longs to visit his father's office, but the Ramganga river lies in between. Can he find the courage to cross it?
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Respect Me! Respect My Boundaries!
Ages 3–8
Everyday situations help children work out what feels okay and not okay, and how to say so. Covers body ownership, consent, feelings and speaking up.
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Yes! No!: A First Conversation About Consent
by Megan Madison & Jessica Ralli
Ages 1–4
A simple board book that helps toddlers notice their feelings, say yes or no, and listen when others do. Part of the First Conversations series.
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Let's Talk About Body Boundaries, Consent and Respect
Ages 4–10
Teaches children about body ownership, respect, feelings, choices and recognising bullying, with discussion questions for parents and teachers.
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Peter's Chair
Ages 3–5
Peter's old baby things are being painted pink for his new sister, and he decides to run away with his chair. A classic about adjusting to a new baby.
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In My Heart: A Book of Feelings
by Jo Witek
Ages 2–5
A girl describes how each feeling sits in her heart, from happy and brave to sad and angry. A beautiful first book for naming emotions.
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Grumpy Monkey
by Suzanne Lang
Ages 3–6
Jim Panzee is grumpy for no reason, and everyone keeps telling him to cheer up. A funny book about letting yourself feel what you feel.
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Ruby Finds a Worry
by Tom Percival
Ages 3–6
Ruby's small worry grows bigger each day until she learns that talking about it makes it shrink. A gentle book about sharing worries.
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The Rabbit Listened
by Cori Doerrfeld
Ages 3–6
When Taylor's block tower falls, the animals all offer advice, but only the rabbit simply listens. A quiet, powerful book about empathy.
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Destiny Ink: Birthday Secret
by Adeola Sokunbi
Ages 5–9
Destiny is feeling left out at her cousin's birthday party. Can a talking teddy bear help her enjoy it?
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The Tears
by Sibylle Delacroix
Ages 4–7
A gentle picture book that reassures children crying is a normal, healthy part of feeling sad, scared, or hurt — and one important way we learn and grow.
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All the Blues in the Sky
by Renée Watson
Ages 10–14📱 eBook only in India
Told in poetry and prose, a girl learns to carry her grief after the death of her best friend. A gentle, honest book about loss and healing.
Heads-up: Death & grief
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Cloud Boy
by Greg Stobbs
Ages 3–7
Bobby floats up into the sky whenever his attention drifts. He ties himself down to focus like his friends, but it leaves him feeling empty, until the people around him learn to see the world his way.
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When Daddy Was a Little Boy
by Alexander Raskin
Ages 6–10
A dad tells his little daughter Sasha true, funny stories from his own childhood: how he tamed a dog, bit the professor, was always late, failed to learn German and was teased at school. A gentle classic about mistakes, feelings and growing up.
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Our Lake
by Angie Kang
Ages 4–8
Two brothers take their first trip back to the lake without their father. A tender, quiet story about love, loss and the bond between siblings.
Heads-up: Death & grief
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Dancing Dumplings for My One and Only
by Eva Wong Nava (illus. Natelle Quek)
Ages 4–8
A girl loves making dumplings with her grandma. When Grandma falls ill, she pours her love, memories and worry into the dumplings Grandma taught her to make.
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Noah's New Home
by Zeshan Akhter (illus. Nabila Adani)
Ages 4–8
Noah's family arrive in a new country as refugees. He misses his Baba, Jida and old home, and when fireworks bring back hard memories, his family and new community help him feel safe.
